Confident Qatar Set for Saudi Tie We Are Doing Exactly the Same As We Have Been for the Other Games, but We Know It Is a Match Which Will Decide the Top Spot
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Federer relieved getting past ‘mirror’ Evans at Australian Open THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 PAGE 18 Nasser al Attiyah wins Stage Nine to virtually ASIAN CUP 2019 PAGE 19 seal his third Dakar Rally title QATAR VS SAUDI ARABIA (7PM) Confident Qatar set for Saudi tie We are doing exactly the same as we have been for the other games, but we know it is a match which will decide the top spot. We will plan well, as we want to win the group: Coach Sanchez AFC ABU DHABI KNOCKOUT stage qualifica- tion may have been sealed but both Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s game plan for their final AFC Asian Cup 2019 Group E tie on Thursday will not hinge on who their possible Round of 16 opponents might be. Both go into the match with a perfect record of two wins, with Qatar only need- ing a draw to win the group on goal difference. The group winners will face the Group D runners-up, either Iran or Iraq, while the runners-up will go up against the top-placed team from Group F – either Japan or Uzbekistan. Both coaches - Saudi Ara- bia’s Juan Antonio Pizzi and Felix Sanchex of Qatar - were adamant that their teams would play to win. “I have never played a match in anticipation of who our next opponents will be and that is exactly how we will go into the match tomorrow. “We have maximum confi- dence in the players and have no preference as to who we could play in the Round of 16. We have an ambition to win the title and every match is equally difficult,” said Pizzi. Saudi Arabia go into the tie having defeated DPR Korea 4-0 and Lebanon 2-0, results which have boosted the confi- dence of Pizzi’s players. “Qatar is a team with many qualities and they have good strikers. However, we are also doing well collective- ly and I have full confidence that my players can get the Qatar players warm up for a training session at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, ahead of their final Asian Cup 2019 Group E clash with Saudi Arabia on Thursday. three points.” Qatar, said Sanchez, same as we have for the oth- “It is going to be a tough their two wins so far - a 2-0 performance, especially in the good game tomorrow.” only on the tournament and have prepared for the match er games but we know it is a game but hopefully, we can triumph over a tough Leba- last game. It was a very good Sanchez also hailed they have been working very just as they did for the ties match which will decide top get the result we desire,” said non and a 6-0 defeat of DPR result but we must keep look- his players for their deter- hard, before we came here against Lebanon and DPR spot. We will plan well, as we the Spaniard. Korea, which saw Almoez Ali ing forward. mination to do well in the and even now. The players (North) Korea. did for the other matches, as Sanchez said Qatar’s con- scoring four goals. “The focus now is on Saudi AFC Asian Cup. are all progressing well and “We are doing exactly the we want to win the group. fidence has been boosted by “We are very proud of our Arabia and we must plan for a “Their focus has been that is very important.” Keeper Al Sheeb hails Qatar’s ‘team spirit’ DPA goal difference from the also ABU DHABI perfect Saudis. “When we came here, it was QATAR goalkeeper Saad al with the plan of taking it one Sheeb has praised the sense of game at a time,” Al Sheeb said. unity in the team at the Asian “After two wins, our confidence Cup and is relishing a head- has been boosted. We will pre- to-head encounter with Saudi pare well for the match and our Arabia on Thursday to decide aim is to get the three points.” the winner of Group E. While consideration is While forwards Almoez sometimes given to the merit of Ali, tournament top scorer on finishing first or second, tricky Mourinho to debut as five goals, and Akram Afif have last 16 ties await both teams. drawn praise, Al Sheeb says it The group winners will meet was a collective effort which Iran or Iraq while the runners- expert on beIN Sports brought wins over Lebanon up face Japan or Uzbekistan. and North Korea for the team. “Our spirit is high as we TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK covering two highly antici- “Almoez and Akram are really want to do well in the DOHA pated games (Qatar vs Saudi very good players and with the Asian Cup,” the keeper for the & Arsenal vs Chelsea); and help of the other players, have Qatar goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb (right) with coach Felix Sanchez at the Asian Cup 2019 pre-match media Doha club Al Sadd said. FAMOUSLY known as the English Premier League cov- helped Qatar progress,” Al briefing in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Wednesday. “We have worked very “Special One” Jose Mour- erage, which viewers across Sheeb said Wednesday. hard and will continue doing inho, a former professional the Middle East and North “We are one team – wheth- coaching staff.” coach (Felix Sanchez) has pre- Qatar have kept two clean so as we want to progress as Portuguese footballer and Africa (MENA) enjoy exclu- er the 11 players who start, “Our strength, as I said, pared us well, whether in at- sheets while finding the net far as we can in the competi- the one who most recently sively on the leading sports those on the bench and the lies in our team spirit. The tack or defence.” eight times to top the table on tion,” he stressed. served as manager of Eng- channel. lish club Manchester Unit- A host of beIN stars are ed, is all set to feature on set to feature with Mour- beIN Sports as part of their inho for the two games with AFC Asian Cup 2019 and Mohammed Saadon al Ku- Qatar World Cup 2022 English Premier League wari, Mohamed Abu Trika, coverage. Tarek al Jalahma, Mubarak A 48-team tournament only possible if Doha agrees, reiterates Nasser al Khater Mourinho’s his first ap- Mostafa all taking part in pearance in front of the this week’s exciting two DOHA: Any decision by FIFA to is an important point,” he said. Any decision to extend the tour- camera for beIN Sports matches. increase the 2022 World Cup to “It will be a joint decision.” nament would though be faced will be during the keen The commentator for 48 teams will only be made in He added: “We are waiting for by huge logistical and political AFC Asian Cup 2019 clash the Qatar vs Saudi Arabia agreement with hosts Qatar, a the results of the feasibility problems. between 2022 World Cup game will be beIN star Issam senior official said on Wednesday. study, and once they are ready, The Qatar World Cup, the first in hosts Qatar and Saudi Ara- Chaouali. The match will be Nasser al Khater, Assistant (FIFA) will share them with us... the Middle East, will take place bia on Thursday. broadcast live and exclusive Secretary-General, Tournament to see if it is possible”. over 28 days in November and In his first TV appearance on beIN MAX HD1. Affairs, at the Supreme Com- FIFA is carrying out the study December 2022, not the since leaving Manchester The commentator for mittee for Delivery & Legacy, into increasing the number of usual 32. United in December, the for- the Arsenal vs Chelsea game talking to journalists in Doha, teams by 16 in 2022 and will Officials have said previously A file picture of Nasser al Khater, Assistant Secretary-General, mer Chelsea, Real Madrid, will be beIN star Hafid Der- said at the moment the country announce the decision in March. that is not possible for Qatar Tournament Affairs, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, at Inter Milan and Porto man- radji. This match will be was continuing to prepare for a Last month FIFA president Gi- to change the number of days, the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. ager will be part of a panel of broadcast live and exclusive 32-team tournament. anni Infantino said in Doha that so one option would be to host expert analysts based in beIN on beIN Sports HD2 and “No decision will be made with- a “majority” of football federa- tournament games across the set to become the norm from take place in the USA, Mexico Sports’ studios exclusively beIN 4K. out the agreement of Qatar, this tions supported the increase. region. A 48-team World Cup is 2026, when the World Cup will and Canada. (AFP) Sports Thursday, January 17, 2019 17 15,000 fans watch PSG training session at Khalifa Stadium The Paris Saint-Germain team held an open training session on Tuesday, January 15 at Khalifa Stadium in Doha. More than 15,000 fans were able to see their idols up close in a fun and friendly atmosphere. On the third day of the club’s Qatar Tour the whole Paris Saint- Germain squad made the most of ideal training conditions of- fered by the Khalifa Stadium, the first Qatari stadium ready to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup. The open training session is part of the club’s traditional winter tour, attended by the Paris Saint- Germain first team squad and staff.