Game Information
What: International FIFA Friendly
When: September 6th, 2016
Where: Dora International Stadium; Dora, Palestine
Kickoff: 18:00 Local; 1500 GMT
Streams/TV: pal24.net game available on Palestine TV/Palestine Sport.
Previous Encounters: None.
Full preview after the jump...
Changing of the Guard
This match will be the first in the post-Ashraf Nu'man era. The forward announced his international retirement after a year of tumult which saw his form fluctuate and his role in the national team reduced. The forward, issued a statement on social media saying he was not happy with his form and wanted to focus on getting up to speed with Shabab Al-Khaleel this season. It's an unexpected development for a player that dominated Palestinian football for a three year span between 2012-2015.
National team captain Abdelatif Bahdari has also been omitted from the squad by Abdel Nasser Barakat. No reason was provided although the player did also take to Facebook to clarify that he still wants to play for Palestine. One has to think that the player's inability to train with his new club Talea El-Geish played a part in the decision of the coaching staff.
Tajikistan Preparations
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| Tajikistan's national team arriving in Hebron |
Tajikistan might have never stood a realistic chance of qualifying for the final stage of World Cup qualifiers but they are no slouches either. Their dour results meant a playoff was against Bangladesh was necessary to clinch a place in Asian Cup qualifying. Their second 5-0 rout of the South Asian side means they can now focus on preparing for the final stage.
Things got off to a positive start last month with a 0-0 draw against Syria. In three games, new manager Khakhim Fuzailov is 2-0-1 with a +6 goal differential.
Under previous management, the Tajiks collected a lone point on their travels during World Cup qualifying (a 1-1 draw to Bangladesh). An away match against Palestine (undefeated at senior level at home) will be a good litmus test for the Central Asian side.
Goals for the Lions come mostly from Istiklol's Manuchkher Dzhalilov who had six goals in World Cup qualifying and seven in 13 caps.
Other players that figure to feature prominently are the European triumvirate of Jahongir Ergashev (Dinamo Brest), Parvizdzhon Umarbayev (Lokomotiv Plovdiv), Nurridin Davranov (Dunav Ruse).
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| Carlos Salom (C) should receive his first cap |
Palestine Squad
Shadi Shaban and Mahmoud Eid turned down call ups in order to better acclimate with their new clubs. Injury concerns have ruled out Mohammed Mar'aba entirely while the Haitham Dheeb, Alexis Norambuena, Ahmed Abu Nahya, and Rodrigo Gatas could all miss the encounter due to injuries picked up in the Yasser Arafat Cup.
Barakat's squad of 25 players has been bolstered by the arrival of Jaka Ihbeisheh (Al-Shammal/QAT), Yashir Pinto Islame (Malaka United/MAS), Jonathan Cantillana (Kuala Lumpur/MAS), and Carlos Salom (Union Española/CHI).
They join the following list of players:
Goalkeepers
Toufic AliClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Age: 25 (08/11/1990)
Appearances: 26 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Rami HamadiClub: Thaqafi Tulkarem
Age: 22 (24/03/1994)
Appearances: None
Last Call-up: v. Malaysia (WCQ 12/11/2015)
Azmi ShweikiClub: Ahli Al-Khaleel
Age: 30 (13/06/1986)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Kamel Kna'nehClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: None
Defenders
Mohammed AbukhamisClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Center Back
Age: 24 (25/05/1991)
Appearances: 1 (0)Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Alaa Abu SalehClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Center Back/Right Back
Age: 29 (25/06/1987)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: None
Muamen AgbariaClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Right Back
Age: 23 (24/08/1993)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Algeria (Friendly, 17/02/2016)
Mus'ab Al-BattatClub: Shabab Al-Dhahrieh
Position: Right Back
Age: 22 (12/11/1993)
Appearances: 12 (1)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 08/10/2015)
Haitham DeebClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Center Back
Age: 30 (03/12/1986)
Appearances: 22 (1)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Abdullah JaberClub: Ahli Al-Khaleel
Position: Left Back
Age: 23 (17/02/1993)
Appearances: 22 (1)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Alexis Norambuena Club: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Age: 32 (31/03/1984)
Position: Right Back
Appearances: 10 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Fadi Salbees Club: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Left Back
Age: 22 (01/05/1993)
Appearances: 1 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Tamer SalahClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Centre Back
Age: 30 (03/04/1986)
Appearances: 9 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Midfielders
Mahmoud AbuwardaClub: Merkaz Balata
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 (31/05/1995)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Algeria (Friendly, 17/02/2016)
Oday Al-DabbaghClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Midfielder
Age: ?
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: None
Mohammed Darwish Club: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 25 (02/06/1991)
Appearances: 6 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Hamad GhanayimClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29 (08/07/1987)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: None
Oday KharoubClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 23 (04/02/1993)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Algeria (Friendly 17/02/2016)
Tamer SeyamClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Winger
Age: 23 (28/11/1992)
Appearances: 13 (3)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Pablo Tamburini Club: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 (30/01/1990)
Appearances: 8 (1)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Mohammed Yameen Club: Thaqafi Tulkarem
Position: Midfield
Age: 21 (19/09/1994)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Forwards
Ahmad Abu NahyehClub: Shabab Al-Khaleel
Position: Striker
Age: 25 (07/07/1991)
Appearances: 4 (4)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
Rodrigo GattasClub: Hilal Al-Quds
Position: Striker
Age: 24 (02/12/1991)
Appearances: 0 (0)
Last Call-up: None
Sameh Mar'abaClub: Thaqafi Tulkarem
Position: Forward
Age: 24 (18/03/1992)
Appearances: 8 (2)
Last Call-up: v. Timor Leste (WCQ 29/03/2016)
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