Underdogs Iraq’s sensational 2007 Asian Cup triumph has motivated this edition’s dark horses Syria to try and create a repeat, according to coach Bernd Stange.
A frontline of Omar Al Somah and 2017 AFC Player of the Year Omar Khrbin, plus a run to World Cup 2018’s qualifying play-offs, has made the Syrians outside favourites for 2019. This is despite the ongoing civil war.
In the 2007 competition, Iraq were a crisis-struck country who rose to defy the odds. Thoughts of a repeat were on Stange’s mind ahead of their opener versus Palestine.
The German said: “No one in our team is arrogant to say that we are here to win the tournament. There are many other teams including sides like Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Iran and Australia.
“Our first objective, however, is to take the full points against Palestine. And as far as winning the tournament goes, we can safely say that Iraq has shown us all that such a feat is possible.
“There is a lot of positive pressure on us from the millions of troubled Syrians who want to have something to smile about.”
Their opponents in Group B at Sharjah Stadium are making just their second Asian Cup appearance.
