04 June 2013

BEIRUT: On the eve of Lebanon’s World Cup qualifier against Asian powerhouses South Korea at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday a wistful mood suffused the Cedars camp as players and coach Theo Bucker continue to come to grips with life after former talisman and retired captain Roda Antar. Antar abruptly drew the curtain on a glittering international career last March, with the knock-on effects of that decision still simmering around the team.

Understandably, Bucker was inundated with questions regarding the former FC Koln player during the prematch news conference and the cunning German was the first to sing the praises of his departed general.

“First of all, Roda is a very good guy and a very good guy personally.” Bucker said. “We are missing him but we have to respect his decision. Some people are saying the king has died and long live the king, but now we have Youssef [Mohammad]. Roda is missing but Youssef is here.”

Indeed, Mohammad is an able replacement and a natural one at that always conducting himself as a consummate professional both on and off the field. And fittingly, the 32-year-old paid homage to his forebear while also stressing that the current crop of players are more than capable of filling the void left by the venerable Antar.

“Missing Antar is a big loss that affects us, but we can’t forget about the current players,” he said.

“If they weren’t good enough then they wouldn’t be in the squad. This is a big achievement for the players to be involved in the team.

Lebanon are currently rooted to the bottom of Group A on four points from six matches, with leaders Uzbekistan (11) and South Korea (10) just about out of sight for the two automatic qualifying spots, with two games to be played. Slim hopes of clinching the third-place playoff berth with South America’s fifth-placed side remain equally unattainable as Qatar and Iran have seven points with the latter enjoying the luxury of a game in hand.

It would take nothing short of a miracle for the Cedars to carve a route to Rio 2014, but by no means is Tuesday’s encounter a dead rubber. With Bucker at the helm, Lebanon have finally produced a team worth mention and capable of competing on a continental level.

Though still feeling the effects of Antar’s absence, Bucker is molding a side with a view to the future illustrated by the arrival of American-Lebanese prospect Hasan “Sonny” Saad. The 20-year-old Sporting Kansas City player featured in Lebanon’s 1-1 draw against Oman last week, scoring a well-taken equalizer in an encouraging performance that was a welcome revelation for the national side, as Bucker continues to strike a balance between youth and experience.

“We have many promising players in the squad who need time to get accustomed to the way we play,” Bucker said. “They are in need of a run of games at a national level considering the poor standard of our league and lack of suitable playing fields.”

Saad will be ineligible for Tuesday’s encounter after a holdup in his legal documents, but the forward will be available for Lebanon’s final group match away to Iran next week.

On the other end of the spectrum, victory would edge South Korea towards qualification, but coach Choi Kang-Hee urged his side to approach the match with caution after Lebanon’s famous 2-1 win over the 2002 World Cup semifinalists in the preliminary round of Asian qualifying.

“The result will determine whether or not we qualify for Brazil, therefore we must score early and be ready for the home side who will be looking to win in front of their fans,” he said.

“Even though they [Lebanon] have had many changes to their lineup we will use our preparation as a model for success. It is important that we assert ourselves by using the tactics that we have practiced in training camp.”

On the back of a poor run of form including three draws and a loss in their last five matches, South Korea will be eager to return to winning ways ahead of what could prove a make-or-break tie against Uzbekistan in their final group match on June 11.

Despite the auspicious exploits of Lebanon under Bucker, rumblings of his imminent resignation have persistently accompanied the German, but the self-proclaimed “Lebanese” showed no signs quitting, as he alluded to the upcoming Asian qualifying campaign on several occasions and consistently spoke of the “future” of his side.

With Antar’s retirement, the Cedars are embarking on a new chapter in Lebanese football, and who better than Bucker to continue their rise to prominence and disprove the misguided contingent of naysayers.

Probable Lebanese lineup: Abbas Hasan, Youssef Mohammad, Mootaz Jounaidi, Walid Ismail, Ali Hamam, Haitham Faour, Adnan Haidar, Mohammad Chammas, Mohammad Haidar, Hasan Maatouk, Hasan Chaito.

Copyright The Daily Star 2013.