QATAR THINK THEY CAN BRIDGE GULF
Qatar have produced off the pitch – and head coach Felix Sanchez is backing them to deliver on it. A 12-year wait to host the World Cup ends tomorrow after spending more than $200billion (£186bn) on a new road network, transport infrastructure, hotels and stadia.
But can Qatar realise their ambitions on the pitch?
A training camp in Marbella was held amid the utmost secrecy as Sanchez’s players tried to find solutions to their inexperience at this level.
Pressure is building but Sanchez, right, is predicting that an upset might be on the cards.
He said: “Tough matches await us in the tournament. We are facing very strong teams – teams that are used to being in the World Cup.
“But if we display our best, we will be able to compete.”
The results of friendlies have been tight. A 2-2 draw against Chile in September was commendable, but it did come four days after a 2-0 defeat by Canada.
However, they do have experience of an Asian Cup win from three years ago when Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the UAE and Japan to lift the trophy. Much will depend on strikers Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, who has 42 goals from 85 games for his country. It does not bode well for the hosts that their squad is entirely of players from the Qatari Stars League. There is little international experience and one look at their rivals in Group A does not inspire confidence.
Louis van Gaal leads a resurgent Holland, while Senegal, even without injured record scorer Sadio Mane, present another tricky hurdle.
Tomorrow’s opponents, Ecuador, qualified from the demanding South American competition with time to spare, so an upset appears slim.
But there is confidence on home soil.
Broadcaster Ahmed Al Jaber, from BeIN Sports, said: “I think the Qatari people are expecting something, definitely.
“Winning the Asian Cup in 2019 helped build confidence. They have been together since they were young.They’ve grown together with the same coach. They know each other. We’re expecting to reach the last 16 – and maybe we can go further.”