LONDON: Saudi Arabia are feeling confident and ready to take on anyone, that is the message Juan Antonio Pizzi has delivered to the team’s title rivals ahead of today’s Group E clash against Lebanon.
The Green Falcons won their opening match in emphatic style against North Korea on Tuesday. The 4-0 win seemingly imbuing the side with a lot of belief as well as the all-important three points.
They can confirm their spot in the second round with victory over a Lebanon side who felt aggrieved during their 2-0 loss at the hands of Qatar — coach Miodrag Radulovic hitting out at what his thought was awful refereeing.
Pizzi and his players are chomping at the bit to get at the Cedars and confirm that they are one of the teams to beat in the UAE.
“If the team continues at the level that they did against North Korea, it will be difficult for any other nation in the tournament to defeat us,” the coach said.
“We are ready for (the match against Lebanon), we hope to apply what we planned for in the match. We trust in our abilities and will look to impose our philosophy.”
Such confidence is perhaps understandable. The win was Saudi Arabia’s first in an Asian Cup since 1996 and only confirmed that the good run of form shown coming into the tournament was a pointer to possible success rather than false promise.
But while confidence is clear for all too see Pizzi insisted they will not be taking victory against Lebanon for granted.
“I previously said at the beginning of the tournament that every team has its strong points, and I think Lebanon are ready to match our strengths. We know the only way to win is to do our best,” the former Spain international said.
Green Falcons midfielder Hussein Al-Moqahwi illustrated the players were singing from the same song book as their boss revealing he and his teammates were expecting a tough test against Radulovic’s team.
“Tomorrow’s game will be tough, especially since Lebanon lost their first match,” the midfielder said. “This is one of the most dangerous games, but hopefully the three points will be ours.”
Before the tournament Pizzi emphasized the benefit of finally having his players all together for a long stretch of time, saying he was able implement his ideas far better than at the World Cup, when he was only six months into the job and very much in at the deep end.
That is something Al-Moqahwi agreed with.
“We have adapted to the manager’s style of play and hopefully will be able to implement it during the match,” he said.
Juan Antonio Pizzi confident Saudi Arabia can mount an Asian Cup title challenge
Juan Antonio Pizzi confident Saudi Arabia can mount an Asian Cup title challenge
Dubai Basketball stun Greek giants Olympiacos to win in overtime
- Score of 108-98 came in round 26 of EuroLeague and was the 12th victory of their debut season
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball recorded the 12th EuroLeague win of their debut season with a 108-98 overtime thriller against Olympiacos at Coca-Cola Arena.
From the first whistle, Dubai played with intent in front of the 6,500-strong crowd. Defensive pressure, fast breaks and fearless shot-making gave the home side early control, but like all big European basketball nights, the drama was far from over.
Olympiacos battled back, the intensity rose, and a last-second three-pointer sent the game into overtime, briefly silencing the crowd. But supported by one of the strongest home crowds Dubai has seen this season, the team rose to the occasion in the final five minutes.
Dubai Basketball’s head coach, Jurica Golemac, highlighted the importance of the home crowd’s support and said: “It was a very intensive game. A lot of physicality, a lot of energy. We were up and we didn’t lose the passion. We showed character in the end to win this game.
“Real Madrid is in two days. We’re playing at home, and hopefully even more fans will come. That support is very important for us — everyone feels like a family here.”
Dubai responded with composure and authority in the extra period, locking in defensively and moving the ball with confidence to close the game with a statement finish on a night that demanded character.
Mfiondu Kabengele dominated inside with a powerful double-double, while Dwayne Bacon and McKinley Wright delivered when it mattered most. Aleksa Avramovic set the tone early on both ends, and the collective effort once again highlighted Dubai’s growing identity — fearless at home, united under pressure.
With the regular season entering its defining stretch the Coca-Cola Arena continues to be a fortress, and belief around the team continues to grow as the race for the EuroLeague post-season heats up.
The next home game brings one of the most famous teams in the world to the Coca-Cola Arena, when Real Madrid will play Dubai at home for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 5.
