Courageous Qatar Hold Iceland 2-2 in Friendly
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SPORT Tuesday 20 November 2018 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 30 India prepared for Cahill’s Socceroos extra pace and swansong limited to bounce: Rohit five minutes Qatar skipper Hassan Al Haydos celebrates Dutch star De Jong brands Qatar with team-mate Akram Afif after scoring the opening 2022 World Cup plans as ‘amazing’ goal in yesterday’s match against Iceland. THE PENINSULA – it’s great for the fans also. They don’t have to move around as DOHA: A member of the Neth- everything is within an area of erlands’ UEFA EURO 2012 and about 50km. It’s going to be an 2014 World Cup squads, amazing experience for both midfielder Nigel de Jong players and fans. (pictured) knows what it takes to host a memorable interna- Q: Having played in a World tional tournament. Cup, how much of a positive After recently switching impact can this global from German Bundesliga to the sporting event have on a host QNB Stars League (QSL), where country? he plays for Al Ahli, De Jong is A: I always say sport connects settled in Doha and feels con- people, but I feel this is especially fident Qatar will host a truly the case with football. Why? memorable FIFA World Cup in Because it’s the biggest sport in 2022. the world and it brings different Courageous Qatar hold The former Manchester City, nationalities and cultures Galatasaray and AC Milan mid- together. This will be a major fielder, in an interview with the Q: How do you think the boost for Qatar – it will put the Supreme Committee for compact nature of Qatar 2022 country on the map. Iceland 2-2 in friendly Delivery & Legacy (SC), said that will benefit players? his first impressions on Qatar’s A: I think it has big advan- Q: You moved to Qatar in July. plans for the first FIFA World tages, for sure. As a player, espe- Before you came, did you THE PENINSULA Cup in the Middle East are cially when you’re playing games speak to Wesley Sneijder ‘amazing’. and taking part in training ses- about the QSL and his experi- EUPEN, BELGIUM: Qatar yesterday “Amazing, especially from sions, you don’t want to travel ences here? And how have you produced a fighting 2-2 draw my point of view as a former for long periods of time to go found it so far? against World Cup side Iceland in international player. What back to your base camp or A: Yes, of course – he’s one of an international friendly. Qatar is preparing for players alternate between three or more my best friends in football – so it Captain Hassan Al Haydos (3) and the considerations they hotels, as seen in previous tour- was a chance for me to ask a lot and Bualem Khoukhi (68) struck have taken into account is fan- naments. In a country like Qatar, of questions about the league once in each half as Qatar fought off tastic. For the fans and people all the necessary facilities are and Qatar in general. He was very freezing cold conditions to earn the coming to Qatar for this event, very close by, so travelling won’t positive. I’m truly happy I took draw. it’s going to be an incredible be a problem. the decision to come here and It was a positive result for coach experience for everyone,” De But the compact tournament I’m happy with my experience so Felix Sanchez and his boys who Jong said. is not only beneficial for players far. stunned Switzerland 1-0 in their international friendly in Lugano four days ago. Ari Freyr Skulason (29) and Kol- beinn Sigthorsson (56) scored the goals for Iceland. AWESOME At Kehrwegstadion in Eupen, Al Annabi were up against not only a strong Icelandic outfit - ranked 36th on the FIFA computer - but also the Qatar’s Ahmed ZVEREV cold weather hovering around two Alaaeldin (left) Alexander Zverev stunnedunned world degrees Celsius. vies for the ball number one Novak DjokovicDjokovic to However, the morale boosting possession against win the season-endingng ATP FinalsFinals win against eighth ranked Swit- an Icelandic player zerland last Wednesday, had a big during their friendly and earn the biggestt victory ofof his impact on Qatari players’ confi- match played in career. dence against Iceland who featured Eupen, Belgium, at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in yesterday. HeH isit theth first fi t playerl toto bbeateat bbthbothoth Russia earlier this year. Djokovic and Roger FedererFederer in the The confidence was clearly same ATP Finals. visible yesterday when Al Haydos free-kick when his left-footed shot add one more to his tally of 22 inter- put his side on top in as early as third from outside the box flew like a national goals. ZverevZ ilis also tthehfi firststt pplayerlayer minute. bullet into the top right corner. Qatari forward Almoez Ali came The Qatari captain brilliantly Both teams were looking for close to net an equaliser in the very to beat the top two executed a direct free-kick from the chances to take the lead before the next minute with an aggressive seeds in the semi-finalsnals left side of the box, beating Icelandic half time break but missed several move at close range from goal, but and final since Andree goalkeeper Runar Runarsson as the attempts. did not succeed. Agassig in 1990. ball flew into the top right corner of When the play resumed, both But Qatar struck back in the the net to make it 1-0 in favour of teams tried their best to aim for the 68th minute when defender Singles Ranking: 4 the visitors. 2-1 lead, but it was Iceland who suc- Khoukhi stunned the home crowd Nationality: German Iceland reduced the deficit in ceeded in their ambition. with a brilliant curling shot from just Age: 21 (Born: 20.04.1997)1997) the 29th minute when defender Star forward Sigthorsson scored outside the box to the high centre Career Prize Money: $$14,907,92814,907,928 Skulason made the best out of a off a penalty in the 56th minute to of the goal to make it 2-2. IOC warns Taiwan against name-change proposal Qatar’s Al Modaihki elected AFP sensitive to the island’s use Olympic Charter which says jurisdiction, in accordance Executive Director of FIDE of names, emblems and the IOC has the right to with the Olympics Charter,” QNA TAIPEI: The International flags at international events. suspend a national Olympic the letter said. games again by listing it in the 2019 Olympic Committee has These sensitivities -- committee if its activities are It added that the IOC African Games in Morocco, as well as warned Taiwan that it could backed up by Beijing’s clout “hampered” by regulations would see any attempts to DOHA: The World Chess Federation the Asian Games. He explained that lose its right to compete if it on the world stage -- mean or acts of government. pressurise the local com- (FIDE) yesterday elected President of chess was present in the Olympics from tries to change its name for Taiwan is forced to compete The local committee mittee as external inter- Qatar Chess Association Mohammed Al 2003 to 2015, and that Qatar was the the 2020 Games in Tokyo, as “Chinese Taipei” at the has already expressed ference that could lead to Modaihki as Executive Director for first to include chess in the Asian Games ahead of a referendum that Olympics and other inter- concern that the island “protective measures”. International Relations of FIDE, on the when it hosted the event in 2006. will incense Beijing. national sports could lose its membership Taiwan has never for- sidelines of the World Chess Champi- He said that discussions are cur- Taiwan will vote on competitions. if it tries to push for the mally declared inde- onships in London. rently under way with the Olympic Saturday on whether the The IOC wrote to the name change. pendence from China and Al Modaihki said that the FIDE Council of Asia and the Ministry of Sports island should compete as Chinese Taipei Olympic “The IOC does not Beijing has threatened to Executive Office, at its meeting in of China for this purpose, adding that a “Taiwan” and not “Chinese Committee (CTOC) and the interfere with local proce- react with force if it ever did. London, distributed the tasks to the special file will be prepared to list the Taipei” in a controversial government on Friday dures and fully respects The Chinese Taipei new members and formed the special game in the 2022 Summer Youth referendum alongside local saying that any name freedom of expression. name was agreed upon in committees, adding that he was Olympics in Dakar. elections. change was “under its juris- However to avoid any 1981. appointed to the position which rep- Al Modaihki also announced that he China, which still diction” and warned of con- unnecessary expectations But since then there has resents a great gain for Qatar Chess was appointed as the representative of claims sovereignty over sequences if it felt there was or speculations, the IOC been a growing sense of and Qatari Sports. the World Chess Federation to the World self-ruling democratic interference. wishes to reiterate that this separate Taiwanese identity Al Modaihki noted many future Mind Sports Games, to be held in China Taiwan, is particularly It outlined a point in the matter is under its on the island. goals, saying that he looks forward to in April, and to the 2020 World Uni- include the chess game in the Olympic versity Championships.