Bahrain eye play-off spot against Uzbekistan June 17, 2009
Bahrain hold home advantage and a clear edge in points when they clash with Uzbekistan in Manama on Wednesday with a place in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup finals at stake.
The Gulf side are on seven points in Asian Group A compared to their opponents four so a draw will be enough for the hosts to finish third and book a spot in the playoff against the team finishing third in Group B.
The winner of that match will clash with New Zealand, the winner of the Oceania Zone, in a final playoff to decide the team to book a place for next year’s showpiece event to be held in South Africa.
Australia (17 points) and Japan (15 points) have already booked the two automatic slots from this group while Qatar (six points) are out of the running.
Bahrain’s Czech coach Milan Macala was upbeat about his team's chances.
He has an injury-free squad while the return of talismanic striker Ala’a Hubail from a ligament injury and midfielder Abdulla Fatai, after serving a one-match suspension, have also increased his options.
"We may have an advantage over them (Uzbekistan) in terms of points, but I want our boys to go for full points," said the 64-year-old veteran tactician.
"We have enough knowledge of them but at the same time we are no strangers to them."
Bahrain qualified for the final playoff four years ago but lost out to Trinidad and Tobago for a place in the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.
They will certainly be eager to repeat, and if possible better, that feat this time around.
Uzbekistan, on the other hand, lost out in the penultimate playoff four years ago - against Bahrain.
Their current coach Mirdjalal Kasimov was the captain of the team four years which lost to Bahrain on the away goals rule.
Uzbekistan will again be relying on last year’s Asian player of the year Server Djeparov to keep their outside chances of progressing alive.
They not only face an upbeat unit but also harsh playing conditions with the peak summer temperature in the desert hovering around 45 degrees with 55 percent humidity.
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