Sri Lanka confront confident Qatar today

Sri Lanka will up against one of the top teams in the Asian soccer circuit when they confront the high riding Qatar side in a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier encounter due to be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium today. The match is scheduled to be kicked off at 4.00 p.m.

It will be an acid test for the Sri Lanka team led by the experienced midfielder Chaturanga Maduranga. The Sri Lanka team in preparation for this vital game have undergone strenuous training overseas and having made a successful tour to Thailand and then had a one month long training session in South Korea.

This will be the first time that Sri Lanka will be meeting Qatar. In the FIFA rankings Sri Lanka is placed 166 while Qatar is way ahead in the 91st slot. Qatar will be coming into the game with a load of confidence as recently they defeated the reigning Asian champions Iraq 3-2.

With the game being number one in their country, they could boost of a proud record for nearly over two decades. They were the Gulf Cup champions in 1992 and 2004 and had the honour of reaching the Asian Cup final in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2004 and have also participated in two Olympics first in 1984 at Los Angeles and then in 1992 in Barcelona.

Nevertheless Sri Lanka skipper Maduranga is confident as his side is in high morale and with the guidance given by South Korean coach Jang Jung the team should be able to the strong Qatar team a run for their money. This being the first leg it will be a fine opportunity for us to study their game plan as the second leg is due to be played in late October in Doha, Qatar.

Skipeer Maduranga replaced long standing Dudley Steinwall as the captain, who led the national team for nearly five years. He has four experienced players in Kasun Jayasuriya, Sugath Tilekeratne, E.B. Channa and Chandradasa Karunaratne from whom he will look for support.

But he is confident of his young side that has plenty of talent and though the scales are in favour of Qatar we won’t go down without giving them a fight said the skipper.

The playing Xl will be picked from the following – (Goalkeepers) - Sugath Thilakaratne, Sandun Devinda and Asanka Viraj. (Defenders) - Nirantha Perera, Mohamed Ramees, Dinesh Ruwan, Madushka Peiris, Sinnavan Shrikanth, Mohamed Raumy, Hettige Manu, Chatura Gunaratne, Tuan Raheem, Thilina Bandara, Sanjaya Pradeep. (Midfielders) - Chaturanga Maduranga (Capt), Mohamed Izzadeen, Asmeer Ali, Fazul Rahman. (Forwards) – Kasun Jayasuriya, E.B. Channa, Nadeeka Pushpakumara, Dhammika Ratnayake, Lakruwan Samarasekera, Chandradasa Karunaratne and Nimal Fernando.