![Pakistan eager to salvage pride against Syria [The News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pakistan-vs-Syria-match-commissioners-meeting-2027-AFC-Asian-Cup-qualifiers.jpg "Pakistan eager to salvage pride against Syria [The News]")
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan aims to salvage some pride, aiming at least a draw against a new-look Syrian team in the AFC Asia Cup Qualifying round match at the Jinnah Stadium Tuesday (today).
With the match having no bearing on the Group E standings, Syria has brought in some fresh faces in a bid to give them required international exposure. Pakistan, however, will be at their best as besides locals, leading diaspora players are also available for the match.
“Players have shown outstanding performance against the Afghanistan team, drawing home and away matches. However, for team coordination and good results, we need international exposure. With time I hope this team will come up well,” Pakistan team Head Coach Nolberto Solano said while talking to media in a pre-match press conference, adding that effort should be made to increase the talent pool.
Syria has already made it to the next round, winning all the four matches the team has played so far while Pakistan is trailing at the bottom behind Myanmar and Afghanistan. Syria defeated Pakistan 2-0 in the first leg and are looking forward to repeating that performance when the two teams lock horns at 2pm Tuesday at the Jinnah Stadium.
Syrian team head coach Jose Maria Lana Farnandez was confident of the outcome. “We are thankful to Pakistan for a warm welcome. We are here to compete and make friends. I hope my team will give their best. We have football culture back home. The selection process is tough as we have got over 200 international players to select the 60 and then the team,” Syrian team head coach said.
He hoped that the crowd would enjoy football on Tuesday. “We are here to play to the best of our abilities. Our effort would be to keep our hundred percent record intact.”
A good crowd is expected to watch both teams in action at the Stadium that could host over 60,000.