Group E teams shaping up for battle

All four teams inGroup E, which kicks off tomorrow at the Khalifa stadium are primed for a battle royal to secure a place in the second round of the championship.

The group comprises Saudi Arabia, Republic of Ireland, Mexico and the Ivory Coast.

The Saudi team arrived one week ago to hold a warm up camp during which they played two friendly games losing 3-2 to Burkina Faso before scoring a shock 2-0 win over defending champions Argentina. Ireland, the 1998 European under 16 champions, are without their first choice midfielder Thornton who plays for English side Sunderland due to injury according to their coach Jury Smith.

Saudi Arabia, the seven time finalists, is one of the three teams defending the reputation of the Arab world football standard. During their history in this championship the Saudis did not qualify to the second round in the event they hosted in 1989.

"The players look enthusiastic and confident to go beyond the preliminary stage in this competition," said the team's Argentinian coach Danial Mario Romeo.

"We held a long and successful warm camp, played a good number of friendly matches from which the players gained more experience and bettered their technical standard.

"We lost our rehearsal game to Burkina Faso but the players did brilliantly to outclass the champions Argentina. It was a win the team made in the right time over a formidable and the favourite outfit," he added.

Fahd Bin Saad, the Saudi manager says: "We feel we have carried out an excellent warm up programme including the matches played in the Asian Olympic qualifications and Abha International tournament."