LONDON: Yemen coach Jan Kocian has told his players to forget about their 5-0 mauling at the hands of Iran and focus on doing their best to ensure progression to the knockout stages.
Yemen were making their Asian Cup debut on Monday, but any hopes they had of making a fairy tale start int eh continental competition were dealt a hammer blow in the first 45 minutes as Iran stormed into a 3-0 lead.
But having seen Carlos Queiroz’s side add another two after the break Kocian admitted Iran were a class apart and any expectation that Yemen could take on the heavyweights was misplaced.
“We have to live with this result but we have two more games to play and we can play better,” said the Slovakian, striking a defiant tone despite their Group D mugging.
“Iran were physically superior to us — they are a team that plays at the World Cup. We have no such experience.”
Given the parlous state of football in Yemen, where players have been kidnapped by extremists or gone off to fight in the civil war, just qualifying for the Asian Cup was an astonishing achievement for Yemen.
“We hardly have the chance to train together and we didn’t have enough time to prepare for the Asian Cup,” Kocian said.
“Iran’s players play in the best leagues in the world,” he shrugged. “We came here with two months of preparation — we just have to leave this game behind and move on.”
Yemen coach tells players to move on from Iran mauling
Yemen coach tells players to move on from Iran mauling
- Jan Kocian admitted his team were not in the same class as Iran.
- Slovakian wants his side to lift their game for remaining Group D matches.
Spain will host 2030 World Cup final, says RFEF president
- Louzan did not say whether the match would be played at Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou
- Once completed in late 2028, the new stadium in Morocco is expected to hold 115,000 spectators
MADRID: Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan has said that Spain will stage the final of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Morocco wants to stage the game in Casablanca at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a huge stadium currently under construction north of the city.
“Spain has proven its organizational capacity over many years. It will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be held here,” Louzan said late on Monday at an event organized by the Madrid Sports Press Association.
Louzan did not say whether the match would be played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu or Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the two leading candidates.
Once completed in late 2028, the new stadium in Morocco is expected to hold 115,000 spectators. Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) President Faouzi Lekjaa last year expressed his wish to see a final against Spain in Casablanca.
Louzan also alluded to the challenges Morocco faced during its hosting of the last Africa Cup of Nations, including the chaotic scenes during the final between Senegal and Morocco this month.
That match, which Senegal won 1-0, was overshadowed by fan disruptions and player protests that temporarily halted play.
“Morocco is really undergoing a transformation in every sense, with magnificent stadiums,” Louzan said. “We must recognize what has been done well. But in the Africa Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.”
FIFA and the Portuguese and Moroccan football federations have not responded to requests for comment on the final’s location.
FIFA told Reuters last year it was premature to decide the venue for the 2030 final, saying the host city for the 2026 World Cup final was revealed only two years before the tournament. World soccer’s ruling body has the final say on where the match will be played.
