Speaking at Creswick’s Novotel Forest Resort on Monday, just hours after stepping off a 15-hour flight, Bahrain Football Association president Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa says the team is ready to defy its underdog status.

Sheikh Ali is a member of Bahrain’s royal family and understandably holds grand dreams for the 122nd-ranked team in the world.

“The Asian tournament (Cup) is the creme de la creme of anything soccer or football,” Sheikh Ali said.

“For us in Asia, it is the most important tournament under our calendar (and) the first game (against Iran) is really important – the most important game. 

“The final phase of going into the tournament is quite important, and at the same time, psychologically, the players should be ready to switch their focus on.”

Bahrain’s best finish in the Asian Cup was fourth in a glorious 2004 season, but unless it finds form against Iran in the opening pool C match on January 11, a group stage exit could beckon.

Other countries in pool C include in-form Gulf Cup of Nations champion Qatar and dark horse United Arab Emirates.

“The Iran national team is the strongest team in the group,” Sheikh Ali said.

“We’ll try to get at least a point out of this game, it’s quite important and, normally, the first games in all the tournaments are important.

“Ranking wise, we are the least of the group.

“That doesn’t mean anything in football – football is all about effort and hard work and the team has done that.”

Despite his confidence in Bahrain’s preparations, Ali conceded the team had been through a “very tough transition phase”, with current coach Marjan Eid replacing the respected Adnan Hmad of Iraq after a poor campaign in the Gulf Cup in November.

Bahrain qualified for the Asian Cup with four wins and two draws, but went winless and goalless at the Gulf Cup with a 3-0 loss to Saudi Arabia and 0-0 draws with Qatar and Yemen.

Sheikh Ali praised the welcome the team received in Ballarat, and said the 23-strong playing squad would continue to train twice per day in the lead-up to their friendlies against Saudi Arabia in Geelong today, and against Jordan at Morshead Park on Sunday.

PLAYING LIST

1 (GK) Saied Mohammed Jaffer, 2 (DF0 Mohammed Hussain (C), 3 (DF) Waleed Al hayam, 4 (MD) Saied Diyah Saied, 5 (DF) Abdulla Shalal, 6 (MD) Abdulla Abdo Omar, 7 (MD) Abdulawahab Ali, 8 (MD) Saied Ahmed Jaffer, 9 (MD) Abdulwahab Al Malood, 10 (FW) Mohammed Al tayeb, 11 (FW) Ismail Abdulatif Ismail, 12 (MD) Fawzi Mubarak, 13 (DF) Abdulla Hazza, 14 (FW) Jessy Jhon, 15 (DF) Abdulla Omar Abdulla, 16 (FW) Abdulla Yousif, 17 (DF) Hussain Ali Baba, 18 (DF) Mohammed Duij, 19 (MD) Faisal Budahoom, 20 (FW) Sami Al Hussaini, 21 (GK) Hamad Al Dooseri, 22 (GK) Ashraf Waheed, 23 (DF) Rashid Khalil Al hooti.

michael pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au