Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 46 Nightmare build -up for Palestine’s Knights SYDNEY: Palestine conjured a minor miracle by Jadue will miss the tournament as the 21-year- the toughest of starts: against defending cham- in Palestine have many problems. “So this win in reaching their first Asian Cup but the loss of old has not received confirmation from FIFA of a pions Japan, in Newcastle on January 12. the Challenge Cup was very important to send a their coach, two star strikers, and an unseemly change of nationality. They will also face 2007 winners Iraq as well message to the world that we can do very well if row with Iran, have put even more obstacles in Jadue, whose father is Palestinian, made four as Jordan, who were a play-off victory away we have space, equipment, if we can go outside their path. appearances for Chile’s youth team in 2009 and from reaching last year’s World Cup, in what (the Palestinian territories) to play.” The Knights sparked jubilation in May when had to be omitted from the squad on deadline looks like an inescapable Group D. Veteran goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh, who kept they overcame the complications of the Israeli day as clearance had not been received from “I think it’s difficult for Palestine,” admitted clean sheets throughout the Challenge Cup, is blockade to win the AFC Challenge Cup in the FIFA for the switch of allegiance. ex-coach Mahmoud, now succeeded by his for- likely to remain as captain when Palestine make Maldives, earning their spot in Australia. To add to their woes, Palestine’s late cancel- mer assistant Ahmed Al Hassan, during last their historic debut. Palestine’s achievement, thanks to a narrow lation of a friendly with Iran has prompted month’s AFC awards in Manila. And forward Ashraf Nu’man, whose four win over the Philippines in the final, saw them claims of skulduggery. Some Iranian commenta- “But maybe they can go far because they goals at the Challenge Cup included the winner named team of the year at the Asian Football tors suspected a conspiracy involving the terri- have good players and my assistant, now he is in the final, starts the tournament tied with Confederation’s (AFC) annual awards. tories’ Arab allies and aimed at disrupting the the head coach for Palestine. I think they’ll have Fahed Attal for the Palestinian record of 14 inter- But problems have piled up for Palestine, preparations of three-time winners Iran, who a good result at the Asian Cup.” national goals. starting with the resignation of their Jordanian will play UAE, Qatar and Bahrain in Group C. Mahmoud did not give details about his deci- However, the absence of Khalili, 2013 top- coach Jamal Mahmoud, citing personal reasons, Meanwhile an Israeli raid on the West Bank sion to quit the team on the verge of the biggest scorer in Sweden’s top flight and now with in September. offices of the Palestinian Football Association tournament in their history, describing it as a Shanghai Dongya, and Jadue-who plays for one Highly rated striker Imad Khalili is absent (PFA) in November caused disruption and anger. “special situation”. of Chile’s biggest clubs Universidad Catolica-has from what looks an under-strength squad, while It has been a rocky build-up for Palestine, But he said: “You know in Palestine under caused concern, together with that of Atletico imposing Chilean-born centre-forward Matias and far from ideal preparation for what will be (the blockade), life is very difficult and all sports Venezuela defender Daniel Kabir Mustafa.—AFP Marseille aim to bounce back PARIS: Marseille will look to put the disappointment of their shock French Cup exit behind them and extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table when they go to Montpellier yes- terday. Marcelo Bielsa’s side endured a disastrous start to 2015, losing on penalties to fourth-tier Grenoble in the last-64 of the French Cup after throwing away the lead three times. It was bitterly disappointing for Bielsa, who took Athletic Bilbao to the Copa del Rey final in 2012 in his first season in Spain, and the Argentine accepted the blame for the exit. “I have more responsibility than my players for the defeat,” he said. “I was in charge of a team that had all the assets need- ed to win. There is no explanation for such a defeat.” Nevertheless, their Cup exit and the fact they are not involved in European competition this season mean Marseille can now focus all their attention on their quest to win a first Ligue 1 title since 2010. OM took the symbolic title of autumn champions after ending 2014 two points clear of Lyon and three ahead of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain. An outstanding run of home form, featuring nine consecu- AUSTRALIA: Kuwait football players exercise during the team’s final training session ahead of the Asian Cup in tive wins since a 2-0 loss to Montpellier in August, has been Melbourne. Australia and Kuwait play the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup today. —AFP behind their rise, while their away form has been rather more patchy. Marseille have now gone six away games without a win in all competitions before facing Montpellier at the Stade Aussies launch bid de la Mosson, which has not hosted a match since the end of September, when it was put out of action by serious floods. Since then, Montpellier have hosted games at the home of the city’s Top 14 rugby club, where they were beaten 3-0 by to dethrone Japan PSG in the French Cup on Monday. “We are delighted to not have to play on that pitch any- MELBOURNE: Australia will launch their nows, Palestine have overcome major hur- the 2011 final against Japan-and a chance more although we do thank them for helping us at a difficult attempt to reach new heights in football by dles to qualify for the first time, and North for sweet revenge. But tournaments are time after the floods,” said Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis, toppling champions Japan and winning Korea are trying to escape the group stage rarely so predictable and Australia are who played for Marseille and later coached his hometown their first Asian Cup when they kick off the for the first occasion since 1980. Australia already concerned that they will find it diffi- team. With Africa Cup of Nations-bound Andre Ayew and tournament today. joined the Asian Football Confederation in cult to play their preferred high-tempo, Nicolas Nkoulou both absent, Marseille could be vulnerable, A sell-out crowd is expected at the 2006 but have yet to lift the region’s most attacking game. “At the World Cup, obvi- and their challengers will be hoping they slip up ahead of the 30,000-capacity Melbourne Rectangular coveted trophy, after being edged out by ously it was flowing games and attacking bulk of the weekend slate. Stadium as Ange Postecoglou’s men take Japan in a gripping final in 2011. During games,” said veteran Mark Bresciano. “This After a turbulent week overshadowed by the late return on Kuwait on day one of the 16-nation Postecoglou’s rebuilding, the side have time around we’re going to be coming up from Christmas holidays of Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel extravaganza. An eventual victory for slumped to 100th in the FIFA rankings, against other countries that play in a differ- Lavezzi, PSG got back on track by beating Montpellier in the Australia would put the country on top at Asia’s 10th-ranked team, despite some eye- ent style and are going to try and stop us Cup and now go to Bastia tomorrow. Neither Cavani nor both club and international level after catching play at the World Cup last year. playing that attacking football ourselves. Lavezzi, who missed a training camp in Morocco while in Western Sydney Wanderers won the AFC But the coach said his players were itch- “We are going to try and play the best of South America, played against Montpellier and both will again Champions League in November. ing to get started on what could be a defin- our ability and create as many opportunities be left out against Bastia. And it would provide a further boost for ing campaign for football in Australia. as we can. But we know what we’re going to However, coach Laurent Blanc will be looking for a repeat football among the Australian public, which “To be honest, the boys can’t wait for be coming up against. For us, they are of the Cup display, in which the likes of Yohan Cabaye and traditionally prefers the rugby codes, Friday night,” Postecoglou said. “We’ve going to be tougher opponents to play Clement Chantome came in and impressed. Australian rules and cricket. been on the road for 12 months and to walk against.” Australia’s opener against 1980 “Since our training camp in Marrakech I have noticed a new Four-time winners Japan are one of their out to a sell-out crowd on Friday night, it’s winners Kuwait heralds the start of a 32- momentum. I was satisfied with the way we played against main rivals, despite a match-fixing case going to make the boys feel a couple of feet game fiesta which gets into full swing with a Montpellier but we will need to repeat that performance swirling around their coach, and Carlos taller. I can’t wait to get the match started.” triple-header tomorrow: against Bastia, where it will be just as difficult to play football,” Queiroz’s Iran also look like top contenders.