Syria national football team

Syria
Nickname(s) The Qasioun Eagles
(Arabic: نسور قاسيون‎
French: Les Aigles de Qasyoun)
Association Syrian Arab Federation for Football
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation WAFF (West Asia)
UAFA (Arab world)
Head coach Bernd Stange
Captain Firas Al Khatib
Most caps Mosab Balhous (81)
Top scorer Raja Rafe (32)
Home stadium Abbasiyyin Stadium
Aleppo International Stadium
FIFA code SYR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 74 Decrease 1 (20 September 2018)
Highest 73 (June–August 2018)
Lowest 152 (September 2014, March 2015)
Elo ranking
Current 55 Increase 3 (16 August 2018)
Highest 53 (October 1974)
Lowest 125 (September 1984)
First international
 Turkey 7–0 Syria Syria
(Ankara, Turkey; November 20, 1949)
Biggest win
Official
Syria Syria 12–0 Maldives 
(Damascus, Syria; June 4, 1997)
 Maldives 0–12 Syria Syria
(Tehran, Iran; June 9, 1997)
Syria Syria 12–0 Philippines 
(Aleppo, Syria; April 30, 2001)
Unofficial
Syria 13–0 Muscat and Oman
(Cairo, Egypt; September 6, 1965)[note 1]
Biggest defeat
 Greece 8–0 Syria Syria
(Athens, Greece; November 25, 1949)
 Egypt 8–0 Syria Syria
(Alexandria, Egypt; October 16, 1951)
Asian Cup
Appearances 6 (first in 1980)
Best result Group stage, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, and 2011

The Syria national football team (Arabic: منتخب سوريا لكرة القدم‎, French: Équipe de Syrie de football) represents Syria in association football and is controlled by the Syrian Arab Federation for Football, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria's home grounds are Abbasiyyin Stadium and Aleppo International Stadium. Syria has never qualified for the World Cup finals but did reach the fourth qualification round in 2018.

History

Syria participated in the 1950 and 1958 World Cup qualifiers, one of the first teams in the region to do so. Between 1958 and 1961, the team combined with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic national football team, although the team's records are attributed only to Egypt by FIFA. In the 1966 World Cup qualifiers they were one of two teams from the Asian zone (the other being Israel) to be allocated to the European qualifying zone and were originally placed with Spain and the Republic of Ireland. However, they joined the Asian and African boycott of the 1966 qualifiers, due to the decision of FIFA to allocate just one place between Asia and Africa.

Syria has never qualified for the World Cup. The farthest they've gone in qualification was in the 1986 qualifiers when they reached the final qualifying round only to lose to Iraq. They were disqualified from the 2014 World Cup due to the use of an ineligible player.[2]

Syria has, however, competed in five Asian Cups, the last being 2011, but on each occasion were eliminated before reaching the quarterfinals.

In December 2012, Syria beat Iraq in the final of West Asia Cup to collect its first major trophy.

Ever since war broke out in the country, Syria have been banned from playing home games in their own country and in fact were one day away from being thrown out of the 2018 World Cup only for Malaysia to swoop in at the last minute and offer to host all of Syria's home games. Syria had a large upturn in fortune as they made it to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Fourth Round but were eliminated by Australia.[3]

Competition history

Syria national football team in Tehran – 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification

FIFA World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Pld W D * L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did not enter Did not enter
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950 Withdrew 1 0 0 1 0 7
Switzerland 1954 Did not enter Did not enter
Sweden 1958 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
Chile 1962 Withdrew Withdrew
England 1966
Mexico 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 6 3 1 2 6 6
Argentina 1978 Withdrew 4 1 0 3 2 6
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 2 7
Mexico 1986 8 4 3 1 8 4
Italy 1990 4 2 1 1 7 5
United States 1994 6 3 3 0 14 4
France 1998 5 2 1 2 27 5
South Korea Japan 2002 6 4 1 1 40 6
Germany 2006 6 2 2 2 7 7
South Africa 2010 10 6 2 2 23 10
Brazil 2014 Disqualified 2 0 0 2 0 6
Russia 2018 Did not qualify 20 9 5 6 36 22
Qatar 2022 To be determined
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined
Total 0/21 – – – – – – 84 36 20 28 174 97
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFC Asian Cup Record

Olympic Games record

Olympic Games record Olympic Games qualifications record
Hosts/Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GP W D* L GS GA
France 1900 to 1968 MexicoDid not enter------------
West Germany 1972Did not qualify------201101
Canada 1976Did not enter------------
Soviet Union 1980Round 1301208420231
United States 1984Did not qualify------6213610
South Korea 1988Did not qualify------200205
Spain 1992 – present See Syria national under-23 team
Total0 Titles30120814428917
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

WAFF Championship Record

WAFF Championship Record
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
Jordan 2000Runners-up521252
Syria 2002Fourth Place411256
Iran 2004Runners-up4112613
Jordan 2007Semi-Finals320123
Iran 2008Semi-Finals311123
Jordan 2010Group Stage201123
Kuwait 2012Champions422053
Qatar 2014Withdrew------
Iraq 2018To be determined------
Total1 Title259792733
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Arab Nations Cup record

Arab Nations Cup
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
Lebanon 1963Runners-up430194
Kuwait 1964Did not enter------
Iraq 1966Runners-up531194
Saudi Arabia 1985Did not enter------
Jordan 1988Runners-up622255
Syria 1992Fourth Place403123
Qatar1998Group Stage200216
Kuwait2002Group Stage420286
Saudi Arabia2012Did not enter------
Total0 Title2510693428
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Pan Arab Games record

Pan Arab Games
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
Egypt 1953Runners-up311135
Lebanon 1957Champions5221126
Morocco 1961Did not enter------
Egypt 1965Group Stage4202208
Syria 1976Third Place631264
Morocco 1985Group Stage200204
Syria 1992Fourth Place403123
Lebanon 1997Runners-up540195
Jordan 1999Group Stage404055
Egypt 2007Did not enter------
Qatar 2011Withdrew------
Lebanon 2019To be determined------
Total1 Title331211105740
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Mediterranean Games record

Mediterranean Games
Year Round GP W D L GS GA
Egypt 1951Third Place2002012
Spain 1955Fourth Place3003010
Lebanon 1959Did not enter------
Italy 1963Group Stage3003110
Tunisia 1967Did not enter------
Turkey 1971Group Stage300314
Algeria1975Did not enter------
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1979Did not enter------
Morocco 1983Group Stage200202
Syria 1987Champions5410133
Italy 1991 – present See Syria national under-20 team
Total1 Title1841131541

Asian Games record

Asian Games
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
India 1951Did not enter------
Philippines 1954Did not enter------
Japan 1958Did not enter------
Indonesia 1962Did not enter------
Thailand 1966Did not enter------
Thailand 1970Did not enter------
Iran1974Did not enter------
Thailand 1978Did not enter------
India 1982Group Stage302135
South Korea 1986Did not enter------
China 1990Did not enter------
Japan 1994Did not enter------
Thailand 1998Did not enter------
South Korea 2002 – present See Syria national under-23 team
Total0 Title301235
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

West Asian Games record

West Asian Games
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
Iran 1997Runners-up
Kuwait 2002Runners-up413054
Qatar 2005Runners-up413075
Total0 Titles
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Honours

Balhous
Mosab Balhous is Syria's the most-capped player with 81 caps.[4]
Winners (1): 2012
Runners-up (2): 2000, 2004
Fourth place (1): 2002
Semi-finals (2): 2007, 2008
Runners-up (3): 1963, 1966, 1988
Fourth place (3): 1992
Winners (1): 1957
Runners-up (2): 1953, 1997
Third place (1): 1976
Fourth place (1): 1992
Winners (1): 1987
Third place (1): 1951
Fourth place (1): 1955
Runners-up (3): 1997, 2002, 2005

Schedule and recent results

  Win   Draw   Loss

Date Opponent Result Score* Venue Competition Scorers
13 November 2017  Iraq D 1–1 Karbala Sports City, Karbala, Iraq International Friendly 18' Al Khatib
24 March 2018  Qatar D 2–2 Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq 2018 International Friendship Championship 49' Al Soma, 72' Midani
27 March 2018  Iraq D 1–1 Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq 2018 International Friendship Championship 76' Al Khatib
6 September 2018  Uzbekistan D 1–1 Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan International Friendly 78' Al Soma
10 September 2018  Kyrgyzstan L 1–2 Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan International Friendly 79' Al Soma (Pen)
11 October 2018  Bahrain W 1–0 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain International Friendly 30' Al Soma
16 October 2018  China PR Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, Nanjing, China International Friendly
6 January 2019  Palestine Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 2019 AFC Asian Cup
10 January 2019  Jordan Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates 2019 AFC Asian Cup
15 January 2019  Australia Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates 2019 AFC Asian Cup

* Syria score always listed first

2019 AFC Asian Cup Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Syria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Palestine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Jordan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 6 January 2019. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Players

Current squad

Squad selected for the Friendly matches against Bahrain on 11 October 2018 and China on 16 October 2018.

Caps and goals updated as 11 October 2018, after the match vs. Bahrain.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ibrahim Alma (1991-10-18) 18 October 1991 40 0 Syria Al-Wahda
1GK Ahmad Madania (1990-01-01) 1 January 1990 6 0 Syria Al-Jaish
1GK Shaher Al Shaker (1993-04-01) 1 April 1993 0 0 Syria Al-Jaish
2DF Nadim Sabagh (1985-08-04) 4 August 1985 40 4 Syria Tishreen
2DF Moayad Ajan (1993-02-16) 16 February 1993 39 1 Jordan Al-Jazeera
2DF Jehad Al Baour (1987-06-27) 27 June 1987 18 0 Bahrain Al-Riffa
2DF Hussein Jwayed (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 17 0 Iraq Al-Zawra'a
2DF Amro Jenyat (1993-01-15) 15 January 1993 15 1 Oman Al-Shabab
2DF Hadi Al Masri (1986-06-07) 7 June 1986 8 0 Jordan Al-Wehdat
2DF Abdul Malek Anizan (1989-02-25) 25 February 1989 3 0 Syria Al-Jaish
3MF Mahmoud Al Mawas (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 53 8 Qatar Umm Salal
3MF Zaher Midani (1987-04-13) 13 April 1987 49 1 Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
3MF Khaled Al Mobayed (1993-03-06) 6 March 1993 26 1 Syria Al-Wahda
3MF Osama Omari (1992-01-10) 10 January 1992 26 5 Qatar Qatar
3MF Tamer Haj Mohamad (1990-04-03) 3 April 1990 23 1 Saudi Arabia Ohod
3MF Fahd Youssef (1987-05-15) 15 May 1987 20 0 Qatar Al-Sailiya
3MF Youssef Kalfa (1993-05-14) 14 May 1993 16 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Hazem
3MF Ahmad Ashkar (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 7 0 Syria Al-Jaish
3MF Mohammed Osman (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 3 0 Netherlands Heracles Almelo
4FW Mardik Mardikian (1992-03-14) 14 March 1992 23 3 Jordan Al-Jazeera
4FW Omar Al Soma (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 15 7 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Syria squad within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Khaled Haj Othman (1987-05-01) 1 May 1987 3 0 Saudi Arabia Damac v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
GK Mahmoud Al-Youssef (1988-01-20) 20 January 1988 4 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Jabalain v.  Iraq, 13 November 2017
DF Omar Midani (1994-01-26) 26 January 1994 28 1 Egypt Pyramids v.  Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2018
DF Gabriel Somi (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 0 0 United States New England Revolution v.  Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2018
DF Ahmad Al Salih (1990-05-20) 20 May 1990 40 2 Lebanon Al-Ahed v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
DF Alaa Al Shbli (1990-05-03) 3 May 1990 35 2 Iraq Naft Al-Wasat v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
DF Muayad Al Khouli (1993-10-16) 16 October 1993 1 0 Bahrain Al-Najma v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
MF Hamid Mido (1993-06-03) 3 June 1993 23 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait v.  Bahrain, 11 October 2018
MF Thaer Krouma (1990-02-02) 2 February 1990 6 0 Oman Al-Suwaiq v.  Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2018
MF Aias Aosman (1994-10-21) 21 October 1994 2 0 Germany Dynamo Dresden v.  Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2018
MF Israa Hamwiah (1991-02-11) 11 February 1991 2 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia v.  Kyrgyzstan, 10 September 2018
MF Oday Al Jafal (1990-05-27) 27 May 1990 37 5 Qatar Mesaimeer v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
FW Omar Kharbin (1994-01-15) 15 January 1994 37 16 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal v.  Bahrain, 11 October 2018 INJ
FW Firas Al Khatib (captain) (1983-09-06) 6 September 1983 62 29 Kuwait Al-Salmiya v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018
FW Basel Mustafa (1990-09-13) 13 September 1990 0 0 Syria Al-Wahda v.  Iraq, 27 March 2018

Previous squads

Asian Cup

Coaches

Name Nat Period Matches Wins Draws Losses Honours
Vinzenz Dittrich Austria 1950s
Francisc Mészáros Hungary 1954
József Albert Hungary 1956 – 1959 1957 Pan Arab Games winners
Miklós Vadas Hungary 1960 – 1965
Cornel Drăgușin Romania 1965 – 1966
Ezzat Abdel-Wahab Syria 1969
Moussa Shammas Syria 1980
Avedis Kavlakian Syria 1983 – 1985
Valeriy Yaremchenko Soviet Union 1985 – 1987 1987 Mediterranean Games winners
Anatoliy Azarenkov Soviet Union 1987 – 1989
Anatoliy Azarenkov Ukraine 1992
Virgil Dridea Romania 1992 – 1993
Yuri Kurnenin Belarus 1996
Mircea Rădulescu Romania 1997 – 1998
Moussa Shammas Syria Mar 1999 – Sept 1999
Dragoslav Popović Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sept 1999 – Feb 2000
Dragoslav Sridović Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mar 2000 – Apr 2000
Božidar Vukotić Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mar 2001 – Oct 2001
Nizar Mahrous Syria Oct 2011 – Dec 2011
Jalal Talebi Iran Nov 2001 – Sept 2002 10 9 0 1
Janusz Wójcik Poland Mar 2003 – Aug 2003
Božidar Vukotić Serbia and Montenegro Sep 2003 – Nov 2003
Ahmed Rifaat Egypt Dec 2003 – Nov 2004
Miloslav Radenović Serbia 2005 – Aug 2006
Fajr Ibrahim Syria Aug 5, 2006 – Apr 2008 24 13 5 6 Runner-up at Nehru Cup 2007
Mohammad Kwid Syria May 10, 2008 – Aug 20, 2008 8 4 0 4
Fajr Ibrahim Syria Nov 13, 2008 – Sep 13, 2010 28 13 9 6 Runner-up at Nehru Cup 2009
Ayman Hakeem (Interim) Syria Sep 14, 2010 – Dec 20, 2010 5 2 1 2
Ratomir Dujković Serbia Oct 28, 2010 – Dec 8, 2010 1 1 0 0
Valeriu Tiţa Romania Dec 21, 2010 – Feb 9, 2011 6 1 0 5
Claude Le Roy France Apr 16, 2011 – May 4, 2011 0 0 0 0
Nizar Mahrous Syria May 22, 2011 – August 18, 2011 7 5 2 0
Marwan Khoury Syria July 7, 2012 – August 30, 2012 4 1 1 2
Hussam Al Sayed Syria October 21, 2012 – April 10, 2013 8 2 3 3 2012 WAFF Championship winners
Anas Makhlouf Syria April 13, 2013 – October 23, 2013 3 0 1 2
Hussam Al Sayed (Interim) Syria November 9, 2013 – November 20, 2013 3 1 0 2
Ahmad Al Shaar Syria February 13, 2014 – March 5, 2014 1 0 0 1
Muhannad Al Fakeer Syria September 18, 2014 – January 5, 2015 2 2 0 0
Fajr Ibrahim Syria January 6, 2015 – March 29, 2016 14 10 1 3
Ayman Hakeem Syria May 9, 2016 – November 20, 2017 21 6 11 4
Bernd Stange Germany January 31, 2018 – 5 1 3 1

Head-to-Head records against other countries

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Football results of 1965 Pan Arab Games is not recorded by FIFA.[1]

References

  1. ↑ "4th Pan Arab Games, 1965 (Cairo, Egypt)". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  2. ↑ FIFA.com (19 August 2011). "Syria disqualified from 2014 FIFA World Cup". fifa.com. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Maasdorp, James (10 October 2017). "Australia v Syria World Cup qualifying play-off second leg in Sydney, as it happened". abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Mosab Balhous - International games
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