SINGAPORE, 19 June 2007 — Saudi Arabia, Australia, Oman and United Arab Emirates will use Singapore as their pre-Asian Cup training base with a series of warm-up games scheduled here this month and in early July.
Triple Asian Cup champions Saudi Arabia, undergoing a rebuilding phase as they attempt to reclaim their status as the region’s best, will play five friendlies in their drive to once again lift the trophy.
Led by Brazilian coach Helio Angos, they take on UAE on June 24, Singapore on July 27, Singapore U-23s on June 28, Oman on July 1 and North Korea on July 4.
Oman, with former Argentinean international Gabriel Calderon at the helm, are also scheduled to play Singapore U-23s on June 25 and North Korea on June 27, while Gulf Cup champions UAE will take on North Korea on July 1.
The Australians, boasting an array of English Premier League stars, assemble in the city-state this week to acclimatize ahead of their final warm-up game against Singapore on June 30. They are also scheduled to play a Singapore under-23 side on July 1, according to the Football Association of Singapore, but this match is expected to feature reserve players.
The Socceroos’ Everton attacking midfielder Tim Cahill believes coping with the hot and humid weather in the four host nations — Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — will be one of their toughest problems.
“I think the biggest hurdle we’re facing is acclimatizing to the weather,” he said. “The heat and humidity pose as big a threat as the opposition we’re going to come up against.”
The Asian Cup finals kick off on July 7 in Bangkok with the final on July 27 in Jakarta.
Guadeloupe March On to
Face Mexico in Semis
In Houston, Guadeloupe, competing in their first Gold Cup, reached the semifinals of the competition after upsetting Honduras with a 2-1 victory on Sunday.
Guadeloupe will meet Mexico in the last four on Thursday with the chance to play either hosts United States or Canada in the final. Mexico beat Costa Rica, who had three men sent off, in their tie earlier on Sunday.
Progress to the semi-finals is the biggest success in Guadeloupe’s soccer history — the country is not a member of world governing body FIFA as it is a French overseas department and not an independent state.
Jocelyn Angloma drove Guadeloupe ahead in the 17th minute with a confident finish after a break down the right. Two minutes later the Hondurans were reeling after Richard Socrier thundered home a header, rising superbly at the back post to double the lead.
Honduras fought back in the 70th minute with a header from striker Carlos Pavon but were unable to make the most of late pressure.
An extra-time goal from striker Jared Borgetti gave Mexico victory in a bad-tempered tie against Costa Rica.
An evenly balanced clash between the two Central American sides turned sour just before the break when, following some angry exchanges, Costa Rica’s Allan Aleman was sent off.
