- Oman are certainly not a force to be reckoned with at present. They have never qualified for the World Cup, nor have they gone beyond the first round of an Asian Cup competition. However, they did win the 2009 Asian Cup.
- Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi is the country's most famous footballing export. The current captain starred in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, during a European career that has lasted just over a decade. He is the only squad member based in Europe.
- The team is currently managed by Paul Le Guen. You may remember the Frenchman was appointed as Alex McLeish's successor as Rangers manager in 2006. However it was an ill-fated tenure as he lasted just one season at Ibrox. Le Guen, who had won multiple league titles with Lyon at the start of the last decade, took Cameroon to the 2010 World Cup where the Indomitable Lions finished bottom of their group. He eventually took the Oman job one year later.
- Ireland did play Oman as recently as 2012 in a friendly at London's Craven Cottage. That match saw Robbie Brady, Alex Pearce, Shane Long and Kevin Doyle find the net in a 4 - 1 win. The Omani goal came through Eid Al Farsi who was offered a one-week trial at Al Habsi's Wigan shortly after the Ireland friendly.
- The Red Warrior's recent form has been good with three wins from their last four friendlies. However, take into account that the opposition has included French clubs like Guingamp - who they lost to in pre-season, although they did also beat Uzbekistan twice in succession.
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