Confident Yet Cautious Qatar to Meet Iraq in Asian Cup Tonight
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Serena sidelines World No. 1 Halep at Australian Open PAGE 18 TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2019 Sajjad, Chaudhry set up Qatar win over ASIAN CUP 2019 Saudi Arabia in ACC T20 in Muscat PAGE 19 QATAR VS IRAQ (7PM) Confident yet cautious Qatar to meet Iraq in Asian Cup tonight Qatar coach Felix Sanchez (left) and midfielder Ali Afif during the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Round of 16 pre-match media conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Monday. We need to be patient, says Ali Afif of Qatar’s future stars DPA ABU DHABI QATAR’S young squad are preparing to face Iraq in the knock-out stages of the Asian Qatar captain Hassan al Haydos trains with the team at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ahead of the clash against Iraq. Cup on Tuesday but the home World Cup of 2022 remains AFC “Our form is good but we ever present in their thoughts. ABU DHABI This is the knockout stage and it all boils down must be on our toes against Eleven of coach Felix Qatar. Jordan went into their Sanchez’s party in the UAE are QATAR and Iraq will tread to one match. We too didn’t concede a goal in the match against Vietnam having under the age of 23 as the Gulf with caution when they meet group stage but all that can change in an instance. not conceded one goal but the State looks to develop talent in their AFC Asian Cup UAE This is something that we don’t want to happen and first one they did was enough for the challenge ahead. 2019 Round of 16 tie at the Al to eliminate them. “We need to be patient for Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi the players know that there must be full concentration. “Qatar will be huge chal- these players,” 31-year-old on Tuesday. lenge as they are very adept in midfielder Ali Afif said Mon- Both teams advanced to Qatar coach Felix Sanchez changing tactics and forma- day ahead of the last 16 game the knockout stage in impres- tions. My message to the play- in Abu Dhabi. “I am very sive form, with Qatar winning match. One defeat and we go the match. All my players are ers is that we must be quick optimistic, I believe they their three Group E matches home,” said Sanchez, a situ- available and anyone of them to adjust to Qatar,” said the will have brilliant futures. while Iraq qualified with two ation which he said his team can be called into action.” Slovenian, who took charge of “They have proved in these wins and a draw, against the are mindful off. Katanec, however, doesn’t Iraq just four months ago. games they have good per- Islamic Republic of Iran. “We too didn’t concede a believe Qatar will make The four months, howev- formances and I hope they Qatar head coach Felix goal in the group stage but all changes. er, have been enough to show will make Qatari football very Sanchez and Iraqi counterpart that can change in an instance “We have analysed their him just how passionate Ira- proud in 2022.” Qatar’s Almoez Ali (left) celebrates scoring a goal during the AFC Srecko Katanec, however, said and we could be eliminated. matches and they always start qis are of football and he said Forward Almoez Ali has Asian Cup 2019 with Bassam Hisham. Almoez has scored the most their group stage record did This is something that we with the same set of play- his players are determined to stolen the headlines with a 7 goals so far in the Asian Cup. (REUTERS) not mean a thing now, espe- don’t want to happen and the ers. They are a very good side give their fans joy. leading seven goals so far while cially after Jordan having been players know that there must and we have to approach the “We have been taking it Akram Afif has provided several ing awarded the tournament ter how recent. knocked out by Vietnam. be full concentration.” match having fully under- one match at a time and I have assists – both are 22 and seem as hosts and even at the Asian “We’re going to try to play Jordan advanced from Qatar will go into the last stood what is required of us,” not pressured the players by destined for greater things than Cup success has previously a good game, we know in front Group A without conceding a 16 tie on a high, having defeat- said Katanec. saying we must win. The play- the Qatar league where they been limited. of us we have a very tough op- single goal but the one they did ed Lebanon 2-0, DPR Korea Iraq, semi-finalists in the ers, however, are determined currently ply their trade. Under Sanchez a youthful ponent but the team is confi- against Vietnam ultimately end- 6-0 and a tough Saudi Arabia 2015 AFC Asian Cup, have also to give their countrymen “Akram is young but he squad crushed Group E with dent and we’ll try our best to ed their campaign as the South- 2-0, with Almoez Ali scoring enjoyed good form thus far as joy and we will give our best is old in his mind, everyone three wins, including over have a good result,” he said. east Asian side won the penalty seven of their 10 goals. they came from behind to de- against Qatar.” knows him in Asia and now in powerhouse Saudi Arabia, “All the teams are in the shootout 4-2 on Sunday. “The group stage results feat Vietnam 3-2, cruised past Iraq too have all players Europe,” Afif said. and has not yet conceded a same position, it doesn’t mat- “This is the knockout stage have given us confidence and Yemen 3-0 before the battling available, ensuring a block- Qatar had never qualified goal. But he was quick to ter what you do in the first and it all boils down to one we have prepared well for 0-0 draw with Iran. buster end to the Round of 16. for the World Cup before be- play down the past, no mat- stage, it’s like a final.” Japan down Saudi Arabia; Australia survive shoot-out DPA ABU DHABI JAPAN edged Saudi Arabia 1-0 in an Asian Cup clash of the ti- tans which failed to live up to its billing on Monday while reigning champions Australia had Mat Ryan to thank for two saves in a 4-2 penalty shoot- out victory over Uzbekistan. Results Japan 1 (Tomiyasu 20) bt Saudi Arabia 0 Australia 0 Uzbekistan 0 Australia win 4-2 on penalties Takehiro Tomiyasu’s header against the run of play eliminat- ed Saudi Arabia from the last 16 and booked the record winners a last eight date with Vietnam. Australia went through on Japan celebrate after defeating Saudi Arabia in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Sharjah on Monday. (EPA-EFE) Australia celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out against Uzbekistan in Al Ain on Monday. (EPA-EFE) penalties following a dismal 0-0 draw and await the winner ing his spot in Sharjah. throughout but Japan keeper Bulayhi, with a free header, angle from Uzbekistan’s top eran keeper Ignatiy Nesterov. tage. But Ryan immediately from the hosts UAE playing The reassembled team took Shuichi Gonda scarcely had couldn’t hit the target. scorer Eldor Shomurodov. A tense period of extra- halted Islom Tukhtakhujaev Kyrgyzstan in Abu Dhabi later. time to settle but snatched the save to make. Japan will continue their The Socceroos needed a time brought no further to level and his subsequent Japan coach Hajime Mori- lead with their first chance when Muto spurned a breaka- bid for a fifth continental full hour to carve out a decent chances to leave penalties the save from Marat Bikmaev gave yasu made 10 changes to the Tomiyasu nodded in a 20th way but even when Saudi Ara- crown in Dubai on Thursday. chance, which Rhyan Grant decider and Nesterov, playing Hertha Berlin winger Leckie rotated side which defeated Uz- minute corner in a rare attack. bia started creating chances Australia made a slow start headed over, before returning in his record fifth Asian the chance to seal a spot in the bekistan to top Group F game The three-time champion Salem Al Dawsari, from the in Al Ain and Brighton keeper winger Mathew Leckie’s shot Cup, saved from Aziz Behich last eight, again in Al Ain, on with only Yoshinori Muto keep- Saudis dominated possession middle of the box, and Ali al Ryan stayed big to save on the was scrambled clear by vet- to give his side the early advan- Friday. Sports Tuesday, January 22, 2019 17 ‘Amazing’ World Cup 2022 Qatar will be a great success: Mourinho SC.QA DOHA JOSE MOURINHO, one of world football’s most success- ful and high-profile manag- ers, visited Doha this week and was taken on a personal tour of the Qatar 2022 head- quarters with Chief of Tour- nament Readiness & Experi- ence Group Nasser al Khater. Following the tour he spoke exclusively to sc.qa. EXCERPTS What are your first reac- tions to the plans for Qa- tar 2022? I’m very impressed. Knowing your country, I cannot say I am very surprised because I was expecting something amazing. But there were some One of world football’s most successful and high-profile managers Jose Mourinho inspects the Al Wakrah Stadium.