FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN are eager to bounce back and have already forgotten about their heavy defeat to Japan last month in their previous outing in continental qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
This was emphasised last night by veteran national team forward Ismaeel Abdullatif as the kingdom’s senior men‘s squad gears up to host Indonesia on Thursday in their next Group C fixture of the qualifiers.
“We have already moved on from the Japan game; we are here now with a good spirit and we will stand up again and hope to make a good result,” Abdullatif told the GDN yesterday on the sidelines of their training session at the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) pitches in Riffa.
“We played a very good game against Australia and took three points, and then had a bad game against Japan. This is football – we can lose to any team. They had a very strong performance and we were not in a good way, especially in the second half.
“But we are now looking forward only to our game with Indonesia. It will not be easy. It will be a tough match, but we will be ready for it.”
Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic echoed Abdullatif’s sentiments. The Croatian tactician added that he was pleased with the focus his players have shown so far in their preparations, and that they are taking their upcoming fixture seriously against a dangerous Indonesian side.
“Everybody is really focused on this game,” Talajic told the GDN last night. “I am happy because all the boys understand that this match against Indonesia will be a very difficult one. Some people think they are an easy opponent, but that is totally not the case.
“They are a full international team – they have several players from the top Holland league, one in England, another in Australia, a goalkeeper in the US – this is an international squad.
“Our boys know they will be a tough opponent, and they are really concentrating on this game.”
Talajic expects the Indonesians to be formidable defensively, just as they had shown in their previous two qualifiers, which included a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia followed by a goalless stalemate against Australia.
“Indonesia are a very good defensive side,” said Talajic. “They played Saudi and Australia and conceded only one goal. Their transition and counter-attacking is also good. We have to take care of these, and because of these things we have to be patient, fully focused, and we must wait for our chances.
“We have to concentrate from the first to the last second. Our chances will come, and we must score.
“If we win 1-0, I will be happy. For me, the most important thing is the victory and the three points in our account.”
BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa attended yesterday’s training session.
Meanwhile, the first batch of Indonesian players and team officials have arrived in Bahrain. They were welcomed by a large group of local supporters at Bahrain International Airport, and also later met with Indonesian Ambassador to Bahrain Ardi Hermawan.
The Bahrainis are currently third in the Group C standings behind Japan and Saudi, while Indonesia follow in fourth, ahead of Australia and China.
Bahrain’s match with Indonesia at the National Stadium on Thursday evening is scheduled for a 7pm kick-off.
In other Group C contests that day, Australia host China at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, South Australia, starting at 12.10pm, Bahrain time; and Saudi play at home against Japan at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, kicking off at 9pm, also Bahrain.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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