Palestine – Jordan SOCCER PICKS
Interesting quota for more cultural and political issues than for the sporting aspect.
– Jordan is mathematically group leader because the tiebreaker criteria first are the results between the teams involved in the draw. In this sense, Australia lost to Jordan 0-1 and is the only team that can reach the Jordanians. For this reason, whatever happens in this match, Jordan will be the leader.
– Palestine is not a very weak selection as its name could indicate. It is a humble team, it is true, but with professional players many of them Chileans with Palestinian ancestors who decided to get involved in this selection. Therefore, it is a team that can win this match if the right conditions are met, even if starting is not a favorite under any circumstances.
– Key question: They are two sister nations. Palestine and Jordan are historically intimately united. Jordan has been the quintessential destination of Palestine refugees throughout its history. For this reason, a good percentage (between a quarter and a third) of the Jordanian population has ancestors, origins or family in Palestine. That is why Palestine is the second team of the Jordanians. Even more: in the Jordanian team there are several players who were born in Palestine or whose parents did it and to be exact, a good number of them belong to al-Wehdat, a Jordanian league club formed in a Palestinian refugee camp and very linked to the neighboring country.
– Therefore, be careful because Palestine is a worse team, but presumably Jordan will be benevolent with its brothers who have a historic opportunity to qualify. Also, if Palestine qualifies Australia or Syria (or both) they would go home so Jordan would get practical benefits from this result.