Current:Home > NewsPalestinian soccer team set for its first test at Asian Cup against three-time champion Iran-LoTradeCoin
Palestinian soccer team set for its first test at Asian Cup against three-time champion Iran
View Date:2024-12-23 20:31:56
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The Palestinian soccer team gets its first test at the Asian Cup on Sunday, with its preparations having been made harder by no domestic soccer and limited opportunities to play competitive matches.
It faces three-time champion Iran in its opening game of the tournament, on the same day as the Israel-Hamas war reaches the 100-day mark.
“There has been very little football activity in Palestine for three months since the start of the war and this impacted us negatively, but we played friendlies abroad and qualifiers,” team captain Musab Battat said Saturday. “We want to put in good performances and get good results for our fans.”
Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos handed the honor of taking the pre-tournament oath to Battat at Friday’s opening ceremony in Lusail.
“As a captain, saying the pledge was a proud moment for me as a captain of Palestine,” Battat said.
His team lost 1-0 against Uzbekistan and drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in warmup games this month. In November it lost 1-0 against Australia and drew 0-0 with Lebanon.
Despite that winless run, Battat spoke with confidence ahead of facing Iran.
“Our preparations went well, we are ready and fully aware of the size of the task at hand in this tournament. We are in good form at the moment and raring to go,” he said.
The Palestinian team’s coach Makram Daboub spoke of his desire to bring “joy for our people.”
“Iran are one of the best teams in the continent. They have a lot of top players and are a talented group,” he said. “It’s between them, (South) Korea and Japan for the title in my opinion.
“Recently we played very well against Australia, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, so in one match we fancy our chances, and we can dream of going through to the next round.”
The United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are also in Group C.
___
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
veryGood! (2146)
Related
- 5-year-old boy who went missing while parent was napping is found dead near Oregon home, officials say
- Brawl between migrants and police in New York’s Times Square touches off backlash
- Tennessee governor’s budget plan funds more school vouchers, business tax break, new state parks
- Justice Department proposes major changes to address disparities in state crime victim funds
- Republican Scott Baugh concedes to Democrat Dave Min in critical California House race
- NFL doubles down on 'integrity' with Super Bowl at the epicenter of gambling industry
- Heidi Klum's Daughter Leni Embraces Her Acne With Makeup-Free Selfie
- Tesla, Toyota, PACCAR among nearly 2.4 million vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
- 'Dangerous and unsanitary' conditions at Georgia jail violate Constitution, feds say
- Brother of dead suspect in fires at Boston-area Jewish institutions is ordered held
Ranking
- NFL Week 11 picks straight up and against spread: Will Bills hand Chiefs first loss of season?
- Meta Oversight Board says manipulated video of Biden can stay on Facebook, recommends policy overhaul
- Conservative Nebraska lawmakers push bills that would intertwine religion with public education
- Taylor Swift drops track list for new album, including two collaborations
- Can I take on 2 separate jobs in the same company? Ask HR
- COVID variant JN.1 now more than 90% of cases in U.S., CDC estimates
- Border bill supporters combat misleading claims that it would let in more migrants
- Democrats are defending their majority in the Pennsylvania House for 4th time in a year
Recommendation
-
Here's what 3 toys were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year
-
Jay-Z's Grammys speech about Beyoncé reiterates an ongoing issue with the awards
-
Pennsylvania governor’s budget could see significant payments to schools, economic development
-
Parents pay grown-up kids' bills with retirement savings
-
Question of a lifetime: Families prepare to confront 9/11 masterminds
-
Connie Schultz's 'Lola and the Troll' fights bullies with a new picture book for children
-
Why Michael Douglas is playing Ben Franklin: ‘I wanted to see how I looked in tights’
-
Ukrainian-born Miss Japan Karolina Shiino renounces title after affair with married man