QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune India upbeat ahead of QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune cricket ODI series against England PAGE 14 TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021 Qualification sprint for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 begins A World Cup qualifying campaign like no other in Europe kicks-off on Wednesday with spots at Qatar 2022 the eventual goal DPA and was due to undergo tests BERLIN when he joined the national team on Monday. WORLD Cup holders France Coach Luis Enrique is al- begin the defence of their ti- ready without long-term ab- tle on Wednesday at home to The 55 European nations sentee Ansu Fati and will miss Ukraine on Wednesday when have been split into 10 Gerard, who is the top Span- European qualifying for the ish scorer in La Liga, if he is 2022 edition begins with the groups with only the winners not fit to play against Greece coronavirus pandemic still automatically reaching Qatar on Thursday, then Georgia casting a long shadow over 2022. Runners-up join two and Kosovo. football. teams from the Nations Sweden host Georgia on A reshuffled international League in play-offs for Thursday in what could be calendar means a triple-head- three further berths Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to er of fixtures starts the cam- international football after re- paign, followed by another in tiring in 2016. The 39-year-old September – after the rear- AC Milan striker is his coun- ranged European Champion- try’s record scorer but main- ships – ahead of the October tained it his is strength now and November conclusion to rather than in the past that qualifying. earned his call-up. The 55 European nations With typical modesty, have been split into 10 groups Ibrahimovic posted a photo of with only the winners auto- himself in the national jersey matically reaching Qatar 2022. against the backdrop of a yel- Runners-up join two teams low wall of Swedish spectators, from the Nations League in with the words “The return of play-offs for three further the God,” when the squad was berths at the first finals to be announced. held November-December. Securing a place at the next A revised fixture list is not World Cup is one of the three the only challenge facing both fronts where Italy are engaged coaches and administrators this year, besides Euro 2020 though as coronavirus restric- and the final-four stage of the tions threaten to play havoc Nations League they content with their best laid plans. as hosts with Belgium, Spain Germany begin Joachim and France in October. Loew’s long farewell as nation- Coach Roberto Mancini, al coach at home to Iceland on who was appointed in May Thursday in Group J then visit 2018, displayed guarded opti- Romania on Sunday and host mism about the qualification North Macedonia on March 31. chances of the Azzurri at the Duisburg, in North Rhine- 2022 World Cup, after missing Westphalia, eventually de- FLASHBACK: A file photo taken on November 19, 2013, shows French players celebrating at the end of their FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying match vs Ukraine, at the Stade de the previous event for the first cided to allow Germany’s Pre- France in Saint-Denis, near Paris. Beaten on November 15, 2013 in Kiev (0-2), the French national team’s players “searched the depths” of themselves to overturn Ukraine (3-0) time in 60 years. mier League players into the four days later in the World Cup-2014 play-offs. (AFP) “There will be work to do. country even before the Unit- It won’t be easy because there ed Kingdom was removed “We’re really happy, of training sessions and the against England at Wembley a “We’ve got Dominic (Cal- missing through injury but are many strong national from the list of countries course, that our players from matches which players are week on Wednesday. vert-Lewin) and Harry (Kane) John Stones, Luke Shaw and squads,” he said last week. deemed high-risk because of the English Premier League pushing hard, who really England manager Gareth that we’re very happy with,” Jesse Lingard return to the “But we are on the right path. virus mutations. can join us in Duisburg and wants to go to the tourna- Southgate could give a first Southgate said. squad which also visits Alba- We have young team that That means Manchester Bucharest,” said Loew. ment.” An effective ban on cap to striker Ollie Watkins “But we don’t know what’s nia at the weekend. must strive to improve. I think City’s on-form midfielder Ilkay “Our goal is to secure three leaving Germany for the when his side play San Marino going to happen further down Spain have a potential we will make it.” Guendogan is among Loew’s wins to give us a good standing UK means Austria can call on on Thursday. the line so it’s good for us to striking crisis ahead of their Mancini called up 38 play- squad along with exciting in the World Cup qualifiers. Of 19 Bundesliga players for their Though Harry Kane will get an understanding of Ollie Group B games. ers for the first batch of quali- youngsters Jamal Musiala of course, we also have the Euro- visit to Scotland while Poland lead the attack, Watkins, in par- as a player a little bit closer Villarreal forward Gerard fiers against Northern Ireland, Bayern Munich and Florian pean Championship in mind. will have Bayern Munich star ticular, has impressed with 10 up and for him to see how we Moreno tweaked his right Bulgaria and Lithuania in Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen. “We want to see in the Robert Lewandowski available goals for Aston Villa this season. work.” Jordan Henderson is hamstring at the weekend Group C. Ibrahimovic is ‘ready’ to play for Sweden in World Cup qualifiers DPA STOCKHOLM VeteRan forward Zla- tan Ibrahimovic said on Mon- day he was “ready” to play for Sweden this week if selected for the World Cup qualifier against Georgia. Ibrahimovic was last week Polish and Bayern Munich striker Robert recalled by Sweden coach Lewandowski receives the Commander’s Janne Andersson for the first Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order time since he retired from in- from Poland President Andrzej Duda. ternational football in 2016. The two met in November in Milan where they discussed Lewandowski receives state honour from Polish president Ibrahimovic’s interest in play- ing for Sweden again. DPA wandowski “a national sports Lewandowski is currently “I am just a piece among WARsaw hero” and “the quintessence leading the Bundesliga’s scor- many in the jigsaw,” Ibra- of perfection,” in praising the ing charts with 35 goals and himovic said. “I’m here to POLAND and Bayern Munich footballer for his hard work. has recently become the sec- make it better if Janne be- striker Robert Lewandowski The Bayern star under- ond all-time goalscorer of the lieves I can.” The 39-year-old on Monday was awarded Com- lined the role of his team- league, behind Gerd Mueller. answered several questions mander’s Cross of the Polonia mates, coaches, family and He is within reach of Muel- about his age and his determi- Janne Andersson (left), head coach of Sweden’s national football team, and Sweden’s forward Zlatan Restituta Order, one of the friends, and stressed his focus ler’s long-standing record of nation to continue his career Ibrahimovic address a press conference in Stockholm on Monday, prior to the World Cup qualifier against highest state honours, by Pol- on the challenges yet to come. 40 goals scored in one season. as long as he felt motivated, Georgia to be played on Thursday. (AFP) ish President Andrzej Duda. “Perhaps in while when I sit In his 10 full Bundesliga and overcoming injury. World player of the year on the couch I will think about seasons, Lewandowski has col- “I’m here because I deserve Andreas Granqvist as team playing for Sweden, however, Georgia, and three days later Lewandowski was awarded the trophies won ... but for now lected eight championships, to be here,” he said and added captain. meant being away from his play Kosovo away. for his accomplishments in my ambition is big enough that six with Bayern and two with with age he had developed pa- “To play on the national family, and a tearful Ibrahi- Ibrahimovic - Sweden’s football as well as promoting I don’t want to become compla- Borussia Dortmund where he tience - on and off the pitch. team is the biggest thing you movic disclosed that one of all-time top goalscorer - Poland abroad. cent,” said 32-year-old Lewan- played 2010-2014. In the Pol- “I also train very hard, I’m can do as a football player,” his sons had cried when he stepped down from the na- During a ceremony at the dowski, who helped Bayern to a ish national team, Lewandows- a training junkie,” he said. Ibrahimovic said, adding he left home. Sweden open their tional squad after Euro 2016, presidential palace in Warsaw, treble of domesitc league, cup and ki played 116 games and scored Ibrahmovic said he fully sup- was there “to bring results.” World Cup qualificationat having chalked up a record 62 the Polish president called Le- Champions League last season. 63 goals, both national records. ported Andersson’s pick of The return to training and home on Thursday, hosting goals in 116 appearances. Sports Tuesday, March 23, 2021 13 Al Annabi continue training ahead of Luxembourg clash Qatar national football team players train in Debrecen in Hungary ahead of the team’s European Qualifiers’ clash against Luxembourg on Wednesday.