FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Simeone says LeBron leads Suarez, Felix Lakers rout, can unlock triple trio for Chelsea Giannis Wednesday, March 17, 2021 CRICKET Sha’aban 4, 1442 AH Buttler blitz trumps GULF TIMES Kohli knock as England lead series SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL Qatar players continue preparation for European 2022 qualifi ers QNA Doha he Qatari national football team continued its preparation for the European Zone quali- fi ers for the FIFA World Cup T2022 later this month. Though Qatar automatically qualify being the hosts of the 2022 World Cup but are taking part in the qualifi ers to get match practice in the lead up to the tournament. Qatar take on Lux- embourg in their fi rst match on March 24. The second match will be against Azerbaijan on March 27 and then face Ireland on March 30 at Debrecen, Hun- gary. The Qatar squad had a training ses- sion under the supervision of Spanish coach Felix Sanchez at Aspire Academy with the participation of 23 players. The players worked on their fi tness as well as tactical aspect of their game. Coach Sanchez has not yet decided the list of players who will travel to Hungary this Friday, as the team will continue its training regularly until the departure date for the three matches. The fi nal list will be decided by Al Duhail’s Bassam al-Rawi, who suff ered a serious injury during the Arabian Gulf Sanchez tomorrow. Cup in 2019, is back in the national fold. Al Sadd forward Akram Afi f is notable Qatar players train at the Aspire Academy yesterday. absentee after he was ruled out due to QATAR SQUAD Khader and Mohamed Waad (Al Sadd); Hassan and Tamim al-Muhaizeh (Al a thigh muscle injury. Afi f suff ered the who suff ered a serious injury during the Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Salah Zakaria, Bassam al-Rawi, Asim Gharafa) Ahmed Fathi and Mahmoud injury during their QNB Stars League Arabian Gulf Cup in 2019, is back in the Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan. Qatar Pedro Miguel, Salem al-Hajri, Tariq Madibo, Almoez Ali, Karim Boudiaf, Is- Abu Nada (Al Arabi) Abdul Aziz Hatem game against Umm Salal and could be national fold. will play their ‘home’ fi xtures on Eu- Salman, Abdelkarim Hassan, Boualam mail Mohamed, Mohamed Muntari, Ab- (Al Rayyan) Khaled Munir (Al Wakrah) out of action for up to six weeks, Al The Asian champions will join Group ropean soil in order to facilitate shorter Khokhi, Hassan al-Haydos, Youssef dullah Abd al-Salam (Al Duhail); Ahmed Sadd said. Al Duhail’s Bassam al-Rawi, A – alongside UEFA Euro 2016 winners travel times for their group opponents. Coach: Felix Sanchez Abdel Razzaq, Ahmed Suhail, Musab Ala al-Din, Humam al-Amin, Muayyad SPOTLIGHT MOTOGP Morbidelli rivalry will drive Valentino on, says Rossi’s father Wenger calls he return of the MotoGP World Championship is imminent following four long months of winter. TIn the wake of the Offi cial Qatar Test, expectations are beginning to form about how the fi rst two for World Cup rounds of the 2021 season will play out at Losail International Circuit. The Ducatis, Hondas and Yamahas all look strong and like early contenders to challenge Su- zuki for the crown, despite each every two years having seen new riders debut in the factory colours. Fabio Quar- The former Arsenal manager is Chief of Global Football tararo made the move to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Jack Development at FIFA and a close adviser to president Infantino Miller and Francesco Bagnaia both jumped up to the factory Reuters Wenger conceded that his idea to have a Ducati Team while Pol Espargaro Manchester worldwide season run from March to No- dons another shade of orange as vember, to adjust for the November 2022 he traded KTM’s RC-16 for Rep- World Cup in Qatar, had found little sup- sol Honda Team’s RC213v. rsene Wenger says FIFA should port, however. “It’s my dream... I just think However, perhaps the move consider holding the World Cup I have the advantage of having worked in Ja- which has captured the imagina- and Euros every two years and that pan. We played from March until November tion the most is that of Valentino a review of the international match and it was perfect,” he said. Rossi, who switches to Petronas Acalendar will consider compressed qualifi - “It would make things more simple. And Yamaha SRT to partner Franco ers and enforced breaks for players. let’s not forget that this summer break Morbidelli at the satellite team. The former Arsenal manager is Chief of comes from the way where people were not Plenty of intrigue continues to Global Football Development at world foot- professional, it’s over 100 years ago,” he surround The Doctor as he en- ball’s governing body and a close advisor to added. ters his 26th season of Grand Prix president Gianni Infantino. Wenger said the “It was a good opportunity with the racing, and his father and former current four year wait for a World Cup is World Cup in November but it’s not the motorcycle racer Graziano Rossi, unfair to players and the focus should be on case, so that will not happen. But you need who recently turned 67, shared Yamaha SRT’s Valentino Rossi in action during the MotoGP testing at “competitions of meaning”, including the four weeks holiday and after that maybe you his thoughts on the season ahead. the Losail International Circuit last weekend. European Championships. need to go down to 18 clubs (in domestic “We need to be optimistic, the “If you look at the teams in the World leagues), everywhere.” situation is beautiful for several highly of Vale and it is clear that towards a MotoGP return after Cups usually the average age is 27/28. That’s Any changes to the international match reasons. Morbidelli is close, the he is convinced that he is in front riding a bike for the fi rst time why, because the World Cup, is every four calendar would have to be passed by FIFA’s right bike, a nice team of quick of him. But from this comparison, since the Andalucia Grand Prix in years there are very few chances to win it ruling council and possibly also a full con- and alert people, as Franco’s Valentino could come up with July of last year. The eight-time again because when they go back to the gress of all federations. Wenger said what- 2020 season has shown,” the something good. At Yamaha, I see World Champion was able to ride next World Cup they are 32/33. That’s why “I would say that’s one of the solutions we ever calendar was agreed had to include a elder Rossi told moto.it. Morbidelli stronger than Quar- a minimoto machine over the maybe we should organise the World Cup will discuss is to compact the qualifi ers... clear break for players. “I believe it’s needed, Indeed, he even feels that tararo and Maverick Viñales, who weekend after getting the doc- every two years,” he told broadcasters beIN instead of going away in October, Novem- with the physical resources that the players VR46 academy graduate Mor- have a few moments of little light.” tor’s approval. SPORTS in an interview. ber, September, March, June, we regroup the need today, it’s important that you have four bidelli could just be what his son With the younger Rossi look- Last week, the Spaniard sig- “Kick all the rest out. Organise only com- qualifi ers all in one month or two quadru- weeks holiday,” he said. to kick-on and reach the levels ing to have found some comfort nalled his intent to ride in Qa- petitions of meaning and kick all the parallel ples in October and in February but at least Wenger, 71, said he wasn’t ready to dis- of his hay day, feeling that the with his new YZR-M1 at the Test, tar at either of the opening two competitions out of the game. People must the players can dedicate that time to the club miss the possibility of returning to manage- three-time 2020 race winner is we wait with bated breath to see rounds of 2021 and that remark- understand what is at stake and only have from March until June, and we would gain ment but said he had a lot of work to do at again the biggest threat of the if he can translate that to Sunday able return now appears to be one games with meaning,” he added, having four dates,” he said. FIFA. “I don’t rule it completely out but I Yamahas. “Vale will need the form at the Barwa Grand Prix of step closer after fi nally making been critical in the past of UEFA’s new Na- “The ideal solution would be to regroup want really to have an infl uence on develop- competition, he will want to be Qatar on March 28th. his motorcycle return. In a post tions League tournament. the qualifi ers in one month, let’s say in Oc- ing the academy, the research centre in Zu- as fast as the other: it is a good on Instagram, Marquez said: The Frenchman said one idea on the agen- tober, you qualify and the rest of the season rich and contribute to put in place what can motivation and it is also a mo- MARC MARQUEZ MAKES “After eight months and after da, for the review which is due to start this you play for your club and then at the end make football outside Europe, in Europe as tivation that I would call happy.