Lofty goals for Jordan

Jordan star Amer Deeb conceded it would be a big achievement for his side to progress beyond the group stages of the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Deeb, 30, was part of the first Jordan team to qualify for an Asian Cup back in 2004 – a side which made it to the quarter-finals before a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Japan.

And Deeb believes progression from Group B, where they are drawn alongside three-time champions Japan and Saudi Arabia as well as Syria, would be an achievement on a par with 2004.

“We need to focus on our main aim, which is to qualify from the group,” Deeb told fifa.com.

“If we manage that, it will be considered a success equal to what we achieved in 2004.”

“Perhaps we can even better it, but our group has both Japan and Saudi Arabia in it and they are both very experienced in this tournament and past winners.”

“Our team is a mixed bag. We have experienced players who played in China, plus several of the young players who appeared at the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and have broken into the first team since.”

“Playing at the Asian Cup is everyone’s dream. We worked hard to qualify and we don’t intend to let this opportunity slip away.”

Jordan begin their Asian Cup campaign on Sunday against Saudi Arabia, the 2007 runners-up.