Merissa calls on cricket nations to return to Pakistan PAGE 19 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 Holders Al Gharafa face stern Al Duhail test in QSL Cup final PAGE 18 FOURTH ODI NEW ZEALAND VS INDIA TRUE SPORTING SPIRIT Giants Japan brace to face breakout Qatar DPA ABU DHABI THE Asian Cup final on Fri- day is a battle between old and new as record champi- ons Japan take on upstart newcomers Qatar in Abu Dha- bi’s showpiece Zayed Sports City Stadium. Japan are searching for a fifth title, having not lost any of their four previous finals, after quick progress since the 2018 World Cup under new coach Hajime Moriyasu. World Cup 2022 hosts Qa- tar in contrast had never pre- Qatar goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb (in yellow) hugs his UAE coun- viously been beyond the last terpart Khalid Eisa after the Asian Cup semi-final on Tuesday. eight of the continental tour- nament before years of work – and investment – suddenly Qatar keeper Saad clicked under the leadership of coach Felix Sanchez. Statistics suggest the al Sheeb sets new Spaniard’s side are the best in the United Arab Emirates with an incredible 16 goals scored, record, wins hearts none conceded and a 100 per cent record which includes wins over previous champions TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK their highest-ever defeat for such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and DOHA any hosts in the continental South Korea. semi-final. And those were before they The Qatar team and support staff celebrate their sensational 4-0 Asian Cup 2019 semi-final triumph over United Arab Emirates inAbu Dhabi. NOT only has Qatar goal- The 28-year-old Sheeb humiliated the hosts 4-0 in the keeper Saad al Sheeb’s ex- has beaten the record of semi-finals in a match tinged with a 3-0 dismantling of celled with an outstanding Iran’s standout goalkeeper with political tension given the The Asian Cup final on Friday would be a battle between the old and new. favourites Iran. show under the bar at the Alireza Beiranvand, who ongoing bickering between the But while the Samurai Blue may have the pedigree, they are a work in “I think we showed a great ongoing Asian Cup 2019, kept a successive clean sheet countries. performance, kept another but has also won hearts of for 5 matches, only conced- “I think the players showed progress and stuttered through their early rounds before humbling Iran in clean sheet, scored three goals, all with his gesture of em- ing a goal (a penalty) in the great commitment because we the semis. Qatar, in contrast, showed huge character in reaching a but one more to go, so we have bracing his UAE counterpart semi-final against Japan af- were in games where we need to show even more desire and after Qatar’s 4-0 win in the ter 56 minutes of the start- to be realistic and the opposi- continental title-decider for the first time. passion to be ready for the semi-final on Tuesday. ing whistle. Alireza now has tion, they are trying to attack final,” said captain Maya Sheeb also posted a new a successive 506 minutes and have good players and keys why we are qualified for is striker Almoez Ali, who tops and forget about everything Yoshida, part of the victorious continental record having clean sheet in his credit. different options and the play- the final.” the scoring chart with a record we did so far, only then will we team in 2011. maintained a successive clean Meanwhile, Qatar have ers were very well organized,” Qatar had viewed the Asian equalling eight goals. win the final.” Moriyasu noted before sheet with his country’s na- also become the first nation Sanchez said. Cup – and the Copa America “We don’t look at the sta- Qatar will again be with- the tournament Japan were tional team in 6 successive in the history of the Asian “They were very focused later this year – as final tune- tistics: You could win 1-0 to- out fans on Friday and what out to “reclaim” the title they matches, completing 540 Cup to win six matches in on the challenge and the side ups for the home World Cup day and lose 3-0 tomorrow,” neutrals in the stadium are conceded in Australia four minutes in the Asian Cup. a row in one tournament situations so I think they are but the chance to lift a major Ali told the governing body likely to back Japan, who have years ago. Qatar humbled the hosts without conceding a goal. working very well as a team trophy is a significant achieve- AFC. “Everything we did so far picked up as the tournament “That’s what everyone ex- and that’s the situation. ment in its own right. is one thing, but what’s com- progressed. pects from us,” Yoshida said. SAAD AL SHEEB’S OUTSTANDING SHOW “In six games, we didn’t One player who will not ing up is more important. A series of – often unim- “We have to be champions. concede a goal. It’s very im- be going home empty handed “The final needs patience, pressive – single-goal victo- We have to win every time Top three clean sheet goalkeepers by minutes in Asian Cup history portant and one of the main regardless of the final outcome so if we are patient, play well ries ended in the semi-final in Asia.” Saad al Sheeb (Qatar) 6 matches 540 minutes Alireza Beiranvand (Iran) 5 matches 506 minutes Mark Schwarzer (Australia) 3 matches 475 minutes The man who saw Qatar’s success coming AFC It’s step by step.” “We talked to each other,” ABU DHABI “I’m very proud of myself said the Al Sadd stopper. “We and my team. It’s a very, very were relaxed.” QATAR’S surge to a first ever I’m not surprised because big thing for our country. It’s “We said to each other that AFC Asian Cup Final has taken history. It’s the first time for we are playing a normal game the competition by storm, but it we’ve been together for our country to achieve this lev- and don’t think about it a lot, comes as no surprise for 21-year- maybe 7 years with the coach el of the competition, to arrive just focus on them and do it old defender Tarek Salman. as a team, so it’s not the first to the final with the top scorer, like we did each game before. A rampant 4-0 win semi- time to achieve something the top assists, the clean sheet We won, and I’m very happy final over host nation United like this. for six games. This makes us and very proud of our team.” Arab Emirates has Al Annabi very proud of ourselves. With the semi-final done, 90 minutes away from their Qatar midfielder Tarek Salman “We hope to continue with Qatar enter their first conti- greatest ever international this. We now have an extra step nental decider with the con- football achievement, having against Japan and we need to fidence of a perfect record, a racked up six AFC Asian Cup start to recover from now to be potent attack and, at least un- wins in a row without conced- ready for the next game.” til now, a watertight defence, ing a single goal in the compe- With almost all of the but, with four-time champions tition thus far. 38,646 fans in attendance at Japan still to play, Salman in- For a team that had won Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin sists his said will take nothing only six of their previous 32 Zayed Stadium supporting the for granted. matches in the Finals, it is a UAE, the semi-final looked “Japan, in every tour- turnaround few could have to pose a significant mental nament, as you say, they predicted, but Salman said challenge for Qatar, but, with achieve,” he said. “They arrive Qatar’s rise is the result of Boualem Khoukhi’s opening to the final, the semi-finals, so years of considered prepara- goal silencing the crowd, they they are a very strong team. tion under head coach Felix been together for maybe seven “In 2014 we took the AFC overcame every hurdle with “We respect them, but Sanchez, and that he is far years with the coach as a team, U-19 Championship, and in flying colours. also we have our team and we Qatar custodian Saad al Sheeb consoles a UAE player after the from surprised. as young players, so it’s not the 2018 in China we achieved Salman said his he and his are ready for them, and we Asian Cup semi-final in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. “Actually, no (I am not first time to achieve something third in the (U-23) competi- young teammates approached hope to make a good game surprised), because we have like this,” said Salman. tion, so it’s not the first thing. the fixture with calm. against them.” MORIYASU V SANCHEZ: Two motivational tacticians come face-to-face riday’s AFC Asian Cup host of the West Asian nation’s J. League side Sanfrecce Hi- UAE 2019 final will not age-group teams. The coaches behind their teams roshima where, after making Fonly pit Qatar against Ja- The 43-year-old Barcelona Felix Sanchez: Head coach of Qatar Hajime Moriyasu: Head coach of Japan nearly 300 appearances, he pan but also two highly moti- native joined the Doha-based Been in charge since: July, 2017 Been in charge since: July, 2018 returned to coach the club to vated and experienced coaches Aspire Academy in 2006 be- Previous AFC titles: AFC U19 Championship Previous AFC titles: AFC Asian Cup Japan 1992 three top-flight titles between who have successfully guided fore, seven years later, taking Thailand 2014 Did you know? If Japan beat Qatar in the final, 2012 until 2017.