Australia’s Cameron Green gets nod for India ODIs, T20s PAGE 11 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020 AMIR CUP FOOTBALL 2027 AFC ASIAN CUP BID The Asian Cup trophy. Qatar Football Association officially submits legal requirements file QFA State of Qatar to Malaysia, had Al Arabi’s Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson (centre) during a training session. Al Al Markhiya player undergoes a COVID-19 test ahead of the semi-nal on Wednesday. DOHA previously handed over the first part of the file on the 26th Au- THE Qatar Football Associa- gust earlier this year. tion (QFA) has successfully The submitted file fulfilled handed over the second part of the necessities of hosting re- Al Arabi face an uphill task, the bid to host the AFC Asian quirements in addition to high- Cup 2027 covering all legal lighting Qatar’s rich history and formalities required by the legacy in organising continental continental federation. and international tournaments The move comes as part and sporting events. Duhail gear up for Al Sadd of the Qatar Football Associa- The dossier presented by tion’s commitment to fulfilling His Excellency also included all hosting requirements ac- the local federation’s vision for TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK defending champions. We will cording to the approved sched- the country’s sports facilities DOHA fight to keep extend our status ule, and in line with its aspira- and associated infrastructure as champions. Yes, we are very tions to host the 2027 AFC that will be ready to host events AL Arabi coach Heimir Hall- ambitious,” said Almoez. Asian Cup as per the highest of any scale such as the 2022 grimsson will have a task on “It will be a tough clash be- international standards, in ad- FIFA World Cup™ Qatar, the hand when his team meets cause two high quality sides are dition to providing a football first mega-sporting event of its Al Markhiya in the Amir Cup competing,” the star striker said. experience that not only meets kind in the Middle East. semi-final at the Abdullah Bin In contrast, Al Sadd coach the ambitions of the Asian au- Qatar’s bid to host the Khalifa Stadium on Friday. Xavi said his squad is only fo- dience but also fosters social 2027 edition of the Asian Cup There’s a doubt over the cusing on their opponents. change and rapprochement comes as the natural progres- availability of key players with “We got a two-day break, between societies. sion of the country’s sports as many as five players being which is the players deserved, The Qatar Football Associa- ambitions, following its high absent during Al Arabi’s draw especially after they made a tion, represented by His Excel- record and success in hosting with Al Wakrah in the QNB great effort in the last period,” lency Fahad bin Mohammed international and continental Stars League last week. Xavi said on Thursday. Kafood, the Ambassador of the sports championships. On the eve of the semi-fi- “The Amir Cup is a different nal, Hallgrimsson admitted to competition. We are in the semi- his worries, saying “We’re in a finals and we consider this a fi- race against time.” nal against a strong and difficult Rashford stars again While key forward Mo- Al Duhail team. We have faced hamed El Neel is ruled out for in the final, Arabi first need to but I hope they’ll be fit to play to expect from the clash. them a lot and we will give our a month, Hallgrimsson is hop- get past Markhiya, who have against Markhiya,” he added. “I know everything about best, especially as they will look for Man Utd in CL ing Sebastian Soria, Hamdi punched above their weight in Hallgrimsson conceded the players and our rivals. I for revenge after losing to us last Harbaoui, Mehdi Torabi and the Amir Cup. Arabi will go into the match just hope we deliver a good week in the league. AFP ZIYECH IMPRESSES, HAAL- Marc Martinez will be ready to While the readiness of as favourites but was wary of performance against Al Sadd,” “It will be a complicated PARIS AND ON TARGET: Viktor face the second division side his key players concerned Markhiya, who had beaten Lamouchi said on Thursday. match. We must play with a Tsygankov’s penalty and a Al Markhiya. Hallgrimsson, also admitted fancied teams Al Gharafa in “We lost to Al Sadd in the strong personality in order to MARCUS Rashford was again Carlos de Pena effort had the Al Arabi have had a diffi- to having known nothing of last 16 and Al Rayyan in the league but that does not mean win this tournament, which is the star for Manchester United Ukrainians in control but they cult couple of months since the Markhiya. quarterfinal. this is a revenge match. It will dear to everyone in Qatar.” in the Champions League with then had captain Sergiy Sydor- resumption of football after “We deal with this match “We are trying to put an be a tough match for sure. “Al Sadd players must a hat-trick in a 5-0 thumping chuk sent off and the hosts – the pandemic forced a tempo- like any other match and the end to the Al Markhiya adven- There is no doubt about it,” focus and work on achiev- of RB Leipzig on Wednesday. with a sizeable crowd behind rary halt. While they managed preparations are not different, ture. But their results so far Lamouchi added. ing their mission, which is to Rashford’s late goal earned them – took full advantage. to finish seventh last season but the only difference is that are not a stroke of luck. They “They have good players reach the final,” he said. United a 2-1 victory away UEFA Champions League in the league, they are a lowly we do not know much about have performed well,” he said. but we have a plan too and we “Our ambition in this com- to Paris Saint-Germain last results on Wednesday ninth in the current campaign, Al Markhiya, which is difficult. will implement that,” he said. petition is to win the title. We week and at Old Trafford the Group E: At Krasnodar, Russia: having only won once in five The second division has just Al Sadd to clash with “We need to be positive are Al Sadd and we are one of England striker came on as Krasnodar (RUS) 0 Chelsea matches so far. started and it’s very difficult Al Duhail on Saturday on the pitch. That’s what’s re- the favourites to win. We are a second-half substitute and (ENG) 4 (Hudson-Odoi 37, Werner They were also beaten to get videos of them,” the Ice- Meanwhile, an exciting quired in front of a strong side preparing to face another fa- scored three times from the 76-pen, Ziyech 79, Pulisic 90) comprehensively by Al Sadd land coach said. battle is on the cards when like Al Sadd,” the Al Duhail vourite. We see this match as 74th minute on in what was a At Seville, Spain; Sevilla (ESP) 1 in the Ooredoo Cup final, ex- “I am satisfied with the football giants Al Duhail clash coach said. the final. We have to win in fine win against last season’s (De Jong 55) Rennes (FRA) 0 tending Arabi’s wait for a title, level of the players and what with Al Sadd in their semi-fi- Al Duhail captain and order to get the trophy that’s semi-finalists. Group F: At Bruges, Belgium: which last came in 2011 when they did, especially in the last nal of the Amir Cup at Abdul- key striker Moez Ali said most precious to the club, the Paul Pogba released Ma- Club Brugge (BEL) 1 (Vanaken they won the Sheikh Jassim match in the league. lah Bin Khalifa Stadium. his team will fight to get a players and the fans. We must son Greenwood to open the 42-pen) Lazio (ITA) 1 (Correa 14) Cup. While heavyweights Sadd “We played against Al Al Duhail coach Sabri much-needed win. “This is play with all our strength and scoring in the first half, before At Dortmund, Germany: Borus- or Al Duhail will wait for them Wakrah without five players Lamouchi said he knows what a big tournament. We are the more to achieve this title.” the youngster made way for sia Dortmund (GER) 2 (Sancho Rashford after the break and 78-pen, Haaland 90+1) Zenit Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side Saint Petersburg (RUS) 0 ran away with the game to Group G: At Budapest: Ferenc- make it two wins from two in varos 2 (Nguen 59, Boli 90) New era to bring hope but no quick x for Barca & Messi Group H. Dynamo Kiev 2 (Tsygankov 28- Anthony Martial also net- pen, De Pena 41) AFP without Bartomeu. people will come.” ted from the penalty spot as At Turin, Italy: Juventus (ITA) 0 MADRID And at least with him, They will come within United ruthlessly exposed the Barcelona (ESP) 2 (Dembele 14, Messi had a reason to leave three months now and that of- side who currently top the Messi 90-pen) RONALD Koeman threw his that even Barca fans could fers more time than expected. German Bundesliga and went Group H: At Istanbul: Istanbul arms around Lionel Messi and understand. In fact, a large clear at the top of the section. Basaksehir (TUR) 0 Paris Saint- in that moment all seemed section of supporters seemed Koeman’s credit still low “We looked dangerous Germain (FRA) 2 (Kean 64, 79); well again, Barcelona toasting to be on Messi’s side, even if There is the bulk of a sea- throughout and that we could At Manchester: Manchester the resignation of Josep Ma- it meant their captain ending son to get a sense of what the score every time we went for- United (ENG) 5 (Greenwood 21, ria Bartomeu as president on up in the shirt of Manchester new leadership feels like, in- ward,” said Rashford.