World Cup 2022 team guides part 4: Qatar
This article is part of the Guardian’s World Cup 2022 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 20 November.
The plan
The Qatar Stars League has been on pause since the middle of September as the national team entered an early and intensive pre-tournament training camp. The coach, Félix Sánchez, has enjoyed the luxury of working with his side in Vienna and Marbella, taking in friendlies against Canada, Chile, Nicaragua and Guatemala. A lack of preparation can be no excuse for the hosts.
They kick off the World Cup having played 10 European friendlies, won the 2019 Asian Cup, performed well at the 2019 Copa América and reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Gold Cup. There were suggestions Sánchez’s side had peaked too soon, particularly after being overwhelmed by Serbia and Portugal last year and then losing 2-0 to Canada last month. But a 2-2 draw with Chile has renewed optimism.
Familiarity is their strength and Sánchez has long employed either a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 system, the former designed to retain the ball, the latter to counter against it. This is a side brimming with technically proficient players: Akram Afif buzzes in behind the predatory Almoez Ali while the ball is funnelled down the left channel for the galavanting Homam al-Amin.
This is a lightweight side, however, and how they fare without the ball is a big concern. “Tough matches await us in the tournament,” Sánchez said recently. “We will face very strong teams – teams that are used to being in the World Cup. If we display our best, we will be able to compete.” You won’t hear much more than that from the team right now. Sánchez has his squad in complete isolation in Marbella, with the Spanish newspaper Diario AS commenting that when Liverpool were based there before the 2019 Champions League final you at least saw them go for a bike ride.
The coach
Félix Sánchez has been in Qatar since 2006 and has worked his way up from the Aspire Academy, through the Qatar youth teams before landing the senior job in 2017. He failed to guide them to the 2018 World Cup but the 2019 Asian Cup triumph more than made up for that disappointment. The Catalan has no club experience but few boast his knowledge of Qatari football. It has to be said, however, that the hosts always hoped another Catalan of exalted status would be in the dugout in Qatar, a certain Xavi Hernández …
Star player
Akram Afif is coming back into form at just the right time. Injuries and a rumoured falling-out with Xavi towards the end of the coach’s Al Sadd spell had led to a loss of consistency for Al Annabi (the Qatar national team) but the recent friendlies have indicated he is primed for the World Cup. An electric forward, on his day Afif can beat any defender and justify his status as one of the best players in Asia. “He’s an unbelievable talent, a big player. I have told him many times that he’s an amazing player,” Xavi said of Afif after winning the league title in 2020.
Unsung hero
So much rests on the shoulders of Al Duhail’s Bassam al-Rawi as the central pillar of the defence but his head could also turn out to be crucial. The centre-back is a big set-piece threat and that will be a route to goal for the hosts. He is diminutive but very combative and he will set the tone when they’re under pressure so if he stands firm, so will Qatar.
Probable lineup Qatar stance
The tournament organisers have been steadfast in their approach to criticism, pretty much from the day their winning bid was announced. Hassan alThawadi is the public face of the tournament and whenever questioned on topics such as LGBTQ+ and migrant worker rights he has repeatedly expressed that all are welcome, and that this event has accelerated major social and labour reforms. “The purpose of the tournament is to bring people of different values and beliefs and cultures together,” is Thawadi’s stock response.
National anthem
As-Salam al-Amiri translates as Peace to the Emir and was adopted in 1996 after the accession to the throne of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. The lyrics speak of national pride, Qatar’s strength when it needs to show strength and peace when it should be peaceful. It was written by Skeikh Mubarak bin Sayf al-Thani and composed by Abdulaziz Nassir al-Ubaydan al-Fakru.
All-time cult hero
Sebastián Soria is the Qatari Edinson Cavani. The Uruguay-born forward was one of the first players to be naturalised back in 2006, long before the money arrived, and went on to make 123 appearances, becoming Qatar’s alltime top scorer with 39 goals. Across an 18-year career in Qatari football he has played for five club sides and earlier this year hit 200 league goals in his final swansong at Qatar Sports Club. He long led the line of an unremarkable national side, scoring their only goals at the 2007 Asian Cup, a demonstration of how far Al Annabi have come. Despite being 38, there is no doubt many fans are sad he won’t appear at this World Cup.