The Improbables · Nation to Glory
Take Oman to Glory
“gulf-cup dark horses”
The press pack calls Oman tidy, tough, and tired of being overlooked, and files them as gulf-cup dark horses. The bookmakers put them in the improbables at 1000/1 and drifting.
▶ Play as Oman
- The bookmakers
- The Improbables — 1000/1 and drifting
- The federation's target
- Compete with dignity — a point gets framed
- Your spine, as your predecessor's notes describe it
- In goal, Ali Al-Habsi, but he saves the rebound too. At the back, a defender with gulf-storm patience. Running midfield, a midfielder Muscat sets its watch by. Up front, an attacker tired of being a secret.
One World Cup, forty-odd decisions, no second leg. Pick the shape, name the squad, make the calls from the touchline, and see how far Oman can go. Free to play, one sitting, no sign-up.
▶ Play as Oman
The Favourites · 6/1 – 12/1
The Contenders · 16/1 – 40/1
The Dark Horses · 66/1 – 150/1
The Outsiders · 250/1 – 500/1
The Improbables · 1000/1 and drifting