FOOTBALL – “THIS is our time,” Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic declared yesterday as the kingdom’s senior men’s football national team continued to gear up for their next two matches in the third round of Asian qualification for the Fifa World Cup 2026.
The Bahrainis face an uphill task against Japan and Indonesia in just over a week in a pair of away fixtures that are crucial to their bid in securing a first-ever ticket to football’s ultimate tournament.
But Talajic reiterated his confidence in his players, boldly claiming that they will not miss this opportunity to make history for the kingdom.
“These boys have had quality already for three or four years, but as a coach, you know always some period when the team is growing up together – I think this is our time now,” Talajic told the GDN.
“The whole team is growing up – they now have a good mind, a winning mentality, and they believe and trust in one another. That is what is making me too much optimistic for these four games.
“This is a chance for this generation, and I know my boys, I know their character. We will not miss this chance. We will make all Bahrainis proud about us and we will qualify for the World Cup.”
The Bahrainis are scheduled to depart for Japan in two batches, starting with the first today evening. The other is scheduled to fly early tomorrow morning.
Their game with the Japanese is scheduled for March 20, and then they take on the Indonesians on March 25. Following these upcoming assignments, Bahrain will face Saudi Arabia at home on June 5 and then lock horns with China away on June 10 to complete this qualifying stage.
The nationals have some ground to make up on the Group C table, where they currently lie in fifth place but are tied with Indonesia, Saudi, and China on six points apiece. The Japanese lead the pool with 16 points, while Australia follow on seven.
“We are waiting for Japan’s [squad announcement] but we already know everything about them – I don’t think there will be too many changes, but it depends on them,” Talajic said. “We will give them hard work.
“Against Indonesia, every time on the list there are two or three new players. Now, there is one new goalkeeper from Serie A and another two coming from the Holland league – it is like we will play against Holland, but we are ready for anything. We will show what we can do, and we are not scared.”
Talajic has been encouraged by his players’ form in their local training gathering this past week.
“I am really proud about my boys, what they are doing during these preparations before we leave – they are making a really good job, working hard, and most important is all of them are happy, all of them are enjoying to be together, and this is making me unbelievably happy and proud about them,” Talajic said.
“We are really like one family, we prepared in a nice way yesterday, we had a small game between us, two groups, and it was unbelievable how they were working and how they listened, any instruction I gave to them, making it on the field. I am totally optimistic before we leave for Japan.”
Veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar said that the players are looking forward to stepping it up against quality opposition.
“It will be a tough two games, but we know how to manage these, we have to fight and play for our chances,” Jaafar told the GDN. “We know Japan are a very big team; they have almost qualified and want to guarantee it against us, but we will do our best. We will fight and we will try to get any advantage from this game.
“The atmosphere [on our team] is very good, the players are training very well.”
Bahrain go up against Japan at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, scheduled for a 1.35pm kick-off, Bahrain time; and then against Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, set for a 4.45pm kick-off, also Bahrain.
Talajic has 26 players for these next two games. The roster includes Jaafar, Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Komail Al Aswad, Mahdi Abduljabbar, Mahdi Humaidan, Ali Madan, Sayed Dhiya Saeed, Amine Benaddi, Waleed Al Hayyam, Ebrahim Luthfallah, Ismaeel Abdullatif, Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Ali Haram, Sayed Mahdi Baqer, Ahmed Bughammar, Abdulla Al Khalasi, Hazza Ali, Vincent Emmanuel, Jassim Al Shaikh, Hamad Shamsan, Hussain Abdulkarim, Ahmed Al Sherooqi, Ebrahim Al Khattal, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaie, Hussain Al Eker, and Abdulkarim Al Fardan.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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