Jordan feels pride rather than pressure ahead of World Cup debut

Jordan are feeling pride not pressure ahead of their World Cup debut against Austria and will struggle to prove their value in what will be a new chapter in the country’s football history, captain Ehsan Haddad said on Monday.

Jordan have gained a reputation as a counter-attacking side, scoring 32 goals in World Cup qualification, and are looking to be the first debut team to qualify for the knockout stage since Slovakia in 2010.This is the first time in our history we are taking part.” That makes us very proud. It’s pride more than pressure. “The dream was to be here,” Haddad remarked.We have confidence in ourselves,” he said. “The pressure that we used to feel got us here. So let’s see where it’s going to bring us to.

Austria, looking to make their impact on the tournament after 28 years away from the World Cup, will not be given an easy entrance by the team known at home as Al-Nashama, or the “noble ones”.

Next up for Jordan is Algeria in Group J, followed by a clash with defending champions Argentina.

STEPPING STONE TO THE WORLD STAGE

The jump up to the World Cup will be a considerable leap, with the core of the Jordan squad from clubs at home or in the Middle East with just winger Mousa Al Tamari playing club football in Europe, with French side Stade Rennais.

Jordan felt blessed to be in the World Cup, having countries like Italy miss out, but they wouldn’t settle for just showing up, Haddad said.There are some outstanding players from the past who are not here today. “This is a motivation for us to give it all we’ve got,” he remarked.“We will fight, we will be patient for 90 minutes and we will stick to our game plan.”

Jordan coach Jamal Sellami said Austria had strong midfielders and were good in attack and in the air but he had a gameplan he would stick to in the group match in Santa Clara at the stadium of the San Francisco 49ers.

“Good opening matches for the countries that qualified from Asia in this World Cup, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Qatar, have motivated my team,” Sellami added.They’re seeing very good results,” he remarked. It’s all great, positive motivators for the athletes or for them to be able to perform.