voldemort

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia are currently in the middle of an almost unprecedented period of stability. The Sons of the Desert have gone for more than a year without firing their coach.
No wonder. Helio dos Anjos led the team to the final of the 2007 Asian Cup and they played some nice football along the way. Yasser Al-Qahtani and Malik Maaz ran rings round more than one defence but were both strangely quiet in the final defeat against Iraq.
Since that disappointment, the Saudis have been faring fairly well and were boosted by the 2007 Asian Player of the Year award that Al-Qahtani received. Apart from two North African friendly defeats, results have been good – a 5-0 thrashing of Ghana and wins over Estonia, Namibia and, most recently, Luxembourg.
A home tie with Singapore is a good way to start the campaign as Saudi Arabia aim to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup. Uzbekistan is a familiar foe from recent years and fellow West Asians Lebanon should hold few fears for the team.
Singapore
Despite recent domination in South-east Asian tournaments, the city-state has never graced the World Cup with its presence. The group is a tough one for Radojko Avramovic’s men and in Asian football, there are few trips more daunting that the one to Riyadh.
Singapore are an improving team however and have nothing if not spirit. Despite recent friendly defeats to Oman and Jordan, the team is capable of giving anyone a game.
To supplement a limited population, Singapore boasts a few naturalized players in its ranks. Old warhorse Alexander Duric scored twice on his recent debut after trading in his Australian passport. Singapore stalwarts such as keeper Lionel Lewis and Daniel Bennett can always be relied upon but it could be an uphill battle for the Lions.
Some kind of result from the Saudi capital would be a fantastic achievement and coach Raddy is hopeful of doing so as he told Goal.com recently. “Yes, it is a difficult group. Saudi Arabia have a lot of advantages over us. The first is the quality that they have. Second, is that they are in the middle of their season and they are in competition form. Our league has finished and we have to build towards the game. I don’t think we can be in great competition form in that short period of time but we will try our best."
Lebanon
The boys from Beirut are very much the outsiders as they seek a first appearance at the World Cup. It is vital that the team takes something from the first game of the group when Uzbekistan visit the Lebanese capital.
Much depends on the form and fitness of star player Roda Antar. The African-born midfielder has been a familiar figure in German football over the last few years. Stints at SV Hamburg and Frieburg were followed by a move to present club FC Koln. It is a tall order for the strapping Antar.
While Lebanon defeated India 6-3 on aggregate in the previous round, the scoreline was a flattering one and Adnan Al Sharki’s men will have to up their game when the Central Asians come calling. "Lebanon are a well organised and strong team as they proved by progressing to the third round of the qualifying campaign " said Uzbekistan coach Rauf Ilileyev earlier this week.
Uzbekistan
One of the most impressive sides at the 2007 Asian Cup, Uzbekistan were desperately unlucky in their quarter-final defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. In that entertaining game, the woodwork and terrible officiating all counted against the Central Asians.
At least now they have the chance for a measure of revenge though the odds are that both will make the final stage of qualifying.
The two nations have made a habit of meeting in recent years. The West Asians thrashed the Uzbeks 5-0 at the 2000 Asian Cup. Uzbekistan shocked the Saudis at the 2004 Asian Cup and the West Asians never recovered from that opening game defeat.
The next meeting was during the final round of qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Saudi Arabia bounced back by taking four points from those two meetings.
2-1 to the Saudis in this millenium then but with the likes of Maksim Shatskikh, Server Djeparov, Alesander Geynrikh and Vitaliy Denisov, Uzbekistan are a force to be reckoned with.



source:goal.com