Ammon News -

AMMONNEWS –– National football team officials are cautiously optimistic about their upcoming Round 4, Group B 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier on September 11 when they host Australia.

Head coach Adnan Hamad acknowledged that he was “optimistic despite the team not having reached top form till now”, quoted by local media after the team regrouped on Wednesday.

He noted one of the main obstacles is having many pros abroad. “Having seven players joining the line-up only a couple of days ahead of the match clearly affects better synergy.”

Jordan is set to meet Iran on September 5. They lost 1-0 to Uzbekistan before beating them 2-0 in two friendlies in the past two weeks. Jordan went up a spot to 83rd in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Football Rankings. Japan now leads Asian teams in 22nd place, followed by Australia at 24th.

The Jordanian team reached the final qualifying Round 4 for the first time since taking part in the qualifiers since 1985. The squad joined the continent’s top 10 qualifying teams in two round-robin, home-and-away groups of five teams each with matches ending June 18, 2013.

After losing 6-0 to Japan and drawing 1-1 with Iraq, Jordan is now last in Group B with Japan leading the group. Australia were held 0-0 with Oman and 1-1 with Japan and are third in the group.

South Korea lead Group A with 6 points. The two group winners and two group runners-up qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The third-placed teams from each group advance to Round 5.

*JordanTimes/by Aline Bannayan