Qatar Defender Bassam Al Rawi Urges Team to Battle Colombia TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK RIO DE JANEIRO Al Annabi Arrive in Sao Paulo for Their Next Big Clash
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Eoin Morgan hits 17 sixes to set a new record at World Cup PAGE 14 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2019 100 Days To Go: Countdown begins for Middle CRICKET WORLD CUP East’s first-ever IAAF World Meet in Doha PAGE 15 NEW ZEALAND VS S AFRICA Qatar defender Bassam al Rawi urges team to battle Colombia TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK RIO DE JANEIRO Al Annabi arrive in Sao Paulo for their next big clash QATAR’S dynamic defender Bassam al Rawi wants his teammates to forget the thrill- ing 2-2 draw against Paraguay and deliver another com- manding show against Colom- bia on Wednesday. The match, to be played in Sao Paulo, begins at 12.30am (Thursday) Doha time. Qatar continue their Copa America journey after shock- ing the football world with an impressive performance in their opening match at the Maracana Stadium. Almoez Ali and Bualem Khoukhi produced two sec- ond-half goals as Al Annabi rallied from a two-goal deficit in their Group B opener. “It was a good result against Paraguay but we need to for- get that match. We lost many chances to score. Now we need to manage another fighting per- formance,” Al Rawi said. “We should play without fear. We should play like we did at the Asian Cup. “We have the talent and the desire to do well at such events. Playing at Copa Amer- ica will make us a strong side for the future,” he added. The young defender an- nounced himself on the foot- ball scene after a memorable Qatar’s Bassam al Rawi (centre) during the Copa America run at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, match against Paraguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de where he proved his deadball Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. (AFP) strength as well as marshalling the defence-line which conced- ed a meagre one goal through- out the tournament. Qatar skipper Hassan al Haydos alights from the team bus after the Al Annabi arrival at the hotel in Sao Paulo on Monday, ahead of their next Copa America match against Colombia. “We are playing the Copa America event. It shows we belong at this level and we are exhibiting a strong image of I’m happy but the Cup has just begun: Colombia’s Zapata our country. We are reflect- ing a strong brand of football since we played in similar AGENCIES we could and managed to turn this victory, I am very happy fashion at the Asian Cup,” the RIO DE JANEIRO the match around at the end of and having fun (...) We are wait- defender said. the second half. We played very ing for the next games that will On the match against Co- HE entered the field as a sub- well, “said Zapata, striker for be important, will not be easy “, lombia, the Al Duhail man stitute in the second half and Italy’s Atalanta. I have added. said, “The match against Co- sentenced Colombia’s historic “We knew that many years The strikers Roger Martin- lombia will require a double 2-0 win over Argentina in their had passed, I am very happy but ez, at the minute 71, and Duvan effort and I hope that we will Copa America 2019 in the debut the Cup is not over, the tourna- Zapata, at 86, scored goals for be able to succeed and show on Saturday. ment continues, we will enjoy the Cafeteros in a game played a remarkable level against a The striker Duvan Zapata at the Fonte Nova stadium in strong team.” was happy with the perfor- Colombian Duvan Zapata (right) Salvador (northeast). Qatar’s last group stage mance, but remains calm for celebrates with his teammate Colombia will now face Qa- match will be against the what is still to come. James Rodriguez after scoring tar on Wednesday in Sao Paulo, 14-time Copa champions “I came in and accompa- against Argentina in Salvador, while Argentina will take on Argentina on June 23. nied my team, we did the best Brazil, on Saturday. (EPA-EFE) Paraguay in Belo Horizonte. FANFARE Qatar 2022 will be ‘best ever’ Qatar supporters travel more than 22 hours to live Maracana party undreds of Qatar fans in unison, after which they ap- FIFA World Cup: Riyad Mahrez Harrived at the legendary plauded several times. Maracana Stadium in Rio de Ja- “We will be here until whenever SC.QA ever seen. We are all looking neiro, Brazil, where their nation- the team is eliminated. If they forward to it.” al team played its first match as continue advancing through the ALGERIA’S star player and Belmadi meanwhile, who invitee in Copa America 2019. rounds, we will stay, “added an coach have both praised the led the Qatar national team be- Some fans arrived in Brazil more excited Qatari fan who did not Supreme Committee for De- tween 2014-15 – and managed than a week before the tourna- want to reveal his name. livery & Legacy (SC) for its Qatar Stars League sides Lekh- ment, while others only a few “Next year we will come back to plans and preparations for Qa- wiya and Al Duhail either side days ago, but all were happy to the Copa America, and then we tar 2022, with Riyad Mahrez of that stint – also spoke of his be in such a spectacular sports will have the World Cup at home stating he expects the tourna- excitement for the tournament. scene and accompany the team, in 2022,” he said smiling. ment to be the ‘best ever’ FIFA He said: “It has come which has won over the hearts of If they were already smiling be- World Cup. around so fast. I remember the many especially after their Asian fore the game, during the game The Manchester City wing- day that Qatar won the rights Cup victory earlier this year. they did not stop screaming er, a Premier League winner in [to host the World Cup] and it Omar al Hammadi arrived in Several Qatari fans arrived at the legendary Maracana Stadium in Rio in the stands. “Let’s go Qatar. 2016 and 2019, visited the SC’s seems like it was yesterday. Brazil with four of his friends, de Janeiro to watch Al Annabi play Paraguay on Sunday. Let’s go Qatar. Let’s go Qatar! Legacy Pavilion with his Alge- “There are just three more despite a long trip from Doha And much more when at the ria coach – and former Qatar years until the World Cup and to their destination. They took a perfect excuse, “said Omar. shirts forming the name of the 77th minute, Boualem Khoukhi, national team boss – Djamel of the Arab world being able I’m sure that will go very fast flight from Doha to Sao Paulo, And when asked about his im- Asian country, children and scored the goal to secure a Belmadi while in the country to host football’s most prestig- too. When I see how quickly after that a long connection of pression of the team, he said, adults with small flags and point for the Asian champions. preparing for the upcoming ious tournament. they are organising and prepar- four hours before taking the “Our team improves every time. scarves with the colors of Qatar After the match, Qatar fans Africa Cup of Nations. “It’s very important for ing for this, it’s just amazing.” next plane to Rio de Janeiro. If they can play at the level of smiled as they entered through kept celebrating the team’s After being shown the everyone,” said Mahrez. “It’s The visits were facilitated “We traveled 22 hours to come the Copa America, we can play the doors of the Maracana. first game in the Copa America plans for the tournament – a massive organisational task, by the Qatar Football Asso- to Rio to watch the game against well in the World Cup.” Another of the Qatari fans and the party only grew bigger and beyond in legacy mode an unbelievable one. We came ciation (QFA) and made pos- Paraguay. It’s the first time I’ve On the outskirts of the stadium shouted and cheered his team, especially with the point gained – the 28-year-old said he was here to see close up how it will sible due to its ongoing close come to South America, I’ve they were already amateurs along with his friends, even long against a two-time champion. In excited by what he had seen, be and I think it will be one of relationships with numerous always wanted to be here, and with the Qatari colors. Groups before the match began. the end, the football party was and spoke of the importance the best World Cups we have associations across the region. for the Copa América I found the of friends with letters on their “Let’s go Qatar”, they shouted bigger. (CONMEBOL) 14 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Sports QFA vice-president meets Algerian football delegation TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK dine Zetchi, National Team to develop the game in both The Algerian delegation DOHA Manager Hakim Meddane countries, QFA officials said. wished Qatar rapid progress and national team coach Al Mohannadi assured the in their preparation in hosting QFA vice-president Saud al Djamel Belmadi. delegation of QFA’s full support the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Mohannadi on Monday met The two bodies discussed to have exchange programs and Later the officials ex- with officials of Algerian Algerian team’s presence in ways to develop the world’s changed souvenirs and posed Football Federation (AFF) at Doha for the preparations of most popular sport in the two for pictures.