Sports Thursday, February 11, 2021 13 Qatar to play World Cup Euro qualifiers at Generali Arena in Vienna Tribune News Network Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Earlier, Qatar coach Felix sides and improve our game,” Doha Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan. Sanchez had said, “This will Sanchez said. Qatar will play their help us reach the 2022 FIFA “What I can say is all the Qatar will play their FIFA ‘home’ fixtures on European World Cup in the best possible teams in our group are strong. World Cup Qatar 2022 ™ Eu- soil in order to facilitate short- manner by playing in Europe- We have Portugal who are the ropean zone qualifying matches er travel times for their group an qualifiers. All these games Euro champions. Portugal will against Luxembourg and Azer- opponents. As the FIFA World will be exciting and interesting. be favourite in this group. It baijan at the Generali Arena in Cup 2022 host nation, Qatar “There’s every chance we will be a good game against the south of Vienna, Austria. has already qualified for the could be playing against Eu- them”. Qatar take on Luxembourg tournament. ropean sides at the World “We will play a team that on March 24 before facing Though Qatar automati- Cup in 2022. We are also is at the highest level. It will Azerbaijani team on the 27th cally qualify being the hosts playing Copa America and be good for us to play against of the same month. but are taking part in the qual- the CONCACAF Gold Cup them. It will be an excellent The European Football As- ifying to get match practice in next year. This is good plan- experience for us. We will have sociation (UEFA) invited the the lead up to the 2022 FIFA ning,” he said. the chance to play highly com- Qatar Football Association World Cup. “We are going to play petitive teams”. (QFA) to participate in the Eu- As well as playing World teams, not just from Asia “Ireland and Serbia will ropean qualifiers for the FIFA Cup qualifying matches in Eu- now. This will be good prepa- be great games as well. All World Cup Qatar 2022 ™. rope, Qatar will also partici- ration for us going into the these sides are ranked high. I The Asian champions will pate in the Copa America and World Cup. think it is a great opportunity join Group A – alongside UEFA CONCACAF Gold Cup next Qatar will play their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™ European zone qualifying matches against Luxembourg “We have a fantastic op- to play against them soon,” Euro 2016 winners Portugal, summer. and Azerbaijan on March 24 and 27 respectively. portunity to play against top Sanchez said. Players and fans will love Qatar’s World Cup

Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a goal opportunity during the Italian Cup semi-final second leg match plans, says Xavi against Inter Milan at the Juventus stadium in Turin late on Tuesday. (AFP)

SC against Tigres, who are the Juve oust Inter to qualify Doha On WC 2022 first CONCACAF Champions League winners to reach the for Italian Cup final Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cups have historically showpiece match. World Cup™ in 2022 will been at the end of the Xavi said: “I would say it DPA hour and was twice denied by offer many advantages for season for most players – was a half-surprise to see Tigres Rome Handanovic. players and fans according to when they are tired both beat Palmeiras – but of course “We should have con- Spanish football legend Xavi mentally and physically. In anything can happen in foot- Juventus drew 0-0 at home verted what we created,” Juve Hernandez. ball. Looking to the final, Bay- to Inter Milan on Tuesday and coach Antonio Conte said. “It The former midfield maes- 2022, they will be in the ern are the favourites. I actually advanced from the semi-finals was a pity as I think that both tro, who lifted the World best possible shape – and consider them to be the best of the Italian Cup thanks to a teams fought for 180 minutes Cup with Spain in 2010, was that’s a plus for everyone. team in the world right now. 2-1 win in last week’s first leg. and we paid for some gifts we speaking to www.qatar2022. “They have won all the A mostly tactical first half made (in the first leg). qa ahead of the FIFA Club titles and will be looking to at Turin’s Allianz Stadium saw “We tried to score until the World Cup™ final between On CWC Final make it six trophies tomorrow Juve’s veteran keeper Gianluigi end. Had we scored a goal Juve Tigres UANL and FC Bayern night. But Tigres will go into Buffon save a central drive from would have had more difficul- München, which will take Tigres (UANL) will go into the game with a positive atti- Marcelo Brozovic before Inter’s ties. We tried to bounce back but place at Qatar’s Education City the game with a positive tude and they have nothing to Samir Handanovic parried a we did not succeed. You must Stadium on Thursday night attitude and they have lose in the final. It will be inter- taut Cristiano Ronaldo effort. learn from mistakes and restart, (kick-off 21:00 local time). esting to see what happens.” The fast Nerazzurri wing- trying again.” Holders Napoli The current Al Sadd SC nothing to lose in the final. Xavi also said he was er Achraf Hakimi fired high host Atalanta on Wednesday head coach, who has lived in It will be interesting to see pleased to see a limited num- after the break while Ronaldo in the other semi-final after a Qatar for more than five years, what happens. ber of fans attending matches also missed the target on the scoreless draw in Bergamo. said the country is well pre- during the Club World Cup, pared to host the next edition the season for most players – in line with Qatar’s COVID-19 of global football’s showpiece when they are tired both men- protocols. Anyone attending event. Xavi also believes the tally and physically. In 2022, tournament venues has been FA Cup timing of the tournament – they will be in the best possi- required to return a negative Manchester Utd make last eight yet again from 21 November to 18 De- ble shape – and that’s a plus Former Spain midfielder and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez. COVID-19 test, show evidence cember 2022 – means the ma- for everyone.” of taking the vaccine or prove London: Scott McTominay scored in injury time on Tuesday to send jority of players will be in the Xavi continued: “Another Qatar’s compact nature we will have a historic World they contracted and recov- Manchester United through to the quarter-finals of the AF Cup with a 1-0 best possible shape to produce point is that Qatar is a small means fans will be able to at- Cup. I have no doubt that peo- ered from the virus in recent win over West Ham. McTominay found the net with a sharply-taken vol- outstanding performances on country, so players will hardly tend more than one match per ple are going to be pleasantly months. ley seven minutes into the first period of extra time to end West Ham’s the field. need to travel. They will stay day during the early stages of surprised when they arrive in “Qatar is doing well in re- hopes. It’s the seventh season in a row that United have made the “I think (the timing of the in the same hotel throughout the tournament as the longest Qatar and experience what the lation to the COVID-19 situ- quarter-finals. “It’s just about finishing the game off but we’re through,” tournament) is a big advan- the tournament. It won’t be distance between stadiums is country has to offer.” ation. We don’t have a high United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. “We’re in the hat and that’s tage – for players and fans,” like previous events – which just 75km. Looking forward to Thurs- number of cases and football what we wanted. “I think we got about 15 to 17 shots in the end but we said Xavi. I think is a big advantage for Xavi said: “You will be day’s Club World Cup final, is being played here with fans. need to be more clinical. We should’ve finished the game off earlier and “World Cups have his- players and – of course – the able to watch two matches on Xavi has the German gi- The country is building up to- finished in 90 minutes but sometimes it doesn’t happen.”( DPA) torically been at the end of fans as well.” the same day – which means ants down as firm favourites wards the World Cup.” Palmeiras praise Legends Kaka, Mascherano and Julio preview enticing final Qatar’s unwavering IFA Legends Kaka, Javier Mascherano and Julio Ce- commitment to Fsar spoke to the media in Qatar ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 final. health and safety Excerpts: On expectations from Tribune News Network undergone mandatory COV- Thursday’s final Doha ID-19 testing on arrival in Qa- Javier Mascherano: I am tar and prior to every match, looking forward to it and hope it The head coach and goal- while all tournament venues will be a great final for neutrals. keeper of SE Palmeiras have have been routinely deep- Tigres made history by qualify- praised Qatar’s stringent cleaned. Tournament capaci- ing for the final for the first time health and safety protocols ties have been limited, with as a Concacaf team. Bayern ahead of their third-place all fans required to return a Munich have been a European play-off against Al Ahly SC in negative COVID-19 test, show powerhouse in recent years; the FIFA Club World Cup™. evidence of receiving the vac- they’re having a great time. The Brazilian side are aim- cine or prove they contracted FIFA Legends – Kaka, Javier Mascherano and Julio Cesar – during a press conference at Qatar’s Education City Stadium on Tuesday. ing to sign-off with a win in and recovered from the virus About playing here at the the competition after losing in recent months. stadiums that will also be want Bayern to win, so that they best teams in the world at the this is one of the few competi- be done so this generation to CONCACAF Champions Ferreira said: “I would like used at the World Cup remain the only ones in history ) moment. We are going to have tions to have fans in the stadi- of future footballers is not League winners Tigres UANL to congratulate Qatar – they Julio Cesar: The stadiums to have won six titles in a year). the pleasure of having those ums, which is something that lost due to the pandemic? in the semi-finals. They will have provided all the facilities are extraordinary, with a fabu- two great coaches behind their touches us emotionally. This Kaka: I am still optimistic, I face Al Ahly at Education City and conditions for the teams lous infrastructure. The fans are What is your impression of two teams. gives us hope. try not to dwell so much on the Stadium tomorrow (kick-off to perform. You have to follow going to be positively surprised Tigres at this tournament? Mascherano: I am sure that Kaka: I cannot imagine bad things. We are not going to 18:00 local time) before the the rules and use your accredi- when they see the stadiums for Kaka: For me, they are very Tigres is going out there with what it is like to play without lose this generation because of final between Tigres UANL tation everywhere here. Qa- the World Cup! well coached, with a well-de- the mindset of playing the game supporters. I have been asking this gap. On the contrary, this and FC Bayern München tar is very organised and this fined game plan and strategy. with their own style and to im- other players about this feel- generation is going to come out takes place at the same venue tournament has been deliv- If Bayern win the final, Julio Cesar: I believe that pose themselves. They have al- ing, because it is completely of this stronger, because they straight afterwards (kick-off ered in a clean and safe way.” they will equal Barcelona’s the coach prepared them very ways tried to impress their own different. It’s really strange to will have gone through a com- 21:00 local time). Weverton added: “We have achievement (of winning well for the semi-final and I was identity on matches. score a goal and not to feel the pletely unprecedented situation. Ahead of the match, head felt very safe here. We’re in the six titles in a year) - who very surprised that they left so atmosphere of the stadium. It’s Mascherano: No one has a coach Abel Ferreira and goal- midst of a pandemic but ever will you be rooting for? few opportunities for Palmeiras! What is your view on playing really hard to imagine. It’s a re- magic wand to fix this. I am also keeper Weverton Pereira da since we arrived in Qatar we Mascherano: I wasn’t part of without fans in stadiums? ally good sign, however, to see optimistic. Yes, it’s true young- Silva were quizzed on Qatar’s have felt safe – whether it’s at that team, I arrived later. If Bay- What are their chances of Mascherano: The number 30 per cent of supporters in the sters have not been able to train, COVID-19 protocols – which the training facilities or in the ern win, we have to congratulate actually beating Bayern in one priority is obviously always stadium here. It’s a sign of hope but we are not going to lose an have been mandated by Qa- hotel. People are being tested them, they have been the best the final? people’s health. FIFA and Qatar for everybody. entire generation because of a tar and FIFA in order to safely all the time and it makes us team in Europe in the last two Kaka: It’s fundamental to have gone through a massive ef- year or a year and a half. At the host global football’s premier feel safe and relaxed. I would years and if they achieve this, have a great game plan if you fort to make sure that this com- You all have experience end of the day, things are going tournament. like to congratulate everyone they will go down in history. I are playing a team at this level. petition could still go ahead. working with children. to fall into place and adapt to Players and officials have for the organisation.” am sure that Barça fans don’t Bayern are obviously one of the You have to be reminded that What do you think should the new reality.