Kuwait

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Kuwait

Road to Qatar

Kuwait will reflect on the fact that despite being pooled with the AFC's number one ranked side Australia, it was really the shock home defeat to Oman that prevented them from winning Group B ahead of their more illustrious oppenents.

As it was, they finished runners-up behind the Socceroos after beating Pim Verbeek's side in Canberra in March courtesy of a Musaed Neda goal (see One to Watch) and then coming from two goals behind to salvage a creditable draw against the Socceroos in Kuwait City.

Fixtures

Group A

Kuwait v China; 8 January 2011, Khalifa, Doha

Kuwait v Uzbekistan; 12 January 2011, Khalifa, Doha

Kuwait v Qatar; 16 January 2011, Khalifa, Doha

Analysis

Kuwaiti football is riding the crest of a wave after having failed to qualify for the 2007 tournament in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Coach Goran Tufegdzic has applied modern methods to the 1980 Asian Cup winners, and the Serbian is reaping the rewards.

A fine qualification campaign has continued to be built upon since a scoreless draw in Muscat confirmed Kuwait's ninth Asian Cup appearance last March.

Tufegdzic masterminded a 1-0 victory over heavyweights Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup final a few weeks before the start of the 2011 Cup and the exciting side also proved their credentials with a thumping 4-0 victory over Zambia 4-0 in a warm-up game. Under Tufegdzic, Kuwait genuinely believe this Asian Cup could be theirs for the taking.

Key player: Bader Al Mutwa

Talented striker Bader Al Mutwa operates behind the main striker, but offers so much more than goalscoring for both club and country. His influence was paramount in Kuwait's recent Gulf Cup triumph that ended a 12-year wait for silverware (he was the leading scorer), and he also bagged seven goals as Al-Qadisiya retained their Kuwaiti Premier League crown in 2010. Al Mutwa, who only turns 26 during the tournament, was also a vital component of the Al-Qadisiya team that reached the 2006 AFC Champions League semi-finals.

One to watch: Musaed Neda

Defender Musaed Neda is another star of the all-conquering Al-Qadisiya side in the domestic league and a vital member of Kuwait's backline who is also comfortable coming forward when necessary.

Coach: Goran Tufegdzic

Goran Tufegdzic has called on almost a decade of managerial experience in Kuwait to rejuvenate the tiny Gulf nation. The Serbian first came to the Middle East in 2002 as an assistant to Mohamed Ibrahim at Al-Qadisiya and enjoyed a second spell as assistant at the club between 2005 and 2007 before steering unheralded second division side Al Shabab into top flight in the 2007/08 season.

The 39-year-old is a renowned tactician, and he has received plenty of plaudits for turning around Kuwaiti international football since his appointment in 2009. Tufegdzic has instilled stricter discipline into an undoubtedly talented group of players and is known to encourage his teams to play the right way.

Record

2000; Quarter-finals, 2004; Group stage, 2007; Did not qualify

Soccerphile says

Whether home enthusiasm for a first Asian Cup success in 31 years is justified is debatable, but Kuwait should emerge unscathed from a tough group stage and could make their mark in the quarter-finals.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Khalid Al-Rashidi (Al Arabi), Nawaf Al Khaldi (Al-Qadsia), Hameed Youssef (Al-Salmiya)
Defenders: Yadoub Al Taher (Al Kuwait), Fahad Shaheen (Al-Kuwait), Hussian Fadel (Al-Qadsia), Amer Al Fadhel (Al-Qadsia), Ali Maqseed (Al-Arabi), Masaed Al-Enezi (Al-Qadsia), Ahmed Al-Rashidi (Al Arabi)
Midfielders: Mohammad Sanad (Al-Qadsia), Fahad Al Enezi (Kazma), Saleh Al-Sheikh (Al-Qadsia), Fahed Al Ebrahim (Al-Qadsia), Talal Al-Amer (Al-Qadsia), Walied Jumah (Al-Kuwait), Jarah Al Ateeqi (Al-Kuwait), Yousef Al-Sulaiman (Kazma), Abdoulaizi Al-Enezi (Al-Qadsia)
Forwards: Khaled Khalaf (Al-Arabi), Abdullah Al Shamali (Al-Ain), Hamad Al-Enezi (Al-Qadsia), Bader Al-Mutwa (Al-Qadsia)

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

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