TODAY’S MATCHES
Group ‘E’: North Korea v Qatar
(Al Ain, 2pm)
Group ‘F’: Oman v Japan
(Abu Dhabi, 4.30pm).
Turkmenistan v Uzbekistan
(Dubai, 7pm)
BAHRAIN national team last night stepped up their preparations for their do-or-die Asian Cup clash against India in Sharjah tomorrow night, starting at 7pm Bahrain time.
Today’s final training session will be held at Al Sharjah Club Stadium, the match venue.
The national team had a training session last night at the ground adjacent to Al Sharjah Club and it was supervised by head coach Miroslav Soukup the Czech Republic.
It was Bahrain’s first training session following their shock defeat to Thailand 1-0 in their second Group ‘A’ match on Thursday. Bahrain drew with hosts UAE 1-1 in their first match.
Bahrain have to beat India and hope the UAE get the better of Thailand to ensure a berth in the last 16 round of the championship.
UAE are on top of the group with four points, followed by India with three, who are ahead of Thailand (also on three points) on goals difference while Bahrain are last with a single point.
Last night’s training session saw attended by Bahrain Football Association vice-president for technical affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Salman Al Khalifa and other members.
Meanwhile, South Korean coach Paulo Bento last night said the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min will not change their approach to a tournament in which they have reached the last 16 knockout round, .
The Koreans laboured to a 1-0 win over debutants Kyrgyzstan on Friday, having beaten the Philippines by the same scoreline in their opening match at the continental championship, as they failed to turn their domination into goals.
But with 26-year-old Son due to join up with the squad on Monday after Spurs’ Premier League game against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday, the former Portugal coach expects his team’s overall game to improve.