In fact, the lone goal scored against them was just as much a product of the Azkals anticipating the final whistle and easing up on the defensive side of things as it was the incisive passing of the Bahrainis in that final sequence.
We've improved over the years and the added quality of players like Javier Patino and Iain Ramsay plus the unexpectedly stellar play of Phil Younghusband at midfield, the continued development of our younger players like Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo, and the depth of our bench, which feature dangerous and experienced scorers like Misagh Bahadoran and Mark Hartmann, and we've got the best Azkals team in recent years, maybe even in history.
However, we've also got to realize that were far from being worldbeaters, or even the favorites in our group. That remains to be North Korea, who played their way into the last World Cup tournament. Uzbekistan is also dangerous and Yemen's lowly ranking belies the fact that they have a solid, experienced team who've not been able to play together so much because of conflict in their country.
Which means tonight is a dangerous game for the Azkals. It's the game we may be overlooking, simply because, on paper, we should win.
For us to win tonight, Patino, Ramsay, Younghusband, Ott and Bahadoran must keep them on their back heels. The back four must play solid defense and instigate plays on either flank while keeping in mind the long ball for quick counters. That being said, I do think the Azkals will win tonight.
Prediction: Azkals 2 (Patino, Younghusband), Yemen 0.
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