We Are The Favourites Against India – UAE Coach Srecko Katenec
Ranked 111th in the latest FIFA rankings, 34 places above India, Srecko Katenec believes that UAE have a strong chance of progressing into the next round en route to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Gulf nation is set to face the Indian challenge over twin legs in July and having already beaten the same opponents last November with a 5-0 scoreline, Katenec made it clear what he thinks of Bob Houghton’s boys.
“I think on paper we are the favourites to win the match but things are very close in football nowadays.
“On your day any team can win a match against anyone, it’s just a matter of everything falling into place and clicking at the right moment.
“But going into the match I think it is quite clear that we are the favourites to win,” said Katenec.
The Slovenian pointed that how the teams manage to deal with the hot and humid conditions in the month of July could play a vital role in deciding the outcome of the clash.
“One thing that both sides will have to watch out for it’s the heat,” said the 47 year old. “We know how hot it gets and it will be really tough conditions to play in,” he added.
My first thought was that this was an okay (but not great) draw for us, since I'd rather play UAE than Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran or Uzbekistan, but it appears that the draw actually screwed us over. If this had been based on current rankings, we would have got a much easier opponent, Indonesia.
What sort of preparation will the Indian team undergo to play the world cup qualifiers. I heard that we have a tie-up with Brazil, why cant the AIFF arrange warm up matches with their top clubs.
no plans for any preparation have been chalked out yet..I seriously hope we have friendlies this time for the U-21 as well to beat Qatar <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->
My first thought was that this was an okay (but not great) draw for us, since I'd rather play UAE than Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran or Uzbekistan, but it appears that the draw actually screwed us over. If this had been based on current rankings, we would have got a much easier opponent, Indonesia.
If we have to improve we have to play against tough opponents...
Hopefully we will play friendlies before this game
i am positive we will get better result than the last time. these young player have brought with them a habbit of not giving up till final whistle. @rudra you are right
Comments
I think we should be a lil more positive than that. If we can upset someone. Who knows!
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Ranked 111th in the latest FIFA rankings, 34 places above India, Srecko Katenec believes that UAE have a strong chance of progressing into the next round en route to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Gulf nation is set to face the Indian challenge over twin legs in July and having already beaten the same opponents last November with a 5-0 scoreline, Katenec made it clear what he thinks of Bob Houghton’s boys.
“I think on paper we are the favourites to win the match but things are very close in football nowadays.
“On your day any team can win a match against anyone, it’s just a matter of everything falling into place and clicking at the right moment.
“But going into the match I think it is quite clear that we are the favourites to win,” said Katenec.
The Slovenian pointed that how the teams manage to deal with the hot and humid conditions in the month of July could play a vital role in deciding the outcome of the clash.
“One thing that both sides will have to watch out for it’s the heat,” said the 47 year old. “We know how hot it gets and it will be really tough conditions to play in,” he added.
Source : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2011/03/31/2419333/2014-world-cup-qualifiers-we-are-the-favourites-against">http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/ ... es-against</a><!-- m -->
Check it out here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.football-rankings.info/">http://www.football-rankings.info/</a><!-- m --> Look at the last article on the page.
Hopefully we will play friendlies before this game