GULF CUP | Page 2 CHAMPIONSCHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Page 7 UAE aim to Messi fi res continue run Barcelona into against Iraq last 16, Leipzig today hold Benfi ca Friday, November 29, 2019 Rabia II 2, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT PREVIEW YEMEN VS QATAR (8PM) Al Annabi look to bounce back against Yemen today ‘The outcome of the Iraq match was disappointing... But we are determined to get back to winning ways’ By Sahan Bidappa Doha emen are yet to get past the group stage of the Gulf Cup, in fact they have not tasted a single Yvictory in nine editions of the tournament. Ideally, they are an opponent Asian champions Qatar would be expected to beat on any given day. But as Qatar found out on Tuesday, when you are not at your best, no team can be taken lightly. The hosts had a forgetta- ble night in their opening match against Iraq, going down 1-2 to a second string side. The loss to Lions of Mesopotamia has fi rmly put the pressure on Felix Sanchez’s men. In a short tournament like Gulf Cup, a defeat in the very fi rst match can have a severe impact. Sanchez, though, will hope that it was just a minor blip for a side who have been impressive for the most of 2019. The maiden Asian Cup win in the UAE at the beginning of the year announced their arrival on the big stage, while another gutsy show in the Copa Amer- ica against the South American teams showed Sanchez’s men can stand up to big guns. Yet it was an indiff erent per- formance by Qatar against Iraq. While they looked short in con- fi dence, they also seemed to be overawed by the expectations. There is no doubt though that Qatar will start as the over- whelming favourite against Yem- Qatar players take part in a training session on the eve of their match against Yemen in Doha. en in the Group B match at the Khalifa International Stadium today. But performances clearly have to improve. Before Tuesday, Qatar had not lost a single match since September, when they started Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez directs his players during a training their World Cup and Asian Cup session yesterday. PICTURES: Fadi al-Assaad qualifi ers campaign. Even though they lead the Group E, their per- formances in the qualifi ers against lowly sides like Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh have been ordi- nary, if not poor. Sanchez, however, felt that Qatar’s performance has not been in decline. “I do not think our performance is going down,” the Spaniard said yesterday. “We played tough games at the Asian Cup and Copa America. We are on the right track,” he added. Today’s match against Yemen looks easy on paper for Qatar, but Sanchez, still smarting from the defeat to Iraq, warned his side not be complacent. “There is no easy match in the tournament. We expect a highly competitive game tomorrow, but the players are motivated and prepared. We tried our best against Iraq but things didn’t go according to our plan. We will continue to work hard and put Qatar player Abdulkarim Hassan (right) greets teammate Bassam our best against Yemen,” he said. al-Rawi who is recovering in the hospital after getting injured on The lack of goals will be a ma- Tuesday during the opening Gulf Cup match against Iraq. Qatar goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb during practice yesterday. Yemen coach Sami al-Na’ash addresses a press conference yesterday. jor worry for Sanchez. Almoez Ali has failed to reach the heights of fi nd the net. to get back to winning ways. We We did not appear tensed against war-torn Yemen. It will be a lot to Yemen has had a direct impact on my team will be in the best shape Asian Cup, where he was MVP Afi f, who is in running for the know it won’t be easy and are Iraq. We played the game calmly expect from a side, whose players all national teams,” said Yemen and the defenders will be more of the tournament. Against Iraq, Asian player of the year award, aware of our responsibilities,” the and we lost only because we and coach are without a profes- coach Sami al-Na’ash, who side focused. We expect Qatar to at- Almoez wasted few easy chances said the team is determined to striker said. could not take advantage of the sional contract. A league game had lost to the UAE 0-3 in their tack, so I hope we do not make and lacked control with the ball. put a better show against Yemen. He also dismissed the claims opportunities we had,” Afi f said. has not been played in the coun- opening match. any defensive mistakes. I hope Akram Afi f has often put a spec- “The outcome of the Iraq match that pressure of playing at home Meanwhile, a victory today try in the last fi ve years. “A very diffi cult game awaits that the team will be mentally tacular performance but the Al was disappointing and we spoke has aff ected the players’ per- against a strong side will be “The suspension of sports ac- us because both the teams have strong against the Asian champi- Sadd player has also struggled to about it. But we are determined formance. “No, this is not true. nothing short of historic for a tivity for more than fi ve years in lost their opening game. I hope ons,” he added. Gulf Times Friday, November 29, 2019 2 PREVIEW UAE VS IRAQ (5:30PM) UAE aim to continue run ‘Iraq has improved a lot recently, but we trust ourselves and will against Iraq today give our best to win’ Buoyed by opening win, Iraq ready to face UAE By Amjad Vanimal unperturbed by the task at at the start of the tournament. UAE national team and is aware Doha hand, perhaps due to the confi- As many as eight of his players of the challenges involved with dence the opening win over the arrived in Doha on Tuesday as taking Iraq back to the top their Asian Cup champions gave him. they were playing the Arab Club game, something that saw them fter securing a surprise “We want to play our own game. Championship second-round win three Gulf Cup titles — in 2-1 victory against hosts We create our own style. That’s match for Al Shorta against 1979, 1984 and 1988. AQatar in the 24th Arabian what we are training for every Mauritanian side Nouadhibou. However, he is satisfied with the Gulf Cup opener, Iraq will be day,” Katanec told at a pre-match The win over Qatar would have “pleasant headache” of younger hoping to carry the momentum press conference yesterday. given Katanec a welcome boost, players competing for places in into the Group A clash against The Slovenian said he was happy given his depleted side. the team. the United Arab Emirates at the with the performance of his When asked about Iraq’s “The quality of our players is Khalifa International Stadium players in the opening match, but chances of winning against the improving with every session, today (kick-off 6.30pm). spilt little about the team that he UAE, Katanec said, “We know and for me as a coach, this is Both Iraq and the UAE are would field against the UAE. tomorrow is a diff icult match perhaps the best thing as I can locked in at three points, hav- “We select them based on our for us. Whether it is winning or look at various game plans and ing notched victories in their training today. It depends on losing, it’s important for each strategies in my approach dur- respective campaign openers how they perform and their fit- player to show the best and I ing matches. with the latter on top with bet- ness level,” Katanec said. believe they can deliver the best “We’ve nothing to change. I tell ter goal diff erence. He would, however, be much as I expect.” players what I want. I hope they On the eve of the match against more relaxed this time round, Katanec is a well-known figure will show the best perform- the two-time champions, Iraq considering he only had 13 play- in the region after a previous ance against the UAE as well,” coach Srecko Katanec seemed ers, including two goalkeepers, stint as the head coach of the Katanec concluded. UAE head coach Bert van Marwijk (left) and player Mohamed Marzouq address a press conference on the eve of the Gulf Cup match against Iraq in Doha. PICTURES: Anas Khalid By Yash Mudgal cannot do much in two days and every game in the tournament. Doha we rely on fi tness,” said Van Mar- We need time to develop and up- wijk, who guided the Netherlands grade the players.” to the 2010 World Cup fi nal. Commenting over his plan for he United Arab Emirates However, he said, his side is the Iraq tie, he said: “We train will want to maintain physically and mentally ready for daily in a special way and I like to their tempo in their sec- the upcoming matches. attack, but sometimes we have to ond match of the 24th “I said earlier that no matter change some things, and we will TArabian Gulf Cup against Iraq what happens, after the World start to face Iraq in a way that today.