While the euro reached its peak just play the Arab countries to the Arab Nations Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Lebanon went with the projects in the tournament, finally to end the long series of negative. The team unsuccessfully failed because of their great goal and lost 1-0 against the Iraq.

It should be a liberating blow. Just arrived but the football euphoria over the Lebanon: players, coaches, and fans had gained success, believed in the turning point in Lebanese football. It was a historic victory as the country participate in the final qualifying round for the World Cup 2014 clinched. The officials were running already with one leg in Brazil. Only coach Theo Bücker held the balls flat. The German wanted to certainly not know nothing of Brazil by a group. The first games of the qualifying round confirmed his sober expectation: the Lebanon lost beat Qatar 1-0 and 3-0 against South Korea, for a 1:1 was it against Uzbekistan. Thus, the Lebanon is disappointing.


While the next qualifiers for the World Cup are only in September, started on Sunday of the Arab Nations Cup in Saudi Arabia. Since 1963, there is this Championship, which took place very infrequently since the beginning. The team of coach Theo Bücker competed in the opening match in Group C against the Iraq. It should mean a U-turn, after all the lost games this year. Even if the team on the absolute peak is, it has won only once this year - against the Iraq. With this game, the Lebanese team already qualified for the final World Cup qualifying round; the enthusiasm in the country was limitless. The last and decisive round could be achieved for the first time in the history of the country. The subsequent match against the UAE became the popular event. Schools were closed, offices also. It seemed as if had any Lebanese watched the game on television. The Lebanon lost 4-2, and with this defeat, the success series died. No game could be won since then, none of the friendlies. Team teaming earlier this year before the confidence this has fallen again to the level of the pre-Bücker era.


Unit instead of quality

The game could not stop the losing streak on Sunday. Instead, a further defeat on the account of the Cedars, as the team in the Lebanon is called, was added. It may be that the team had to give up on key players like Youssef Mohammad, Captain and heartbeat of the team. So was the opportunity for the young, but the young footballers such as Nader Matar could shine a little. Lebanese media said in advance that many of the usual excuses would not apply in this game. For two months, the team trained continuously together; Media representatives hoped this would lead to a better unity and uniformity in the game, which would decrease the poor quality in comparison to the other teams. Before the qualifiers, Bücker stressed not to want to compare his team with the opponents of the group. There would be no professional structures in the country and few financial resources. The country should slowly build on the success, create structures and professionalize the team. This need time and patience, said the coach.

No luck in the game

In the first half, the team Badger could not shine. The inexperience of the players was clear: colorless acted both sides straight in the first half, earned only a few chances. The first 45 minutes were to end without that one of the two teams was even remotely threatening for the other side. Fortunately, the second half of the game offered greater pressure on both goals. And it seemed at times as the Lebanon approached the gate more than the Iraq. From the 70th minute, presented themselves to the Cedar as the clearly dominant team, but gave a chance to the other.

First, Abbas Atwi could not exploit a free-kick. Midfielder Akram Moghrabi in the remainder of the game then awarded two high-profile opportunities. Coach Theo Bücker stood helpless and gesticulating wildly on the sidelines. Thus, there were awarded chances that eventually were responsible for the defeat of the Lebanese team. In the 89th minute, the Iraq made it finally to go with a hit in the lead. The game was finished. But not the plight of Lebanon: on Wednesday, the team meets on Sudan. Whether itself to a renewed attack the team can pick up, we will see.