Palestinians Face One of Asia's Toughest Soccer Tests to Start the 3rd Round of World Cup Qualifying

FILE -Palestinian team stand for the national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Iran and Palestine at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024.Aijaz Rahi - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE -Palestinian team stand for the national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Iran and Palestine at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024.Aijaz Rahi - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Palestinians Face One of Asia's Toughest Soccer Tests to Start the 3rd Round of World Cup Qualifying

FILE -Palestinian team stand for the national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Iran and Palestine at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024.Aijaz Rahi - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE -Palestinian team stand for the national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Iran and Palestine at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024.Aijaz Rahi - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Palestinian team is closer to the World Cup than ever after reaching the third round of qualifying in Asia as one of the top 18 on the continent.
The next phase starts with one of the toughest possible soccer assignments in Asia, with the Palestinians taking on South Korea in front of 66,000 fans in Seoul on Thursday. The South Koreans have qualified for the past 10 World Cup tournaments, and were semifinalists in 2002.
The top two from each of the three groups in this Asian qualifier will claim six of the eight spots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation at the 2026 World Cup. The teams that finish third and fourth will go into a fourth round to compete for two more spots.
“Our goal is to be among the first four teams in the group, and we are capable of that,” Makram Daboub, head coach of the Palestinian team, told The Associated Press. “I'm very happy to have reached this important stage, and I am very proud of the players, and it is the result of teamwork."
Facing South Korea and English Premier League talent such as Son Heung-min is a different challenge for the team ranked No. 96 in the world.
“Son is a very excellent player, but we are playing against the Korean national team and he also has other good players, so our focus is more on the group and playing with the best teams in Asia,” Daboub said.
The other teams in Group B include Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Kuwait.
The Palestinians spent time in Malaysia preparing for their opening match and will return to Kuala Lumpur for next week's game against Jordan.
Daboub's squad is familiar with playing on the road.
The Palestinian team progressed through the second round of continental qualifying for the first time in its history in June but, because of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, staged its “home” games in nearby Kuwait and Qatar.
Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza in response to an Oct. 7 Hamas attack into southern Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 people were abducted.
The war is now in its 11th month and has killed more than 40,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.
“The situation is getting more difficult in all aspects,” Daboub said. “What worries me most is, in addition to the psychological aspect as a result of the situation, there is also the physical condition of the players, because most of them are without clubs.”
The game in Seoul is the first for Hong Myung-bo in his second spell as head coach of the South Korean team.
“I think the match is important for the national team, not for me personally,” Hong, who resigned after the 2014 tournament in Brazil, said. “This is World Cup qualification.”
The toughest qualifying group in Asia is Group C, which contains Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Japan, which opens at home against China, has 20 Europe-based players on its roster and is Asia’s highest-ranked team at No. 18.
Australia and Saudi Arabia are each aiming for their seventh World Cup appearance.
“We need to focus on our job, get that job done, because it’s important. Phase two is over and phase three is beginning,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said ahead of Australia's opening game against Bahrain. “Everyone starts on zero points, zero goals for and against, and it all starts from now.”
In Group A, Iran is expected to qualify for a fourth successive World Cup and 2022 host Qatar is aiming to advance through qualifying for the first time. Qatar opens against United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan hosts North Korea.



England Captain Kane Sets Sights on Ronaldo's Enduring Career

England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
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England Captain Kane Sets Sights on Ronaldo's Enduring Career

England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)

England captain Harry Kane plans to follow Cristiano Ronaldo's example by extending his career as long as possible.
Portugal striker Ronaldo scored the 900th goal of his remarkable career in a Nations League victory over Croatia on Thursday.
It was the 39-year-old's 213th appearance for his country and the achievement has provided Bayern Munich forward Kane with an incentive as he approaches the latter stages of his own career.
Kane endured a difficult Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate's side were beaten 2-1 in the final by Spain after a spluttering campaign.
But the 31-year-old is keen to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo as he prepares for England's Nations League opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
"Cristiano is the benchmark, not only being one of the best footballers ever to play, but also the benchmark of how long you can play for at a higher level," Kane told reporters on Friday.
"I think sometimes in football and maybe in sport in general, there's a perception that when you get to your thirties it's time to start slowing down, playing fewer games and not playing to the high level.
"Cristiano is just showing that every week, every time he plays, every time he scores, so from my point of view, that's the aim.
"I want to play as long as possible for England and it's great to see other athletes doing it in front of me. It shows that it's possible, and it's just about how you feel yourself.
"I feel in a really good place, both physically and mentally and whatever noise there is around, as long as you keep performing and keep doing what you know you can, that's all you can do."
Kane is in line to win his 99th cap against Ireland after another draining summer, with little time to rest after the Euros before returning to action.
While acknowledging the physical demands of ever-longer seasons, the former Tottenham striker said the increasing pressure is something players simply have to get used to.
"There was a lot of talk during the Euros about me and my condition, but like I said then, I felt in good shape," he said.
"Did the games go the way I wanted? No. Not really. But there were a lot of us who felt below par in terms of individual performances and we did extremely well to get to where we got to, which was down to our team spirit and cohesion we created over the years.
"But sometimes when it does not go the way you wanted it to go, there is always something to look for and someone to blame. But I feel good, I have come back in a good place and I have started the season well."