Ammon News - AMMAN - The national football team started the final phase of preparations on Saturday ahead of their November 14 Group E qualifier against Iran for the AFC 2011 Asian Cup.

Following two defeats in friendlies last month that further exasperated apprehensive fans and officials, the team’s managers hoped another friendly would put the squad in match-ready mental form but have been unable to organise a final encounter ahead of the crucial match.

Technical Director Adnan Hamad was intent on a final friendly and the Jordan Football Association (JFA) contacted counterparts from Liechtenstein, Belarus, Libya, Iraq and Syria all of whom declined. Over the weekend, Hamad requested no media interviews and that the squad’s news to be posted on the JFA website only.

Team manager Mohannad Mahadin was quoted by the JFA website as saying: “There will be no friendly before travelling to Iran and coaching staff would now focus on the tactical side after working on the physical form over the last two weeks.”

Under Hamad, Jordan played seven friendly matches - losing four (New Zealand 3-1, Bahrain 4-0, Kuwait 2-1 and the UAE 3-1), drawing in two (0-0 with Malaysia and 1-1 with Congo) and winning one (2-0 over Zimbabwe). The team is now 128th in FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking while Iran is 62nd.

Jordan is bottom of the table in Group E qualifiers after a feeble start which saw them held to a goalless draw against Thailand and a 2-1 defeat to Singapore. The squad and its coaching staff underwent a revamp and the line-up has been undergoing constant changes due to injuries as well as the fact that some team members are playing aboard.

The return leg against Iran has been rescheduled for November 22. Jordan will then play Thailand on January 6, 2010 and Singapore March 3, 2010.

Jordan reached the Asian Cup finals once in the 13th edition in China in 2004. By reaching the quarters, the team jumped to the best ever FIFA rank of 37th in August 2004.

Fans hope the team will reach the Asian Cup finals for the second time making up for elimination from Round 3 Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

In the past few weeks, Jordan’s U-19 and U-16 squads qualified to their respective AFC finals. It will be the U-19 squad’s third time, and the U16’s first.




* Aline Bannayan/ The Jordan Times