Attiyah aims to win maiden Dakar Rally for Toyota PAGE 17 MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2019 Kei Nishikori ends 3-year title drought with ASIAN CUP 2019 PAGE 18 win over Medvedev in Brisbane THE PHILIPPINES VS S KOREA Sanchez to keep Al Annabi away from politics at the Asian Cup AFP and I am convinced that dur- DOHA FOCUS & ISOLATION ing the competition they will be able to maintain their focus QATAR coach Felix Sanchez This (political situation) on the sport and to isolate our- has vowed to “isolate” his play- is something we’ve selves from the rest of it all.” ers from politics at the Asian discussed with the The team arrived in UAE Cup, which is taking place players. They are very on Saturday, having to fly via in the United Arab Emirates Kuwait in the first sign this is during a diplomatic crisis conscious and I am no ordinary trip – a ban on di- between the countries. convinced that during rect flights has been imposed The tournament repre- the competition they against Qatar by the UAE, sents the first visit by the Qa- will be able to maintain Saudi and Bahrain. tari national side to the UAE their focus on the sport The Vice President of both since the beginning of the un- and to isolate ourselves the Qatar Football Associa- justified blockade imposed by from the rest of it all. tion and the Asian Football the neighbouring countries. Confederation and chairman Two of these four nations, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez of Organising Committee who have enforced the boy- of Asian Cup Saoud al Mo- cott, also have teams in the hannadi was earlier alleg- tournament – Saudi Arabia Dark horse? Yes, says Abdulkarim Hassan edly barred from entering and Bahrain. the UAE on his first attempt, With the dispute now into ON the pitch, Qatar have shown a distinct improvement since though officials in Abu Dhabi its nineteenth month, the Spaniard Sanchez took charge in 2017. Initially seen as a stop- disputed this. Asian Cup is the most high- gap appointment, the 43-year-old has transformed the team. He eventually entered the profile sporting competition He has placed emphasis on young, largely Qatari-born players, Emirates on Friday. But Qa- so far between teams from who have progressed through the Aspire Academy, the Doha tar-based journalists were not these nations. training centre which seeks to hothouse local talent. allowed into the UAE to cover And nothing is like- These include forward Akram Afif, the first Qatari to play in the tournament, after alleged- ly to be more highly- Spain’s La Liga, and defender Abdulkarim Hassan, just voted the ly being kept waiting at Dubai charged than the meeting AFC 2018 player of the year. airport for 13 hours before re- between Saudi Arabia and In November, Qatar achieved its most notable international turning to Doha. Qatar in a Group E match in victory, beating Switzerland 1-0 in Lugano. The average age of Qatari domestic sides who Abu Dhabi on January 17. Qatar’s starting line-up in Switzerland was 24 years and 195 have played in the UAE or As if the on-pitch weight days, and 13 of the 25 players who travelled to Europe were Saudi in the AFC Champions of expectation surrounding Aspire graduates. Sanchez has worked with the Qatari players at League have previously spo- Qatar’s young team ahead of every level from the academy through the Under-19s, Under-20s, ken of delays at airport immi- hosting the 2022 World Cup Under-23s and now the full team. It is the beginning of a mas- gration and comments about was not enough, now they sive year for Sanchez and Qatar, who will also play in the Copa Qatar, or encountered rival have to navigate a delicate America later in 2019. captains refusing to shake off-field situation. In an Asian Cup group also consisting of Lebanon and North hands before the match. Sanchez though has Korea, a resurgent Al Annabi (the Maroons) will be confident of However, goalkeeper vowed to concentrate solely reaching the knockouts. It is the tenth time they have qualified Saad al Sheeb said the players on football. for the Asian Cup but have never progressed further than the would remain unaffected. “This (political situation) quarter-finals. This time though they have a lot to prove. “In the end this is foot- is something we’ve discussed “I certainly nominate Qatar to be the dark horse ball,” he said. Qatar players on arrival at the airport in Dubai for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. with the players,” he told AFP. of the tournament,” said Hassan. See also page 16 Ô “We just control ourselves “They are very conscious and play football.” Jordan shock defending champs Australia 10-man Palestine hold Syria to goalless draw DPA ABU DHABI AUSTRALIA were stunned 1-0 by Jordan in Al Ain on Sunday as the reigning Asian Cup champions made the worst possible start to their title defence. Defender Anas Bani Ya- seen headed the only goal mid- way through the first half to give Jordan the perfect open- ing to Group B. They top the table as Syria drew 0-0 with Prince Ali bin al Hussein (centre), the President of Jordan Football 10-man Palestine in Sharjah. Association, greets his players after they won their 2019 AFC Asian Australia improved after a Cup Group B match against Australia at Al Ain on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) poor first half but Awer Mabil hitting the post late on was as so we’ll go and have a look nied by the offside flag and close as they came to an equal- where it went wrong and we’ll the impressive Shafi, saving iser. They next face Palestine fix it quickly. from Jackson Irvine and Chris on Friday, a day after Jordan “It’s a wake up call, if Ikonomidis deep into added meet Syria. Jordan players celebrate after they shocked defending champions Australia in Al Ain, UAE, on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) you’re going to lose a game in time ensured Jordan a historic Elsewhere, India ended a the tournament it’s better to victory – just their fifth ever at 55-year wait for their third win settled into their game plan of the bar en route to the net with Musa al Taamari. Mooy, they lacked inspiration lose one in the group, and we’ll the Asian Cup. at the competition in spectacular sitting deep and breaking af- keeper Mat Ryan helpless. Four years ago Australia and other than a penalty shout bounce back.” The other group game fashion by thrashing Thailand ter Australia came unstuck in Ryan kept his side in the had also fallen behind in their for handball, failed to threaten Mabil manufactured half a brought a first Asian Cup 4-1 to top Group A. They next their compact defensive lines. tie moments later by touch- opening Asian Cup game to before half-time. yard of space at the edge of the point for Palestine in their meet hosts UAE on Thursday But it was a short corner, ing Baha Abdel-Rahman’s Kuwait but stormed back to “We’ll go home and look box with 11 minutes remaining second tournament appear- while Thailand meet Bahrain. whipped in by Mousa Sulei- free kick onto the bar after win 4-1 and went on to lift the at the footage,” coach Graham and rattled the post, though ance despite having Moham- Jordan, ranked 68 plac- man, which broke the dead- defender Trent Sainsbury, trophy. But on this occasion, Arnold told broadcaster Fox keeper Amer Shafi appeared med Saleh dismissed for a es below their opponents at lock in the 26th minute as who endured a torrid half, badly missing the creativity Sports. “We had a number of to have it covered. second yellow card with 20 109th in the world, quickly Bani Yaseen’s header kissed was booked for hauling down of injured midfielder Aaron good chances but not enough, Jamie Maclaren was de- minutes remaining. Chhetri surpasses Messi as India thump Thailand 4-1 AFP schoolboys rescued from a (85) tops the Indian among Thai captain Teerasil Dan- minute before substitute Lal- in charge of Malawi, Sudan ABU DHABI flooded jungle cave last year active players. gda restoring parity by bravely pekhlua Jeje completed the and Rwanda, has clashed with after being trapped for more “I’m just happy for the heading home a Theerathon rout to leave India as unlikely senior players and sparked SUNIL CHHETRI (in pic left) than two weeks, the War boys – you could see on the Bunmathan free kick. group leaders. dismay in India by stripping overtook Lionel Messi in inter- Elephants had little answer faces how jubilant they were But Chhetri came to the “Did I expect to win 4-1? Chhetri of the captaincy. national goals as cricket-mad to India’s brimming energy in after the game,” said 34-year- rescue by drilling home his No, but we’re not getting car- “There’s no controversy India stunned Thailand 4-1 at Abu Dhabi. old Chhetri. second of the game moments ried away,” insisted India about rotating captains!” he the Asian Cup football tourna- Chhetri moved past Argen- “The India fans were into the second half following coach Stephen Constantine. snapped when quizzed by In- ment on Sunday, the veteran tine Messi’s 65 international amazing so we hope we can go a lung-bursting run down the “It’s just another game. dian media.