FOOTBALL | Page 2 TTENNISENNIS | Page 8 Boudaif sets Nishikori sights on To Advertise here avenges US Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Marcello Open defeat to Lippi’s China Wawrinka Tuesday, November 15, 2016 CRICKET Safar 15, 1438 AH Blazing de Kock GULF TIMES ton puts S. Africa in command SPORT Page 9 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING More than a game as Qatar take on China in Kunming Both could deal an almost fatal blow to each other’s already very slim chances of reaching Russia 2018 AFP Doha FACT FILE n Asian zone World Cup MATCH DETAILS make it to Russia, it will be a great coaching experiences and he will qualifi er between the bot- thing, but if we can’t, we should no doubt change the team, but I tom two sides in Group A, Date: 15 November 2016 (Tuesday) think about the future. don’t think he would be able to do Awho have won just one game Kickoff time: 7:35pm CST, 2:35pm “Qatar is a good team. They much in a very short time. I know in eight between them, may not seem a Qatar Time changed the head coach recently, Chinese players well and I don’t particularly noteworthy match. Venue: Tuodong Stadium, Kunming and their new coach is an out- think there would be any in their But when China face Qatar in Kun- Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq) standing one. He knows their side that we haven’t prepared for. ming today, it will also be a clash be- COACH QUOTES players and football very well. They “I respect Marcello Lippi very tween arguably the most ambitious have great passion because they much, but the match is between and certainly in their region biggest Marcello Lippi, China will host the World Cup soon. But China and Qatar, not between me spending nations who, in the long- “I am very glad to be back here to their quality is no less than their and Lippi. The players will decide term, could both play a central role in start a new journey. It will be a very passion.” the match.” shaping the sport’s future. difficult mission for me to lead this HEAD TO HEAD RECORD In the short-term both could deal team to qualify to the 2018 FIFA Jorge Fossati, Qatar an almost fatal blow to each other’s World Cup and we have a tough “I believe mental strength will be 29/03/16 China 2-0 Qatar already very slim chances of reaching road ahead. the most important factor in the 09/10/15 Qatar 1-0 China Russia 2018. “We are at the bottom of the group result on Tuesday. Our players will 13/01/11 China 0-2 Qatar “It would be easy simply to dismiss and we need points and we only show their best fighting spirit as 07/06/08 China 0-1 Qatar the China Qatar game as a dead rub- have one at the moment. It is ex- it will be a difficult game, for both 03/06/08 Qatar 0-0 China ber or as a match between weaker na- tremely difficult; our qualification sides. We are here with big self- FORM tions on the periphery of world foot- is only theoretically alive now. Our confidence and with all our efforts ball,” said Professor Simon Chadwick, work should focus on long-term we are expecting a win. China: LLDLL a British-based Asian football expert. development. Of course if we can “Lippi is a great coach with great Qatar: WLLLW “However, these are two aspiring football nations, with major football ambitions. “Both nations still hold out hope of sure, and neither nation is responding making Russia 2018 and failure to do so too well at the moment. would be an embarrassment and a set- China have one point from their back in their desire to be considered as four qualifying games. being among the world’s leading foot- Their last home match – a 1-0 de- ball nations. feat by Syria in Xi’an – saw angry fans “The game therefore has huge sym- protest in the streets. bolic meaning.” World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar are only It is the World Cup where both slightly better off . countries wish to make a mark on the They have clawed three points from global game. Both have invested heav- four matches, following a 1-0 victory ily to fuel their ambitions. in Doha last month against Syria. China, which aims to be a football- But only the top two teams from the ing superpower by 2050, has spent an group qualify automatically for Russia. estimated $1bn developing its domes- Iran head the group with 10 points tic game, says Chadwick. and Uzbekistan are second with nine. It harbours hopes of hosting its own The third-placed team will have a World Cup and, one day, winning foot- play-off chance to get to Russia, the ball’s greatest prize. position currently held by South Korea Qatar is in the middle of transform- with seven points. ing itself by splurging $200 billion- Emphasising how desperate China plus to host the 2022 tournament. The and Qatar are to qualify for the 2018 through the last stage. “We wanted to help Marcello if he stadiums alone for that World Cup will tournament, both have sacked their Lippi said he and the Chinese nation wanted to watch the game,” joked Fos- Qatar coach Jorge Fossati supervises a training session (Left) in Kunming cost some $10bn. coaches during the current round of are hoping for a miracle. sati. Defeat today and the costs could yesterday. Both countries’ ambition also rep- qualifying. Fossati is insistent that whatever be high. resents a challenge to the established Notably, China have appointed happens in Kunming will not be de- For Qatar, it could mean the end of world football order, says China-based World Cup winning-coach Marcello cisive. “We are very optimistic about any hope of qualifying for their fi rst Cameron Wilson, founder of the Wild Lippi on a reputed $20 million-a-year the result of the game in China, but it World Cup before they host in 2022, GROUP A STANDINGS East Football website. contract to revive hope in their almost is not a defi nitive game,” he said before and showing a sceptical footballing “I think it is clear the balance of moribund World Cup campaign. his team fl ew out. world they deserve to host the tourna- TEAM P W D L F A GD Pts power is shifting away from Europe, Today’s game will be his fi rst big test Last week China played a behind ment. Iran 4 3 1 0 4 0 +4 10 albeit slowly, and it’s no coincidence in charge of “Team Dragon”. closed doors friendly in preparation for China could pay a price off the pitch, Uzbekistan 4 3 0 1 4 1 +3 9 that money is a big part of that – nei- Qatar turned back to popular Tuesday’s match. says Chadwick, where continued foot- Korea Republic 4 2 1 1 6 5 +1 7 ther Chinese nor Qatari football lacks former coach Jorge Fossati after los- In contrast, Qatar beat Russia 2-1 in ball failure could unleash the “poten- Syria 4 1 1 2 1 2 -1 4 serious fi nancial backing,” Wilson told ing their first two matches in this Doha in a match broadcast live on tel- tial for political and socio-cultural Qatar 4 1 0 3 3 6 -3 3 AFP. But with ambition comes pres- round of qualifying, despite storming evision. fallout at home”. China PR 4 0 1 3 2 6 -4 1 BOTTOMLINE Lippi says China no pushovers against Qatar AFP confi dence,” said Lippi, according to from four games. But Lippi said China shouldn’t feel around their fortunes in Group B. Beijing the FIFA website, ahead of today’s clash The world’s most populous nation inferior to their opponents as they have The four-time Asian champions, in Kunming. dreams of becoming a football super- performed well in patches, notably stunned at home by UAE in September, “We will focus on fi rst dealing with power, but China have only reached one their recovery from 3-0 down to 3-2 currently lie third but victory in Saita- arcello Lippi said China the Qataris and then South Korea. Our World Cup, in 2002, which they exited against South Korea. ma will put them level on points with need to shed their “un- chief aim is World Cup qualifi cation. I pointless and goalless. “Our players were not in peak form the top-placed Saudis. derdog” mentality as he hope we can achieve a miracle. There are parallels to be drawn with but they proved that they are by no Australia, second in the group, will Mfaces a tough fi rst game in “But even if we fail to make it, we ambitious Qatar, who will host the means the underdogs,” he said. be favourites against Thailand in Bang- charge – a World Cup qualifi er against should make sure that the team make Middle East’s fi rst World Cup in 2022 “The past matches were not one- kok, where a ban on cheering during Qatar which neither team dare lose. good progress in the process and build but who are also fl oundering and lie way traffi c in the favour of the rivals. mourning for King Bhumibol Adulyadej While Lippi, who coached Italy to for the future.