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.
AC Milan prolong France ‘keeper Maignan deal by five years
- Italian media reported that Milan have almost doubled Maignan’s annual salary to five millions euros
- “AC Milan is pleased to announce the extension of Mike Maignan’s contract until June 30, 2031,” said Milan
MILAN: Mike Maignan signed a new deal with AC Milan that will keep the France goalkeeper at the San Siro until 2031, the Serie A giants confirmed on Saturday.
Italian media reported that Milan have almost doubled Maignan’s annual salary to five millions euros, ensuring their captain will stay.
“AC Milan is pleased to announce the extension of Mike Maignan’s contract until June 30, 2031,” said Milan, currently second in Serie A.
Maignan says he enjoys working with coach Massimiliano Allegri, who joined Milan in May 2025.
“He’s experienced and level-headed, he knows how to manage his group of goalkeepers. Working like that is much easier. I don’t want to make comparisons, but we get along well and he knows how to handle me,” Maignan said in December.
The deal comes after the 30-year-old rediscovered the form which earned him the nickname “Magic Mike” when he replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma between the sticks in 2021.
Just a few months ago he had looked sure to leave come the end of this season when his contract had been due to expire, with poor displays and a clutch of injuries playing their role in a breakdown of communication with the Milan hierarchy.
The only remaining star of the team that won Milan’s most recent league title in 2022, his time in red and black looked to be up as the seven-time European champions slumped to eighth in Serie A last season and failed to qualify for continental football.
But Maignan is back to his best and Milan went into the weekend five points behind league leaders and local rivals Inter Milan in the race for the Scudetto.
Milan have conceded 17 goals in 22 league matches. Maignan has nine clean sheets and has saved two penalties.
Allegri’s side face Bologna on Tuesday.
