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2010 AFC Challenge Cup Special: Know Your Opponents - Team Myanmar
Continuing with our AFC Challenge Cup special series, in which we profile each of the other seven teams in the competition, Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal looks at last edition's fourth placed team Myanmar....
13-Feb-2010 10:33:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
FIFA Ranking: 141
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Fourth Place In 2008
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Fourth Place
History:
Myanmar formerly played under the name of "Burma" and was very successful in the 1960s. They won five consecutive gold medals at the South East Asian Games and also won two gold medals at the Asian Games (66' and 70'). ‘The White Angels’ have played in the Asia Cup only once back in 1968 and finished third there. Myanmar's greatest achievement was their qualification to the final rounds of the 1972 Munich Olympics. More recently they won the Merdeka Cup in 2006 and also reached the semi finals of the Tiger Cup in 2004. They did not enter for the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup but did play in the last edition and surprised all by reaching the semis where they narrowly lost to hosts India. Myanmar were well beaten by DPR Korea in the third place play-off, to eventually finish fourth.
Current Team:
Just like the ’08 edition, Myanmar are the sole representative of ASEAN in this competition. They are currently ranked 140th in the FIFA Rankings which is only behind DPR Korea (85), India (130) and Turkmenistan (134). So Myanmar are coming into this tournament with a good reputation and their quick ground passing should make them one of the entertaining teams of the competition. However they haven’t been in good form of late as they have lost all three of their friendly matches this year and none of them were against senior national sides. In January they lost against Ulsen University of South Korea and then earlier this month while on their tour of Thailand, they were beaten by Thai club sides. It is surely not the kind of preparation coach Tin Myint Aung wanted but he would still be encouraging his team to be confident of a good showing in Sri Lanka as they hope to qualify for their first Asia Cup after four decades.
Key Player:
Yan Paing- The 27 year old striker struggled early in his career due to injuries but since finishing topscorer at the 2007 Merdeka Cup, has become an important member of the Myanmar national team. Earlier this year, Paing helped his current club Yadanabon become champions of the first ever Myanmar National League and was adjudged the ‘Myanmar Player Of The Year’. So Paing will be aiming to reproduce his club form for the national team.
Qualification:
Myanmar comfortably qualified for the main rounds after winning Group A with a hundred percent record.
The Group:
On paper, Myanmar are likely to progress from Group A along with Tajikistan, whom they will face in the last group game. So they will be looking to ensure their semi-final berth by winning the games against the two South Asian nations- Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.
Verdict:
Myanmar were not expected to reach the semis in the last edition so that performance two years ago and their current rank will ensure that their opponents don’t take them lightly. They have the talent to make the last four but for that they must avoid defeat in the opening game against hosts Sri Lanka.
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Fourth Place In 2008
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Fourth Place
History:
Myanmar formerly played under the name of "Burma" and was very successful in the 1960s. They won five consecutive gold medals at the South East Asian Games and also won two gold medals at the Asian Games (66' and 70'). ‘The White Angels’ have played in the Asia Cup only once back in 1968 and finished third there. Myanmar's greatest achievement was their qualification to the final rounds of the 1972 Munich Olympics. More recently they won the Merdeka Cup in 2006 and also reached the semi finals of the Tiger Cup in 2004. They did not enter for the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup but did play in the last edition and surprised all by reaching the semis where they narrowly lost to hosts India. Myanmar were well beaten by DPR Korea in the third place play-off, to eventually finish fourth.
Current Team:
Just like the ’08 edition, Myanmar are the sole representative of ASEAN in this competition. They are currently ranked 140th in the FIFA Rankings which is only behind DPR Korea (85), India (130) and Turkmenistan (134). So Myanmar are coming into this tournament with a good reputation and their quick ground passing should make them one of the entertaining teams of the competition. However they haven’t been in good form of late as they have lost all three of their friendly matches this year and none of them were against senior national sides. In January they lost against Ulsen University of South Korea and then earlier this month while on their tour of Thailand, they were beaten by Thai club sides. It is surely not the kind of preparation coach Tin Myint Aung wanted but he would still be encouraging his team to be confident of a good showing in Sri Lanka as they hope to qualify for their first Asia Cup after four decades.
Key Player:
Yan Paing- The 27 year old striker struggled early in his career due to injuries but since finishing topscorer at the 2007 Merdeka Cup, has become an important member of the Myanmar national team. Earlier this year, Paing helped his current club Yadanabon become champions of the first ever Myanmar National League and was adjudged the ‘Myanmar Player Of The Year’. So Paing will be aiming to reproduce his club form for the national team.
Qualification:
Myanmar comfortably qualified for the main rounds after winning Group A with a hundred percent record.
The Group:
On paper, Myanmar are likely to progress from Group A along with Tajikistan, whom they will face in the last group game. So they will be looking to ensure their semi-final berth by winning the games against the two South Asian nations- Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.
Verdict:
Myanmar were not expected to reach the semis in the last edition so that performance two years ago and their current rank will ensure that their opponents don’t take them lightly. They have the talent to make the last four but for that they must avoid defeat in the opening game against hosts Sri Lanka.
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