Little is expected from outsiders Palestine on their Asian Cup debut on Monday, but that does not mean they will be treating their stay in Australia like a holiday.
The AFC Challenge Cup winners, who are ranked 115th in the world by Fifa, open their Group D campaign with the trickiest of tasks against holders Japan, but they are determined to put on a show in Asia’s biggest tournament.
"We have come here to say to all the people that there's a country called Palestine and we will represent the Palestinian people here," goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh said on Sunday.
“We have come to Australia for the first time and we are the only team at this tournament that is under occupation. We are proud to be here.
“Many people are saying that we are tourists in this competition. But we have come here to fight and to get to the second round. Nothing is impossible in soccer and anything can happen on the pitch.”
Palestine's hopes of points in Australia have been hindered by numerous challenges.
Travel at home is one of the biggest issues, with movement heavily restricted in Palestine, which has been locked in a conflict with Israel for decades.
Defender Haytham Theeb is one of those who was unable to make the trip to Australia.
Palestine coach Ahmed Al Hassan, who stepped in after Challenge Cup-winning coach Jamal Mahmoud quit for personal reasons, bemoaned the situation.
“All the players have had a lot of difficulties to make the selection because there are many from Gaza, from the West Bank and also outside Palestine,” the former goalkeeper said. “It’s difficult to gather them in the same place.
“We always have to gather outside Palestine, so this situation is different than for any other team in the world.
“There are a lot of players outside Palestine. They have no opportunity to go inside Palestine and it’s very difficult for us.
“We gather all the players outside and that’s a negative point for us, but we fight to always be together like a team.”
Al Hassan was hoping that fighting spirit, and the element of surprise, could result in a shock for Japan before they round of their Group D campaign against West Asian rivals Jordan and Iraq.
"Japan don't know anything about my team because we are new in this competition. Only in the AFC Challenge Cup they saw us, but that's not enough," the coach said.
“I’m sure they know my team will fight and play with spirit against them tomorrow. There are secrets in football, but I have a strategy to show ourselves at a good level.”
Javier Aguirre, the Japan coach, said his side would not be taking their opponents lightly even though his squad have said in the build-up to knowing little about them.
“Palestine are here on merit. They are making their first appearance in the tournament, so they are a team that we have to be wary of,” the Mexican said.
“They have big hopes and are hungry and we have to be aware of their speed on the counter-attack.”
Japan are favourites to extend their record of Asian titles to five despite a shaky start under Aguirre, who was appointed after the team’s World Cup group stage exit in June.
The former Mexico and Atletico Madrid coach remained confident his squad would be receptive to his ideas and deliver another title in Sydney come January 31.
“Obviously we are the champions and want to defend our title,” he said. “We have to respect the other 15 teams in the tournament, but we also have confidence in ourselves.”
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