We Must Improve, Xavi Tells Al Sadd FAWAD HUSSAIN in a Strange Manner and We Need to Be the PENINSULA Careful in the Upcoming Games As We This Is Football
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Sport THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2020 WoodsW in need of some magic at US Open This year I really haven’t putted as well as I wanted to, and the ttimes I did make a few swing mistakes, I missed it in the wrong spots.s Consequently, I just didn’t have the right looks at it. I’ve compoundedc mistakes here and there that ended up not making mem able to make pars or a birdie run. Tiger Woods Sport |10 TOUR DE FRANCE: OVERALL LEADER: Primož Roglic (SLO) 74:56:04 - STAGE 16 WINNER: Miguel Ángel López (COL) 4:49:08 We must improve, Xavi tells Al Sadd FAWAD HUSSAIN in a strange manner and we need to be THE PENINSULA careful in the upcoming games as we This is football. Naturally, we are going to face really strong teams Unhappy with a draw against that want to compete in Asia,” Al Al Ain, Al Sadd coach Xavi should have won, because of all the Haydos said. Hernandez (pictured) has opportunities that we created. But While Al Sadd played out a draw, Al urged his players to bring this did not happen. We must Duhail – the QNB Stars League cham- improvement on the pitch develop ourselves more. We have a pions – returned to the continental in what he termed as a long and difficult path in the event with a 2-1 victory over Sharjah ‘long and difficult path’ in in Group C at the Education City the 2020 AFC Champions Champions League, and we must Stadium. League. focus and be more careful in the Al Duhail coach Walid Regragui said Al Sadd were held upcoming matches. he was satisfied with his team’s overall FIXTURES 3-3 by UAE’s Al Ain in performance, which also saw the Red TODAY a thrilling match on Xavi Hernandex Knights missing chances. GROUP A Tuesday on their “It was an important victory as we Al Sadd coach Al Shorta (IRQ) vs Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) home turf. The returned to the event after a long Wolves moved to break,” said Regragui. Khalifa International Stadium 18:00 five points, behind “The win will give the team a lot of GROUP B table toppers Al ourselves more. We have a long and confidence in our campaign. We wasted Shahr Khodro FC (IRN) Shabab Al Ahli Nassr (7 points) of difficult path in the Champions League, opportunities but in the end we Dubai (UAE) Saudi Arabia in Group D. A point from and we must focus and be more careful managed to win the match and I am Al Janoub Stadium 18:00 a hard-fought draw opened Al Ain’s in the upcoming matches,” said Xavi happy,” he added. Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Al Hilal SFC (KSA) account. before adding Al Sadd’s focus is now “It was a difficult match and Sharjah Al Janoub Stadium 21:00 Xavi blamed missed opportunities on tomorrow’s reverse fixture against performed very well. Now, we must as his side lost two valuable points due Al Ain. focus on our next match,” Regragui said TOMORROW to Al Ain draw. “We have a match in two days and while referring to tomorrow’s reverse “We deserved better against Al Ain. we are trying to regroup from now to match against Sharjah. GROUP C We created many opportunities in the be fully prepared for the next match,” Al Duhail coach also praised star Sharjah (UAE) vs Al Duhail SC (QAT) first half but we were not good enough. he said. Almoez Ali, who scored the first goal Education City Stadium 18:00 In the second half, the team was Meanwhile, captain Hassan Al against Sharjah on Tuesday. Al Taawoun FC (KSA) vs Persepolis excellent and we gave the best, but luck Haydos rued that his side failed to give “Almoez is a special player for Al FC (IRN) did not favour us in front of the goal,” their best in Tuesday’s game. Du hail who plays a leading role. I hope Education City Stadium 21:00 the Barcelona legend said in a “We are capable of doing much he continue with his good form in the GROUP D statement. better. We faced a strong Al Ain team, League,” said Regragui. Al Sadd SC (QAT) vs Al Ain FC (UAE) “This is football. Naturally, we but we will work on getting a win in the After three matches, Al Duhail are Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium 18:00 should have won, because of all the next game,” said Al Haydos, who led second in Group D with 6 points, with opportunities that we created. But this Qatar to Asian Cup triumph last year. Al Taawoun FC leading on goal Al Nassr (KSA) vs Sepahan FC (IRN) did not happen. We must develop “Unfortunately, we conceded goals difference. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium 21 : 00 ‘Sharp focus’ helped Qatar win 2019 Asian Cup: Almoez CHINTHANA WASALA was named the Player of the better in the next Copa America,” THE PENINSULA Tournament. Every player dreams of playing the Almoez said. “Since the beginning we had a spe- World Cup and it is an honour as a The Asian Champions, Qatar are one Qatar’s 2019 Asian Cup hero Almoez Ali cific goal. Our goal was to go as far as of the emerging forces to be reckoned Qatari to play in the national team yesterday said playing matches at the possible in the championship. We were with at the next FIFA World Cup. 16-team championship last year with among the best teams in Asia and with in the World Cup at home. It is a Almoez is hoping to give his best ‘sharp focus’ was key to the team 13 young players. It was remarkable,” dream that we have since during the Qatar 2022 in front of the winning against the top sides in Asia. Almoez said yesterday. childhood. Of course we all play in home crowd. The 24-year-old Al Duhail star, who “The goal was clear from the our country and our ambition is to “Every player dreams of playing played a major role in Qatar’s conti- beginning. Initially our goal was to reach play the World Cup to the best of the World Cup and it is an honour as nental victory last year, made the the semi-finals. At that time, any other our abilities: Almoez Ali a Qatari to play in the national team remarks during an Instagram Live coach would have pressured us but we in the World Cup at home. It is a session conducted by Generation did not have much pressure. dream that we have since Amazing yesterday. “The main goal was to remain Qatar featured in the Copa childhood. Of course we all The influential forward was the focused. The whole team had just one America tournament last year, but play in our country and our 22nd player to feature on the Live goal in mind. When Qatar won in Asian the fortunes were against Al Annabi ambition is to play the sessions. Cup, our fans rejoiced,” he added. “We as they finished fourth among some World Cup to the best of our Almoez, who was a part of the Qatar all rejoiced, of course, we remember of the strongest teams in the world abilities,” Almoez said. U19 team that won the 2014 AFC U-19 that tournament,” Almoez said. in the Group stage. With football action Championship title and followed up The performance of the young Al Qatar competed in Group B along gradually re-emerging, safety with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, was one Annabi team at the continental level was with former world champions measures to aid in prevention of the star for Al Annabi on both a source of inspiration for youngsters Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia. for Al Annabi. The Al Duhail striker of COVID-19 has become the occasions. and Almoez is happy to have played a “The first participation, of course, remembers the goal. new normal. Almoez said it has During the 2014 tournament, he part in that. was very difficult because it is a very “Scoring the goal at the Maracana affected the youth and the world as scored three goals, including one against “My advice to youngsters who wish strong competition” Almoez, a big Stadium, one of the most famous sta- a whole. Myanmar in the semi-final. to follow in my footsteps is, love what fan of Argentinian superstar Messi, diums in the world, is something very “Of course, I have advised young Last year, the charismatic striker you do. Whether it’s football or any said. special to me. Like I said earlier, I always boys and girls to follow the necessary spearheaded the Al Annabi outfit at the other sport, you must practice hard and “The level of football it has, makes think about the team, not my personal precautionary measures. Since Qatar AFC Asian Cup in UAE where they love it in order to reach higher levels,” it one of the toughest tournaments in achievement. We played the tour- has been gradually lifting the restric- emerged champions. Almoez was the Almoez said yesterday. the world, with the biggest stars of the nament with caution. We gained a lot tions and we have reached the fourth star of the show all the way from the Almoez also said he hopes Qatar will world playing." of experience the first time we played stage, everything is going to be grad- beginning till the end as he went on to perform well at next year’s Copa Qatar drew with Paraguay in the there.