Preview: Tajikistan vs. Palestine (International Friendly)

12/10/2018: Tajikistan 0:2 Palestine

For the second time in eight days, Palestine will face Tajikistan but this time with a trophy, albeit a minor one, on the line. 

Palestine will look to continue the momentum they have generated over the past week hoping to make it four wins in a row and continue a shutout streak that has stretched for the last 420 minutes of play. 

For their part, Tajikistan got a measure of revenge in this tournament by beating Philippines who had beaten them twice in Asian Cup qualification. 

A series of friendlies, most of which fell outside of the FIFA window, gave an opportunity for WBPL players to stake a claim to a spot in the Asian Cup squad. For some players this tournament has been a reprieve- Jonathan Cantillana wasn’t playing consistent football earlier this season as his return to the WBPL had been blocked by the Israeli authorities. 

Pablo Tamburrini spent more than half the year on the sidelines after suffering an injury with San Antonio Unido and he too will be well served by these series of friendlies. Tamburrini showcased his ability to connect passes from deep and bring a different dimension to the national team. 

Two members of the Olympic team also have done a lot to up their stock and it would come as no surprise to see Mohammed Basim and Oday Dabbagh play important roles in the UAE. 

For others, this game will be a last chance to leave a good impression. Mohammed Balah and Khaled Salem may have found the net but their overall performance leaves a lot to be desired. 

Defensively, Michel Termanini has started a campaign to unseat his Hilal Al-Quds teammate in the pecking order at centreback. Abdelatif Bahdari, Haitham Dheeb, and Mohammed Saleh are all nailed on to make the squad but one place remains up for grabs at the position. 

In midfield, Shadi Shaban will need to find a way to revert to his 2016-17 form or risk losing out on the Asian Cup all together.