Qatar to play Ireland in Dublin tonight
QATAR’S national football team has arrived in Dublin ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup, European Zone, qualifying friendly against Ireland on Tuesday. The match kicks off at 9.45pm Doha Time.
Al Annabi flew in from Algarve in Portugal, where they played a daunting match on Saturday, suffering a 0-3 defeat to Christiano Ronaldo-led Portugal – who are at pole position in the group (A), ahead of Serbia.
Felix Sanchez’s side will face Ireland for the second time in the group; with the maroons having played out a 1-1 draw in the Hungarian city of Debrecen in March earlier this year.
“All our matches in the European qualifiers are important and we are trying to benefit from playing against all the teams,” the Spanish coach told a pre-match press conference on Monday.
Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo said the players were gaining good experience in European qualifying matches against the European teams.
“These matches are good for us. The goal is to take advantage of the technique to enhance the positives and avoid the negatives in these matches,” he said.
Sanchez is expected to make some changes in the team for the match.
Meanwhile, Ireland manager Stephen Kenny termed Qatar a good side telling his ranks to give their best against the Asian champions.
“Our objective is to go out and win the game, but we will have to earn the right to do that. Qatar have earned some good results over the year. They are a very attacking team, they like to control a lot of games against the better teams,” he said.
“We will have to play really well, and we want to do that. We want to win at home, we want to experience that and we want the supporters to experience that,” Kenny added.
For Ireland, Chiedozie Ogbene is set to start while Caoimhin Kelleher is in line for debut.
Ogbene has thanked Kenny for believing in him after marking his elevation to the international stage with a first senior goal for his country.
The 24-year-old Rotherham winger came off the bench in Baku to score the final goal in a 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Azerbaijan which finally ended Kenny’s wait for a first competitive victory at the 13th time of asking.
Liverpool goalkeeper Kelleher will make his first senior start in Tuesday night’s friendly against Qatar.
The 22-year-old made his debut as a substitute against Hungary in June, but is in the starting line-up for the clash with the World Cup hosts.
Caoimhin is a really natural goalkeeper. He’s such a terrific talent. He played 10 times for me as Under-21s manager, so I’m well aware of his qualities and he’s done terrifically. He was just unfortunate last season when he was injured and that opened the door in March for Gavin Bazunu, who’s been terrific,” said Kenny.
“Caoimhin made his debut at half-time in the game against Hungary, but this is his first start tomorrow and in front of a home crowd, and he deserves it,” he added.
Kenny has revealed he will make some, but not wholesale, changes after Saturday night’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory in Azerbaijan, although while midfielder Jason Knight will return to the squad after illness, he has some doubts.
Although qualification for the World Cup is no longer possible, the victory has set Kenny on course to keep his job. Another strong showing against Qatar will only build on the feel-good factor surrounding Kenny’s squad.
The Al Annabi, however, would only be keen to return to winning ways especially since their last triumph came against El Salvador in July.