Latest news with #JuanPizzi
Arab Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Arab Times
Pizzi: Kuwait will fight until the end in the World Cup qualifier against Palestine
KUWAIT CITY, June 4: Argentinian coach Juan Pizzi reaffirmed that his objective with the Kuwaiti national football team is simple: to win. It's a goal shared by Palestine, with both teams determined to keep their hopes of qualifying for the next round alive. Speaking at a press conference yesterday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Pizzi said, 'The Blues are ready for the match,' emphasizing that the technical staff has selected the best players available for the squad. He praised the players' enthusiasm, particularly with the match being played on home soil, and expressed satisfaction with the team's recent performances. He noted that every player has been working hard and delivering a strong showing in training, aiming to secure victories in the final two group matches. Pizzi emphasized his commitment to possession-based, high-performance football—an approach he has maintained throughout his coaching career. He pointed to clear signs of progress in Kuwait's style of play since he took charge last July, saying he remains optimistic ahead of the Palestine match. Addressing the imminent expiration of his contract in July, Pizzi stated, 'I have developed a general plan for the future beyond the qualifiers. Whether I continue or not, the aim is to develop the team and work hard to raise our level.' He also underlined the importance of investing in young talent, saying, 'Including young players is essential to the future of the game. They must be active in the domestic league to support our developmental goals.' Mishari Ghannam confirmed that all players are prepared and motivated to perform at their best. 'We haven't lost our passion for victory. We will fight to achieve our goal and give it our all until the final match,' he said. On the opposing side, Palestine coach Ihab Abu Jazar expressed appreciation to Kuwait for its warm reception and ongoing support for the Palestinian team. 'We're playing to win and revive hope, even if only a glimmer. We believe in our players until the final whistle,' he said. Abu Jazar also praised the improvements in Kuwait's team since the Gulf Cup 26, noting that certain circumstances had worked against them in previous qualifiers. 'We've studied Kuwait carefully. Our goal is to claim the three most crucial points in our qualifying campaign,' he added.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Pizzi rallies Kuwait ahead of decisive World Cup qualifiers against Palestine and South Korea
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Kuwait continues its intensive daily training sessions at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, home of Al-Nasr Club, as it prepares for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Palestine (June 5) and South Korea (June 10). These matches represent the ninth and tenth (final) rounds of Group B in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Under the guidance of Argentine coach Juan Pizzi, the technical staff met with players before the first training session, stressing the importance of maximum effort, particularly in the pivotal clash against Palestine. Pizzi urged the team to maintain focus, strictly follow tactical instructions, and execute their roles to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the Asian World Cup play-offs. Currently, Kuwait sits at the bottom of Group B with 5 points. It must win both upcoming matches to stay in contention. However, qualification will also depend on Oman losing its remaining two games. The group standings are led by South Korea with 16 points, followed by Jordan (13), Iraq (12), Oman (10), and Palestine (6). The Kuwaiti team will begin a training camp starting tomorrow, continuing through the match days. It is scheduled to travel to Seoul next Friday to face the South Korean side. Coach Pizzi has called up a 26-player roster for the qualifiers, including key names like Saud Al-Hoshan, Fahad Al-Hajri, Yousef Nasser, and Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, among others. Meanwhile, the Palestine national team delegation is set to arrive in Kuwait today to commence its training sessions immediately. Palestine striker Wissam Abu Ali will join the squad from Cairo, and Oday Al-Dabbagh is already participating in the training camp, which started in mid-May.
Arab Times
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait banks on home support in pivotal World Cup qualifier against Oman
KUWAIT CITY, March 24: Kuwait's World Cup qualification hopes hang in the balance as they prepare to host Oman in a decisive encounter at 9:15 PM this Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. The match marks the eighth round of Group B in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Elsewhere in Group B, Jordan will take on South Korea at 2:00 pm, while Palestine faces Iraq at 9:15 pm at Amman International Stadium. South Korea leads the group with 15 points, followed by Iraq and Jordan, who are tied for second with 12 points each. Oman sits in fourth place with 7 points, while Kuwait is fifth with 5 points—just two points ahead of Palestine, which remains at the bottom of the standings. The top two teams from each of the three groups will secure direct qualification to the World Cup, while the third- and fourth-place teams will enter the playoffs, divided into two groups, competing for two and a half spots. For Kuwait, victory is the only viable option to keep their qualification hopes alive and boost their chances of finishing in third or fourth place. A draw would extend their chances into the final two rounds, but a loss could significantly diminish their hopes of advancing. The Blues will be without star striker Yousef Nasser, who scored both goals against Iraq in the previous round but, is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. This forced Argentine coach Juan Pizzi to seek an alternative in attack, with Salman Al-Awadhi and Fawaz Mbilish emerging as potential replacements. Another tactical option could see Kuwait deploying a "false nine," with Eid Al-Rashidi or Mubarak Al-Fenini filling the role. Beyond tactics, the coaching staff is banking on the team's rising morale following its strong performance against Iraq in Basra. Additionally, a strong home crowd is expected to provide a crucial boost, especially given the Blues' noticeable improvement in recent months. Oman, under coach Rashid Jaber, recognizes the significance of this fixture. A win would dramatically improve its chances of progressing to the next round and put pressure on Iraq and Jordan. It will draw confidence from its resilient 1-1 draw against South Korea in the previous round. Qatari referee Salman Falahi will officiate the match, assisted by Ramzan Al-Nuaimi and Majed Al-Shammari. Video Assistant Referees (VAR) Abdullah Al-Marri and Mohammed Ahmed will also be in charge.
Arab Times
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Crunch time: Kuwait gears up for high-stakes World Cup qualifier in Basra
BASRA, Iraq, March 19: Kuwait faces a crucial test in its quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as it takes on Iraq this Thursday at 9:15 pm at Basra International Stadium in the seventh round of Group B qualifiers. Elsewhere in the group, Oman will host South Korea at 2:00 pm, while Jordan faces Palestine at 9:15 pm. Kuwait Currently, sits in fifth place with 4 points, in a group led by South Korea (14 points), followed by Iraq (11 points), Jordan (9 points), and Oman (6 points). Palestine remains at the bottom with 3 points. Under Argentine coach Juan Pizzi, the Blues are still seeking their first victory in the group after drawing four matches and losing two. However, the challenge will be tough against an Iraqi side aiming for the top spot. The two teams previously played to a draw, despite Iraq being reduced to ten men for more than 83 minutes after Rebin Solava's red card. Kuwait has been preparing intensively, holding a training camp in Dubai since March 9, which included a 3-1 friendly win over China. A positive result against Iraq would boost the team's chances of securing third or fourth place—both of which lead to the decisive round of qualifiers. It would also serve as a morale boost ahead of its home clash against Oman next Tuesday in the eighth round. Iraq, on the other hand, looks to capitalize on home advantage and edge closer to securing one of the two automatic qualification spots. However, the team will be without Stoke City forward Ali Al-Hammadi, who has been ruled out due to injury and will also miss the match against Palestine next Tuesday. The match will be officiated by a Chinese refereeing team, led by Fu Maning as the main referee, with Zhou Fei and Zhang Cheng as assistants. Zhang Li will serve as the fourth official, while Fei Ming and Jin Jing will oversee the VAR system.
Arab Times
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait trains in Basra as final preparations for Iraq clash begin
DUBAI, March 17: Kuwait will depart from Dubai, UAE, for Basra, Iraq, ahead of its match against Iraq next Thursday in the seventh round of Group B in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Blues have been based in the UAE since March 9, where they played a single friendly against China, which ended in a 3-1 defeat. Currently, Kuwait sits in fifth place in the group with 5 points. South Korea leads the group with 14 points, followed by Iraq with 11 points, Jordan with 9, Oman with 6, and Palestine with 3 points. Kuwait's first training session in Basra is scheduled for this evening, Tuesday, at the Sports City Stadium. This session will play a crucial role in determining the lineup that Argentine coach Juan Pizzi will field against Iraq. Iraq started its training on Sunday at Basra Sports City. The Iraqi Football Association announced that eight players will join the national team's training the following day: Zidane Iqbal, Hussein Ali, Ali Al-Hammadi, Mirkhas Doski, Frans Diaa, Marco Faraj, Adam Talib, and Mohammed Al-Taie. The team will hold two training sessions each day—morning and evening. Adnan Dirjal, President of the Iraqi Football Association, and Ahmed Al-Moussawi, Executive Committee member, were present at the training sessions, which saw the participation of players such as Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basil, Ali Kazim, Kamil Saadi, Ahmed Yahya, Manaf Younis, Akam Hashim, Muhannad Ali, Ali Jassim, Lucas Shlimon, Al-Ay Fadhil, Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Youssef, Haroun Ahmed, Youssef Amin, Ibrahim Bayesh, Peter Korkis, Amjad Atwan, Rebin Sulaqa, Ayman Hussein, and Osama Rashid. Meanwhile, Oman medical staff is working urgently to treat players dealing with various injuries ahead of their match against South Korea next Thursday. Coach Rashid Jaber is preparing to test alternatives for significant absences in his squad. Oman will be without its captain, Mohammed Al-Musalmi, who recently announced his retirement from international football. His absence is a major blow to the defense, as he played a key role in Oman's lineup during their last Gulf Cup appearance. Oman will also miss midfield star Hareb Al-Saadi, who is suspended for accumulating yellow cards. Additionally, the team faces potential suspensions in their next match against Kuwait, as four players—Ahmed Al-Khamisi, Ali Al-Busaidi, Abdullah Fawaz, and Nasser Al-Rawahi—are at risk of being suspended if they receive another yellow card. However, the return of Salah Al-Yahyaei from injury is a welcome boost for Oman, strengthening the squad for the upcoming matches.
