The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
entertainment5 hours ago
With his team facing a must-win battle against India in their final Group A game to qualify for the next round in the AFC Asian Cup, Bahrain coach Miroslav Soukup uttered a rallying cry at the Sharjah Stadium on Sunday.
Anything less than three points against India in Monday's crunch encounter will end Bahrain's hopes of entering the knockout rounds.
With just one point in their kitty from their first two games, the Czech coach knows his team, which dominated possession against Thailand in their second game only to lose by a solitary goal, must play positive football against the tournament's surprise package, India.
"When you enter the pitch, you can decide whether you are the lion or the chicken. We need to be the lion in the next game. If we will be the chicken and wait for the lion, we will lose the game," Soukup said when asked about the mood in the Bahraini camp ahead of the India game.
"There is only one way to qualify for the next round. Which is to win our final group game. Our team is ready to do the maximum to earn the three points tomorrow (Monday). Everybody knows in the team that they have to play better than they did against Thailand," said Soukup whose team drew 1-1 with hosts UAE before losing their second game to Thailand.
The Bahraini strikers, according to Soukup, must find their scoring boots if they hope to compete in the next round.
"My must trust our strikers. They can score the goals, no doubt about that. We have to play better in the final third and our finishing needs to be better," he said.
Soukup then praised Stephen Constantine's fast-improving Blue Tigers. "We know how they play. They also played very well against the UAE. They created many scoring chances. But the game is about result," he said
"I was also at the stadium in Abu Dhabi when India beat Thailand 4-1. They play with the same style. They play good long balls. I hope they can't repeat that against us tomorrow.
"Also, we know their coach's history. It's his second stint with the team. But, you know, the game is not decided on the whiteboard. It's decided on the pitch. I hope our players remember this when they enter the pitch tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Bahrain captain Jamal Rashed Abdulrahman Yusuf says his team is ready to deliver in the big game.
"We are ready. Tomorrow is our last chance. In every match, there is pressure on us to win. We are always under pressure to win. Hopefully, we will get the three points tomorrow," the 30-year-old winger said.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com
The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
entertainment5 hours ago
The students' demands range from a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas to calls for universities to stop investing in Israeli enterprises
world5 hours ago
Despite Kohli's flowing form ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, pundits have raised concerns over his strike-rate
cricket5 hours ago
Saudi Arabia has begun to explore extracting lithium from sea water
business6 hours ago
Speaking after meeting Lebanese leaders, French foreign minister says there had been "a lot of progress" over the French proposals
mena6 hours ago
The three-shot winner from Japan says he is aiming to become a member of the PGA Tour in the future
sports6 hours ago
Big-hitting Nienaber falters at the finish to settle for secondwhile former Abu Dhabi resident David Horsey takes the third spot at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
sports6 hours ago
The UAE is India's second-largest export destination after the US
economy6 hours ago