nice video
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"Le Guen wants Oman to be ready for tough battle against Iran
As Oman’s campaign in the second round qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup reaches the halfway stage, Paul Le Guen is expecting his wards to be ready for tough battle against Iran in their next Group D match.
Ahead of October 8 tie, a fourth outing for both in the five-team group, Iran and Oman have seven points each, same as Guam who had played one match more than the two.
The match, to be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, is a crucial tie considering both fancied Iran as well as Oman will be hoping to stamp their authority and seal a win. The match is most likely to decide which team will be in pole position to top the group and clinch a direct berth in the Asian Cup and a place in the third round qualifiers for the World Cup.
Though Oman will be travelling to Iran next March for their final group outing, which - a virtual group final - will again be vital for the fortunes of both teams.
In between, Oman will also be playing a home match on October 13 against India, an away game on November 17 in Turkmenistan and another home match on March 24 against Guam.
For the record, Oman had already beaten India and Turkmenistan by 2-1 and 3-1 margins though they were held to a goalless draw in Guam.
Though expectations are high, as Oman will be playing at home against Iran, Le Guen is considering the hosts as underdogs who needs to be ready for a ‘tough battle’.
French coach, while announcing his list of probables for the camp ahead of Iran and India matches on Saturday, said: “We will be playing two tough games. Especially Iran match will surely be tough.”
“India comes next. But fist we have to deal with Iran match,” Le Guen said.
“We are underdogs. But we have to prepare well and be ready to fight for full points,” he added.
“We have already dropped two points against Guam,” Le Guen said referring to a goalless draw against Guam in their previous match.
“We cannot afford to do that any more if we want to finish on top of the group or as one of the four best runners-up to advance further,” he said.
Lack of match practice
Lamenting the lack of match practice for most of the national team players, Le Guen expressed his delight in the fact that Oman Football Association (OFA) is able to arrange a friendly match with Syria ahead of Iran match.
“The situation here is little difficult,” Le Guen said referring to the late start of the domestic season and some players being busy with the military teams.
“Between May and till the end of October, some of the players, like (star striker) Abdulaziz Al Maqbali, get to play only one ‘competition game’. That is without taking into consideration the national team matches.
“That’s the reality here. But we cannot make excuses. We have to work hard and train hard to be ready for the match.
“That’s why I am happy the OFA is able to arrange a friendly match with Syria before Iran tie.”
Asked whether it is right to play a friendly (on October 2) less than a week before an important qualifier, he said: “Considering the situation, it is better to play a match against tough opponents than not play at all.”
Concerns in attack
Continuing with his oft-repeated complaints over lack of fire power or ‘lack of efficiency in front of the goal’, Le Guen said: “Obviously the main concern is the way we attack. It is a problem not just with the national team players but other domestic players as well.
“We need to focus more... on (ball) possession and control.”
When asked whether there is dearth of talent in that department, Le Guen referred to forward Saud Al Farsi's performance to make his point.
He said: “When I picked Saud, he showed a lot of promise. He played around 45 minutes against Syria (friendly in June) and around 30 minutes in Turkmenistan match. But frankly I thought he should have done better than he managed to do in those two matches.”
Le Guen, however, stressed the point ‘we need to be patient with the players like him’ and ‘he can compete with Imad (Al Hosni) and Abdulaziz (Al Maqbali)’.
Le Guen expressed his preference to play both Iran and India matches at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex (SQSC). Oman is scheduled to play India at Seeb Sports Stadium.
“The Bausher complex ((SQSC) is the main stadium. I prefer Oman play their matches their. And I also think that the pitch at Bausher complex is better than the one at Seeb stadium,” he said.
Team manager Mohammed Al Alawi, meanwhile, revealed that following the ‘coach’s request’ the OFA is trying to shift Oman-India match to the SQSC.
Against Iran, Le Guen will be missing the services of Abdulaziz Al Maqbali and fellow forward Azan Al Balushi, both of whom will be away in South Korea representing the Sultanate’s football team in the 6th Military World Games to be organised in the city of Mungyeong from October 2 to 11.
It may be mentioned Al Maqbali emerged the best player of the tournament when Oman finished runners-up to Iraq in the Military World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2013. Oman will be hosting the next edition of the military football tournament in 2017.
Team: Ali Al Habsi, Fayeez Al Rushaidi, Mazin Al Kasbi; Saad Suhail, Ali Salim Al Nahar, Mohammed Sheiba, Jaber Al Owaisi, Abdulsalam Amor, Mohammed Al Musallami, Ali Al Busaidi, Mohannad Al Hassani, Azan Al Balushi, Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, Ali Al Jabri, Eid Al Farsi, Mohsin Al Zawahri, Raed Ibrahim Al Haikal, Mohammed Al Mashari, Qasim Said, Yaseen Al Shaeedi, Abdulaziz Al Maqbali, Imad Al Hosni, Said Al Ruzaiqi, Mohammed Al Siyabi, Sami Khamis and Saud Al Farsi."
http://timesofoman.com/article/68214...e-against-IranComment
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Well, they do have one of the best goalkeepers in Asia. He's also very loyal to Oman's national team.
This will be a good test for our younger players. They go from playing against 3 weaker opponents to an Oman that isn't a joke.Comment
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IF there's no hicupps, TM should be able to grab all 3 points against Oman.Comment
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Fozil Musaev of Sepahan has been called up in Uzbekistan's squad vs Bahrain
Iain Ramsay of Tractor Sazi called up for Philippines vs North KoreaComment
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"Not excited as we beat Guam, not Iran: Stephen Constantine
The Indian national team coach Stephen Constantine was full of praise for his team who beat Guam 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on Thursday, but he would've happier if the victory had come against Iran. "I am happy that we won but not excited as we beat Guam, not Iran," said the Englishman. Though India earned their first three points in the qualifying campaign, the five straight defeats that they've had means they are still bottom-placed of their group. But Constantine acknowledged that he was pleased with the reaction of his players."
http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report...antine-2145008Comment
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"Oman Football Association ‘relieves’ Le Guen of coaching duties after Oman’s loss to Turkmenistan
The Oman Football Association (OFA) on Thursday terminated the Sultanate’s national football team coach Paul Le Guen’s contract two days after Oman’s 1-2 away defeat to Turkmenistan in a crucial Group D qualifying match of the 2018 World Cup/2019 Asian Cup.
The experienced Frenchman’s sacking came as a surprise as the OFA’s top brass has always been backing the coach despite heavy criticism of his coaching methods and his failure to ‘improve’ the team’s performance during his tenure.
The Sultanate’s soccer governing body, which usually prefers to ‘part ways’ with coaches instead of sacking them, has announced their decision in a simple one line tweet ‘OFA decided to relieve coach Paul Le Guen from his duties as Head Coach of the First National Team’. Interestingly that tweet came in English hours after the OFA tweeted the news in Arabic.
What is more surprising is why the OFA has decided to terminate Guen’s at this juncture of their World Cup/Asian Cup qualification campaign, especially after supporting him and keeping him in the job even after the Frenchman was linked with a move to UAE club Al Wuhda back.
That was back in June, when Oman were just about to launch their qualifying campaign with an away match against India.
But until Tuesday’s defeat to Turkmenistan, Oman had not lost a match in Group D, winning three matches and drawing two. They now have 11 points against toppers Iran’s 14.
No doubt, the defeat has left Oman in danger of not able to clinch the direct berth into the next round of the World Cup, provided Iran wins both their next games. However, Oman still have a chance to clinch the top spot in the group if they defeat Guam and Iran in their next matches.
However, as one OFA official, said ‘it’s not the defeat to Turkmenistan’ that led to sacking of Le Guen.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said: “It’s not about our defeat to Turkmenistan but how the team as a whole has been performing during his (Le Guen’s) tenure.”
Summarising what he termed as ‘general belief’, he said: “Everybody believes that there is nothing to show during his four-year term. There has been no improvement in team’s performance if one looks at overall outlook in these years.”
Meanwhile, the OFA has also announced in another one line tweet: “National Teams Committee has been asked to present options on the next Head Coach of the National Team.”
Though Oman will be playing their remaining matches, against Guam and Iran, only next March, it won’t be a surprise if the committee recommends to hand over the team reins to an Omani coach.
It will be interesting to see if the committee will consider Hamad Al Azzani, one of the experienced and successful Oman coaches who has previously coached Oman under-23 teams. If that happens it will be kind of a poetic justice as back in 2008 Le Guen was given charge of the Olympic team after the Omani coach guided them till the Asian play-offs of the London Olympics football competition.
For the record, under Le Guen, the team won the Asian play-offs but lost the inter-continental play-off and with that the final Olympic qualifying berth to Senegal.s concerning the next coaching staff and administrative team."
http://www.timesofoman.com/article/7...ll-AssociationComment
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stupid move, he was the best thing that happened to omani football. they will be a walkover nowComment
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Al Habsi is just the goalkeeper, no matter how good he is he can't be decisive as a coach or outfield playerOriginally posted by Gucci10 View PostComment
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Agreed. Oman played amazing against us... modern football at its best against a much tougher opponent.Originally posted by irani8perspolis View Post
It's safe to say everyone underestimated Turkmenistan at home before this competition got underway, which may also explain our previous winless record against them. Other than the tie against us, they won every other home match!
So, to sack someone based on a loss in Turkmenistan is stupid indeed, even if it pretty much sealed Oman's fate and they will miss on the next round - one more reason to let the coach stay on and finish his work.
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If iran is smart enough they should hire paul leguen (former coach of rangers, psg, big lyon with a good knowledge of asia) for u23 or any iranian club. Hervé renard (champions of africa with zambia and ivory coast + coach of 2 ligue 1 teams) is also interestingbut i heard galatasaray is after himComment
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I am starting to believe Turkmenistan isn't as bad as we thought, they played pretty well against us in both games to be honest...Comment
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Breaking news. Oman FA is after Carlos Qeiroz. As head coach (!!!!)Comment
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Its not breaking news when every week a new national team is "after" Carlos to be their head coach. This bs has been happening for years now.Originally posted by eerooni View Post--------------------------Beiranvand-------------------
--Moharrami----Hosseini--Kanaani----Amiri--
------------------Ezatolahi-----Ebrahimi--------------
--Jahanbaksh---------Ghoddos------------Taremi--
---------------------------Azmoun----------------------
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Comment
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