High on Form, Al Annabi Gear up for Tight Contest with Arch-Rivals
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“Qatar have been scoring a lot of goals. They are also efficient in front of the goal. Given some chances, we will try and put opposition into some THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 difficult situations.” – Saudi coach Herve Renard High on form, Al Annabi gear up for tight contest with arch-rivals No room for error, says Qatar coach Sanchez Will make it tough for the hosts, insists Saudi Arabia manager Renard 2nd Semi-final Qatar vs Saudi Arabia at Al Janoub Stadium 8pm Qatar coach Felix Sanchez gestures during training as Almoez Ali looks on, ahead of Gulf Cup semi-final, on Wednesday. VINAY NAYUDU their opener. DOHA Since then both teams have raised their level of play. THE Arabian Gulf Cup has had Yet, Qatar seem to have found a history of enthralling football a great momentum following and keen contests. As such the their 6-0 win over Yemen, and Qatar players (from left) Pedro Miguel, Abdullah Abdulsalam, captain Hassan al Haydos, and Salem al Hajri warm up for a training session at Aspire on Wednesday. 24th edition of the tournament a telling 4-2 win over UAE in is only living up to the billing the crucial last match. “On our part, we are also and raising standards. Qatar’s stars Abdelkarim ready and very excited to be On Thursday, when Qatar Hassan (Asia Player of the playing Qatar. We made a take on Saudi Arabia in the Year 2018), and Akram Afif losing start to our campaign second semi-final at theA l ((Asia Player of the Year 2019) in this Gulf Cup but then did Janoub Stadium it will be an- have both hit form striking well. We began with five play- other spectacle as both sides three goals each thus far. ers who are young and are will push hard to ensure a Skipper Hassan al Hay- from the champion team of place in the final. dos has been a key playmaker, 2018 U-19 side. It was tough There will be no margin Karim Boudiaf has been in for them at this international for errors and Al Annabi coach his elements while Salem al level. But we improved against Felix Sanchez was emphatic in Hajri too made superb play in Bahrain and Oman as players his statement at the pre-match the last match. Add to this the got some more experience. So conference on Wednesday fluent Pedro Miguel and they now we are confident. saying, “I think this phase of all seem a challenge by them- “We play a strong side, we the tournament does not ac- selves. know exactly what they are cept mistakes. We are playing Sanchez will be hoping for capable of but we also know against a strong team and eve- these men along with the oth- what we have to do. So it will ryone knows their quality.” ers to keep excelling. also be a tough game for Qa- The task is equally chal- The coach was accompa- tar, I’m telling you.” lenging for either sides. “It will nied by the admirable goal- On Qatar’s style of play, be a semi-final.T he game is keeper Saad al Sheeb, and Rebard said, “Qatar have been certainly difficult, and we will Qatar will surely aim from scoring a lot of goals. Their enter it with great hope. We keeping all trouble away from play positions are very good, know the level of the opponent Sheeb during the key clash. they play high balls and the but we have confidence in our The absence of Bassam projection of their strikers is players, and are ready to per- al Rawi has been made up by very fast. They are also effi- form well. These games do not the others. “We always pre- cient in front of the goal. But accept division by two; either fer to have all the players but Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard (3rd left) joins players during warm up ahead of a training session at Aspire on Wednesday. they will show up some weak- we lose or win,” stressed the we must focus on those who ness like all the teams. As for Spanish coach. are present, and we are happy Qatar in front of the home home crowd. We are focused and we are coach said. our strategy we are keeping Indeed that would be the with them,” said Sanchez. crowd would be tough but Renard said his players also a good team with a lot Renard has been study- things to ourselves and trying case as only the better side will Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, added that his team can meet were confident. “There’s no of good players and great ing the Qatar team for a while to prepare very well. go on to win. are being served well by some up to the challenge. pressure. We are also happy team spirit. We know, we now. “I watched the Qatar “Given the chances, we will Both Qatar and Saudi of their younger players who Saudi Arabia would hope to be playing at the very big, are playing against the hosts team play against South Korea try and put our opposition into Arabia have suffered a loss were a part of the team that for their players Abdullah al beautiful and fantastic stadi- who are also the 2019 cham- and the UAE during the Asian some difficult situations. each in the group stage. While won the Asia 2018 under-19 Hamdan and Mohammed al um. And it is always better to pions of Asia. Cup. So, we perfectly know our Tomorrow evening you the hosts lost to Iraq in their title. Khabrani to lead the way play a game of football in front “While it will be difficult opponents, the quality of their will see the plan and strategy. opening match, Saudi suf- French coach Herve Re- but they will also be under of a lot of spectators. for us, it will also be very dif- play, their coach who has been I hope we will end up on the fered a loss against Kuwait in nard admitted that playing pressure in front of a large “We don’t fear anybody. ficult for Qatar,” the Saudi doing an amazing job. winning side,” he hoped. Qatar drawn with Brazil, Colombia for Copa America 2020 QNA/AFP it’s about testing ourselves at BOGOTA the highest level,” Arnold said following the draw. “The play- QATAR has been drawn in ers are so excited to have this Group B with Colombia, Brazil, great opportunity.” Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru The former international for the Copa America 2020, striker speaks from experience: while Group A includes Aus- Arnold was a member of the tralia, Argentina, Bolivia, Uru- Socceroos team which lost to a guay, Chile and Paraguay. Diego Maradona-inspired Ar- The 12-team tournament of gentina in a 1993 playoff for a the 47th edition of Copa Amer- spot in the 1994 World Cup. ica, runs from June 12 to July “In the old days in the 12, and includes all 10 teams 1990s we played Argentina and from South America plus invit- Maradona over there and if you ed guests Australia and Qatar, speak to the players involved who were the final sides to be Pibe, the mascot of the Copa America Former Brazilian footballer Juninho Paulista presents the Copa they’ll tell you what a great ex- placed in groups. 2020 at the draw ceremony. (AFP) America trophy during the draw of the Copa America 2020. perience it was,” Arnold said. It will be co-hosted by Co- “Our boys haven’t really lombia and Argentina. tina and Chile at the Monu- tournament against Peru on before facing losses against 3-1 in the final this year. Australia coach Graham Ar- had the experience of playing in Four teams from each mental stadium in Buenos June 14. Qatar had made Colombia and Argentina. Australia will face Lionel nold said his team was relishing South America. So to be able to group will qualify for the quar- Aires and the final will take their Copa America debut Brazil will enter the next Messi and Argentina after be- the prospect of facing Argenti- play in South America in those ter-finals.T he opening match place in Colombia. earlier this year. They drew tournament as the defending ing drawn alongside the tour- na in Buenos Aires. great stadiums in that environ- will be played between Argen- Qatar will open their their match against Paraguay champions after defeating Peru nament co-hosts on Tuesday. “That’s what it’s all about, ment is going to be a buzz.” Thursday, December 5, 2019 13 24th Arabian Gulf Cup QATAR | OMAN | KUWAIT | SAUDI ARABIA | UAE | BAHRAIN | IRAQ | YEMEN Iraq ‘strong’ but Bahrain seek to fight hard for a place in final Both teams have equal opportunity, says Bahrain coach Sousa We will give it all, warns Iraq’s manager Katanec The Bahrain (left) and Iraq teams during their respective practice sessions at the Qatar University Stadium, ahead of their 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final clash, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA BAHRAIN, who knocked out ten-time champions Kuwait out of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, face three-time winners Iraq in the first semi-final of the tournament at the Al Du- hail Stadium on Thursday aim- ing to make the final in quest of maiden trophy triumph. 1st Semi-final Iraq vs Bahrain at Al Duhail Stadium 5pm Iraq captain Abdul Zahra (left), and Bahrain player Mohammed Abdulwahid speak to the media at the pre-match conference of their team on Wednesday.