Jordan

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Jordan

Road to Qatar

Jordan finished second to Iran in Group E to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for only the second time in the country's history.

Al-Nashama (The Brave Ones) were unbeaten at home during qualification, beating both Iran and Singapore in Amman, as well as drawing with Thailand. On the road though, Adnan's Hamad's men failed to pick up three points and this inability to win outside of Jordan is concerning for the team as they head to Qatar.

Fixtures

Group B

Jordan v Japan; 9 January 2011, Qatar SC Stadium, Doha

Jordan v Saudi Arabia; 13 January 2011, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

Jordan v Syria; 17 January 2011, Qatar SC Stadium, Doha

Analysis

Jordan have a neat balance of experience and youth in their line up. The spine of the side is goalkeeper Amer Shafia (28), defender Hatem Aqel (32), captain Hassouneh Al-Sjeikh (33) and fellow midfielder Amer Deep (30).

Adnan Hamad has a rather more youthful look to his frontline, with Ra'ed Al-Nawateer (22), Odai Al-Saify (24), Tha'er Bawab (25) and Abdullah Deep (23) set to compete for the starting forward roles in Qatar.

Since Hamad's appointment as Jordanian manager in 2009, the side have won five matches, lost five and drawn seven (as of 22nd December 2010); hardly the kind of form to have opponents shaking in their boots prior to the competition.

Key player: Odai Al-Saify

Al-Saify has a phenomenal goal scoring ratio for Jordan, which averages out at almost a goal every other game.

He scored 7 goals in 7 matches in the 2006 Asian Games and in qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup, netted in Jordan's final group stage victory over Singapore.

One to watch: Tha'er Bawab

Bawab started his football career with Real Madrid and impressed in the Spanish giants' 'B' and 'C' teams before he joined Barcelona in 2007.

The forward failed to make a first-team breakthrough at the Nou Camp, so he moved to L'Hospitalet then Alfaro and is now plying his trade in Romania with Gloria Bistrita.

With his career having gone slightly off the rails, having shown so much early promise, the 2011 Asian Cup could be a prime opportunity for Bawab to prove his worth.

Coach: Adnan Hamad

Hamad coached Iraq on a remarkable six separate occasions between 2000 and 2008, before taking up the post of Jordan manager in February 2009, replacing Nelo Vingada.

The former AFC Coach of the Year (2004) is no stranger to Jordanian football, having guided their leading club side Al Faisaly to AFC Cup success in 2006.

His biggest achievement to date was steering Iraq to the semi-finals of the 2004 Olympic Games and he also led his home nation to a quarter final place in that year's Asian Cup in China.

Record

1956-1968; Did not qualify, 1972; Did not enter, 1976-1980; Did not enter, 1984-1988; Did not qualify, 1992; Did not enter, 1996-2000; Did not qualify, 2004; Quarter-Finals, 2007; Did not qualify.

Soccerphile says

There is a general feeling around the 2011 AFC Asian Cup that Jordan have the potential to be one of the tournament's surprise outfits.

With Japan firm favourites to top Group B, Al-Nashama are likely to face a battle with Saudi Arabia for second place.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Amer Shafia (Al-Wahdat), Lo’ay Al-Amaireh (Al-Faisaly), Moataz Yassin (Shabab Al-Ordon)
Defenders: Mohammad Moneer (Al-Jaish), Suleiman Salman (Al Ramtha), Mohammad Aldmeiri (Al-Wahdat), Bashar Bani Yaseen (Al-Jazeera), Shadi Abu Hashhash (Al Taawon), Basem Fatahi (Al-Wahdat), Hatem Aqel (Al-Raed), Anas Bani Yaseen (Najran)
Midfielders: Baha’a Abdul-Rahman (Al-Faisaly), Saeed Murjan, Amer Deeb (Al-Wahdat), Ra’ed Al-Nawateer (Al-Jazeera), Hassan Abdel Fattah (Al-Wahdat), Alaa Al-Bashir (Shabab Al-Ordon), Ahmad Abdulhalim (Al-Wahdat)
Forwards: Odai Al-Saify (Alki Larnaca), Moayyad Abu Keshek (Al-Faisaly), Hamza Al-Dararadreh (Al-Jazeera), Abdullah Deep (Shabab Al-Ordon), Anas Hijah (Al-Faisaly)

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

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