Unbeaten Qatar plots ambush of Japan in Asian Cup final
ABU DHABI — While Japan has the Asian Cup pedigree, Qatar’s overachievers might just feel that their name is on the trophy after a record-breaking run to their firstever final.
Against a backdrop of simmering political tension, the Qatari players were pelted with plastic bottles — and even shoes — by furious local fans in a 4-0 semifinal thrashing of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.
After surviving that ordeal, the 2022 World Cup host believes it has nothing to fear from Japan.
“We have already realized a dream that the whole country had,” said striker Almoez Ali, who tied Ali Daei’s record of eight goals in a single Asian Cup against the host on Tuesday.
“We will need patience in the final but if we are patient, we have a chance of being champion.”
Japan, which captured the last of its record four Asian titles in 2011, upset tournament favorite Iran 3-0 in Monday’s first semifinal and appears to be peaking at just the right time.
After threatening to bore crowds to death in their first five games, the Blue Samurai go into Friday’s final in Abu Dhabi unbeaten in 11 matches since Hajime Moriyasu took over as coach after last year’s World Cup.
Yuya Osako’s controversial second-half double floored Iran, and consequently Moriyasu’s new-look Japan is suddenly being tipped to go all the way.
“We talked about going to war before we came out here,” said captain Maya Yoshida, part of the Japan side that scooped the title eight years ago.
“We’re all fighting hard together for it.”
Japan has never lost an Asian Cup final, while Qatar’s defense has kept a record six clean sheets.
Though finely poised, the Qataris have yet to face a team as clinical as Japan — or one with as much tactical expertise.
Qatar’s progress has been truly remarkable given the abuse the squad has endured from local fans because of the long-running Gulf blockade of the tiny, energy-rich state.
The Qatari national anthem was drowned out by boos before the semifinal — and before a 2-0 groupstage win over Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017.
As Qatar’s players celebrated beating the UAE, plastic bottles rained down on them.
The same scene greeted each of their goals, with midfielder Salem Al-Hajri hit on the head by a bottle at one point.
Angry Emiratis even hurled shoes at the Qataris — a deeply insulting gesture in Arab culture, as former US president George W. Bush famously discovered on a visit to Baghdad in 2008.
“Everybody knows about the problems, but we don’t care,” said Portugal-born Qatar defender Pedro Correia.
“We just play football. Let the people talk. Winning 4-0 is more important.”
Having silenced the haters with six straight victories, the Qatari players are daring to dream of the ultimate prize.
“It’s a big achievement for the country,” said Maroons coach Felix Sanchez.
“Historically Japan is a top team, but we are confident we will have our chances to win the game.”