Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Muscat: Undeterred by the flak he received for dropping seasoned campaigners, including star striker Imad Al Hosni, coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro is confident of Oman wining full points against Guam on Thursday.
The Group D match of the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup joint qualifiers, scheduled to be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex from 7.00 p.m., is Oman’s first competitive outing under Lopez Caro and is crucial to team’s chances of progressing further in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
With two matchdays left in the group, Oman with 11 points are in second place behind table toppers Iran (14 points), who host bottom placed India on Thursday.
The group toppers along with the four best runners-up from eight groups will advance to the third round of World Cup qualification as well as qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup finals.
Lopez Caro, who took over the reins of the team after the Oman Football Association (OFA) sacked Frenchman Paul Le Guen following a disappointing results in the earlier matches, courted controversy when he announced his list of 26 probables ahead of the Guam match.
The Spaniard, who had coached Real Madrid as well as Saudi Arabian national team in the past, preferred a number of new faces ignoring stalwarts like Imad, Saad Suhail, Mohammed She’eba, Eid Al Farsi, Ali Al Busaidi and Al Abd Al Nofli, leading to criticism from all quarters.
However, Lopez Caro, speaking at the mandatory match-eve press conference at Hotel City Seasons on Wednesday, justified his decision to drop the old guard and to pick the young blood.
“Sometimes you have to take courageous decisions. I took these decisions for the good of the team. After watching some domestic matches, I found some players who I thought will add value to the team. So I picked them because they deserve to be in the team.”
“Now it is up to those players to play like professionals and prove their worth,” he added.
Big match
Lopez Caro also said that the team and he, who by now are comfortable with each other, are looking forward for the Guam match.
“I am comfortable with the team and the team is comfortable with me. We are now looking forward for the Guam match,” he said.
“It’s my first match with the team and it’s an important and big match for Oman. We have worked on all aspects while considering the strengths and weaknesses of Guam team. And we are looking to get three points tomorrow,” he added.
The Spaniard, however, refused to look beyond Guam match when asked about their next and final group match against Iran.
“We will take one match at a time. Right now our focus is on Guam. We will think about and start preparing for Iran match after we play Guam match,” he said.
Oman captain Ali Al Habsi, who returned from the United Kingdom on Sunday to join the training camp, said: “I am happy to be back with the team. And we are all happy with the new coach. It’s our responsibility to support and co-operate with the coach. We are all looking forward to the match.”
Oman’s celebrated goalkeeper, who currently plays for English Championship side Reading FC, while welcoming the newcomers into the team, said: “My best wishes for the new players. Now they have to prove they are worthy of coach’s trust and to wear Omani jersey. It’s a great opportunity for them represent the country.”
Lopez Caro picked a number of new faces including Mohammed Al Rawahi of Al Nahda, Fanja’s Khalid Al Yaqoobi, Muscat’s Mohammed Al Amri and Mohammed Al Habsi, Suwaiq’s Harib Al Saadi, Seeb’s Omar Al Malki and Salah Al Yahyai and Al Khabourah’s Mohsin Al Ghassani.
Asked whether he will be comfortable with the new defenders operating in front of him, Ali said: “I trust the coach and his selection of players. With 14 years of experience behind me, it’s my responsibility to support the new players.”
‘Pressure is on Caro’
Meanwhile, Lopez Caro’s counterpart Gary White said the pressure is on Oman coach.
“It’s his (Lopez Caro’s) first match. The pressure is on him and we will take advantage of that,” he said.
The Guam coach also took the opportunity to promote his players, urging the local Omani clubs to look at his boys performance and ...... their services.
White’s boys will by no means be pushovers on Thursday.
During this current campaign, they have surprised many with their performances while beating teams like Turkmenistan and India while also holding Oman to a goalless draw at home.
However, in their last outing, at home, they were routed by a 6-0 margin by group leaders Iran.
Possibility of rain
With the rain forecast for the day, especially in the northern parts of Oman, there is a possibility of the teams being forced to play in the wet conditions.
However, Oman coach Lopez Caro said the team are ready for such a scenario.
“We had practised on a wet field during our training camp. So the team are ready for any such challenge. Even logistically, we are ready with the right kind of kit required for wet conditions,” he said.
Ali Al Habsi, meanwhile, said: “I am used to playing in wet conditions in England, where it rains quite often. I am also confident of my teammates giving their best whatever be the conditions.’
Referring to an AFC Cup match between local side Fanja and Bahrian’s Al Muharraq, which was affected by heavy winds and showers, Ali said: “I just hope it won’t be that worse. In such conditions the quality of the game will not be good.”
