LONDON: Syria coach Bernd Stange has told his players to focus on winning their next match against Jordan after they were held 0-0 by Palestine on Sunday.
The Syrians were strongly fancied to beat their neighbors but were unable to find a way past Noureddine Ould Ali鈥檚 men in Sharjah. That now means Stange鈥檚 team have to get a result against Jordan on Thursday to have a chance of progression to the knockout stages.
鈥淟ooking back at the game, we tried to do everything. We changed the system and increased the pressure but we didn鈥檛 come through,鈥� said Stange.
鈥淲e have a strong starting XI and a equally strong bench with Mohammed Osman, Yousef Kalfa and other players but we were playing against a wall of a very organized Palestinian team.鈥�
The German, though, was quick to praise his opposite number, Noureddine Ould Ali and his players for the way they took on Omar Khribin and Co.
鈥淵ou must give respect when it is due and you must respect the tactics of your opponents. They (Palestine) played very well and made it hard for us to find the target.
鈥淢y players are very disappointed with the result. They wanted to give their best for Syria but it鈥檚 difficult to play these kind of teams, when they play compact football.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 blame anybody, just my team for not using at least a handful of clear chances to score. That鈥檚 why we are more disappointed.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 football. One-way football over 90 minutes did not bring the result, the three points, we wanted to achieve. And now we have to look forward to the next match against Jordan.鈥�