Pakistani newspaper: 'Vietnam definitely aims for Asian Games gold medal'
Football Pakistan newspaper affirms that Olympic Vietnam is the most worth-watching young football team in Asia today.
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Pakistan's squad for men's football at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo:PFF |
In the article "Vietnam is a high-dose test for Pakistan on the day of returning from hell", writer Faizan Liaquat commented that the home team's chances of winning are not high.
"Pakistan is in a tough group as Vietnam is one of the best young teams on the continent. They reached the final of the U23 Asian Cup, and only lost 1-2 to Uzbekistan earlier this year. Vietnam has prepared well for the Asian Games by winning a friendly tournament at home. There they beat Palestine and Oman, and drew with Uzbekistan. Vietnam will certainly start the Asian Games quickly and aim to win a gold medal," the article said.
After being eliminated in the first World Cup qualifier against Yemen in March 2015, Pakistan was banned by FIFA due to government interference in football. The Asian Games is the first official tournament they have returned to. "The last time Pakistan won a match at the Asian Games was in 1974. Do we have any chance to erase this curse this year? The answer will be on August 14 - which is also our National Day. There is no more meaningful gift than if Pakistan creates a surprise against a highly rated team like Vietnam in the opening match," Faizan concluded.
Pakistan will have the services of goalkeeper Saqib Hanif - who has just returned from Maldives. He, along with captain Saddam Hussain and midfielder Mehmood Khan, are the three players over the age of 23 for Pakistan.
List of Pakistani players
Goalkeeper: Saqib Hanif (AA Maalhos – Maldives), Ahsanullah (SSGC)
Defender: Mohammad Umar Hayat, Muhammad Bilal (WAPDA), Mohsin Ali (Pakistan Navy), Mohammad Sohail, Mehdi Hassan (PAF), Shehbaz Younus (Pakistan Army), Arsalan Ali (KRL)
Midfielder: Ali Khan Niazi, Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Waseem Asghar (PCAA), Mehmood Khan (KRL), Adeel Ali (WAPDA), Saddam Hussain (Larnaka Gençler Birliği – North Cyprus), Muhammad Basit Amin (SNGPL)
Forward:Mohammad Riaz (K-Electric), Maqbool (NBP), Mansoor Khan (PAF), Yousuf Ahmed (KRL)