In Group D, Bora predicts Iraq and DPRK or Iran

AFC – DOHA, In the final instalment of his predictions for the finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™, Bora Milutinovic looks at Group D, which the Serb coach believes will be one of the most difficult of the competition.

Group D sees defending champions Iraq – who Milutinovic coached at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup – joined by three-time Asian champions Iran, DPR Korea, who qualified for the finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and an improving United Arab Emirates side that features many of the best up-and-coming young players in the Middle East.

“Group D is a very tight group. I think Iraq will be there, I watched them earlier and I was very pleased with the way they played.

“They have an excellent attitude. I know this team very well, I was so happy to work with them at the FIFA Confederations Cup (in 2009). If there is one team I like, it is Iraq.

“They are good people and my memories of working with them at the Confederations Cup are like a souvenir, it was a great experience. They are very good guys, a good team and the coach (Wolfgang Sidka) now has them playing good football.

“Afshin Ghotbi is a very good friend and Iran have made some very good results, they beat Korea Republic and they beat China earlier in the year. They have quality but I don’t know if they have come with the best players. They have a tough job to do because DPR Korea will make things very tough and so will the United Arab Emirates.

“When you watch DPR Korea at the World Cup, you have two impressions. The first part of the tournament, in the way that they play against Brazil, it showed what they can do when they work hard but the problem is they don’t have so much experience. For me, it was a nice surprise to see them qualify for the AFC Asian Cup.

“The Emirates have a very good coach in Srecko Katanec but I don’t think they are favourites to go through even though they have some good young players. You never know, but I think it will be Iraq and Iran or possibly the North Koreans. It’s a very difficult group.”

Bora’s prediction: Iraq and either Iran or DPR Korea to qualify for the quarterfinals