Qatar's Asian Cup Victory a Glorious Beginning of a New Football

Sports Saturday, February 2, 2019 15 TOP HONOURS AND ACCOLADES (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) FIFA President Gianni Infan- tino presents the Asian Cup 2019 trophy to Qatar’s captain Hasan al Haydos; Qatar’s Almoez Ali, who was named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, with his top goal-scorer award; Qatar’s Saad al Sheeb after being honoured as the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament; Man of the Match Akram Afif of Qatar kisses the trophy; Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez with his medal at the Moham- med Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (REUTERS/AFP) Qatar’s Asian Cup victory a glorious beginning of a new football era DPA made it out of the group stage ABU DHABI at the last World Cup. South America is a differ- THE glittering gold confetti ent proposition and facing that heralded Qatar’s Asian Colombia, Paraguay and Ar- Cup win on Friday had hard- Copa up next gentina will give a much bet- ly fallen back to earth before ter indicator of just how much the next challenge was being Come June and the Qatar work remains to be done for discussed. team will be off to Brazil to this Qatar side. For most countries, win- play in the Copa America, “(Their performance was) ning a continental champion- invited as a guest, against not a surprise for me, we knew ship would spark days of cel- Colombia, Paraguay Qatar can have a tight de- ebrations and rewards aplenty and Argentina. fence and strength in attack,” for the gallant coach and heroes said beaten Japanese coach on the pitch. But most countries Hajime Moriyasu. “They are not Qatar and World Cup with a tournament record nine can move the ball and cre- 2022 hosts. goals will hog the headlines. ate chances, I think the head Coach Felix Sanchez and Sanchez has continually coach is building a great team his players will, no doubt, in- stressed the team rather than for the World Cup.” dulge themselves – they have, the individual with everyone Whether Sanchez gets the after all, more than earned it doing their job. chance to stay in the post that by becoming the ninth differ- Creative forward Akram long remains to be seen. ent winners of the Asian Cup Afif, 21, was involved in an as- Rumours have linked big- with a 3-1 triumph over Japan tonishing 12 of the team’s 19 name coaches to the job, and in Abu Dhabi. goals in the United Arab Emir- with the incentive of a home But then it will be back ates, including all three in the World Cup along with the abil- to work. final – scoring a late penalty ity to pay huge wages, Qatar “This is one step more to having set up the other two. face few restrictions in choos- continue developing the team, “We have been together for ing their boss. to play another tournament The victorious Qatar team with Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani and other officials. seven years, I know Akram, That, however, was where in the summer, and be ready where he will pass, and he Sanchez was happy to draw for 2022, to be a competitive “We are working on (the) America in Brazil – we’re not aged 25 or under. being placed above quick fix- knows what to expect from the line about the future. team at the World Cup,” said target (of the) 2022 World expected to win that but just to Qatar’s rush to be competi- es. The decision to promote me,” Ali said. “We get on very “I’m only thinking about Sanchez. Cup,” said striker Almoez learn in football. tive following the World Cup Sanchez, a long-term youth well together.” today, it’s a great day for me, It is less than four years Ali, who added the individu- “The weakest teams are in award in 2010 was initially coach in the country, to the Qatar defeated Lebanon, the players, and the coun- to the next World Cup, and al honours of top scorer and Asia – in the Copa America, we counterproductive. Coaches senior team was also inspired. North Korea, Saudi Arabia, try,” he said. “There can be as hosts, Qatar do not need to most valuable player to his will learn more, we know the changed rapidly and there was The Spaniard has known Iraq, South Korea, the UAE and news, this person, this person qualify. This, however, is a dou- winners medal. teams there have a different little structure to the develop- and worked with the majority Japan to lift the trophy with a (linked to the job) – we’re ble-edged sword, with a lack of “We started now with the level. We will learn a lot there ment of players. of the squad for several years, tournament record plus-18 goal thinking about our work. 2022 competitive games a problem Asian Cup and managed to that will benefit us as a team.” Bit by bit that changed, many of them of since they difference. They were undeni- is in three years’ time. In foot- after they play as guests in the defeat Japan today. We’re pre- Ali is only 22 and one of aided by substantial invest- were children. ably the best team but, as Ali ball you don’t know what will Copa America this June. paring for it first with the Copa 14 players in Sanchez’s squad ment and the long-term goal Ali is one example and said, Asia is weak - only Japan happen in two weeks.”.

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