GGULFULF CCUPUP | Page 2 HHORSEORSE RRACINGACING | Page 7 Bahrain coach Hydroxide’s confi dent thrilling feature ahead of Iraq win caps good semi-fi nal day for Ghazali Thursday, December 5, 2019 Rabia II 8, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT PREVIEW QATAR VS SAUDI ARABIA (8PM) We’ve confi dence in our players, says Qatar coach ‘We’re happy to play in a beautiful stadium in front of a packed stadium that would keep the adrenaline flowing’ By Sahan Bidappa Doha he most positive aspect to emerge from Qatar football team’s rise in the past year has been the Tway it has played on bigger oc- casions. Higher the odds, the team’s performance has been even bet- ter. After a shock defeat to Iraq in their 24th Arabian Gulf Cup opening match, Qatar were under pressure and Felix Sanchez’s men duly responded with convincing wins over Yemen and the United Arab Emirates to enter the semi- fi nals. Tonight at the Al Janoub stadi- um, Qatar players will once again be expected to rise to the occa- sion when they face Saudi Ara- bia for a place in the fi nal. This could be Qatar’s biggest test in the competition, but in Sanchez they have a coach who has got the best out of his players in impor- tant matches. The Spaniard will be hoping that he can continue that trend as Qatar players will be greeted by a packed, vocal home crowd. “It’s always nice to play under pressure in front of your fans,” said Sanchez said yesterday. “We are playing against a strong team and everyone knows their quality. We’ve the confi - dence in our players, and ready to do well,” he added. Sanchez and Qatar will have some of the fi nest talents in Asian Qatar coach Felix Sanchez (centre) and goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb address a press conference on the eve of their 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final to rely on against Saudis. The against Saudi Arabia in Doha. Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard. newly-crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afi f will lead the charge upfront, with the Al Sadd striker showing some silky skills this season. Afi f was instrumental in Qa- tar’s win over UAE on Monday as he calmed the nerves in the home camp with two goals. The 23-year-old will once again car- ry the burden of scoring in his shoulders, with his fellow for- ward Almoez Ali not in the best of form. Winger Abdelkarim Has- san, who was Asia’s best player of 2018, is threat in front of the goals as well as solid in defence. “At this point in the competi- tion, you cannot make mistakes,” Sanchez cautioned his players, though. “We are playing against a strong team, we will try to play our game, we have our strengths and we will do our best to get a strong result. At this point, eve- ry game is a fi nal if you lose you will be out so we have to be at our best,” the 43-year-old added. Overcoming fatigue will be an important factor. Due to the cramped schedule of the tour- nament, Qatar today will play Qatar’s Pedro, Hassan al-Haydos and Tarek Salman take part in a training session yesterday. (Left) Qatar’s Akram Afif. their fourth match in ten days. The hosts have already been dealt possible start with a 1-3 loss to to qualify for the semi-fi nals. It’s spirit and are excited to play this ness that his team will look to a huge blow after centre-back Kuwait in their opening match, a top game and a tough one, but game,” the Frenchman added. exploit. “Qatar is scoring a lot of Bassam al-Rawi was ruled of the but bounced back with easy wins we’re ready,” he said. Renard will rely on Al Hilal goals. In the off ensive part they competition after he broke his leg over Bahrain and Oman to fi nish “There’s no specifi c pressure players, who are fresh from win- are good. They are effi cient in during the Iraq game. Sanchez their commitment for this game. importance of it and didn’t want as Group B toppers. Saudi have on us. We’re happy to play in a ning the AFC Champions League front of goal but they have weak- gave his players off on Tuesday, All the other players are okay and to fail in front of home crowd. I won the Gulf Cup three times, beautiful stadium in front of a last month, to deliver against ness like all the teams,” he said. with the players returning to ready to play,” Qatar head coach think we celebrated in a fair way, but the last of it came in 2003, a packed stadium that would keep Qatar. The Green Falcons have “We are here to prepare the training yesterday. said. respecting everyone. It’s diffi cult drought they will be keen to bring the adrenaline fl owing for the plenty of pace on the wings in game well. We will show all the “The most important is to After the win over UAE, Qatar to win every game, but we need to an end. teams. I respect our opponents the form of Hattan Bahebri and players where we can put our op- have the payers fi t for the game. players stayed on the pitch for to value the eff ort the players put Renard was under no illusion after having watched two of their Salem al-Dawsari, who will pose ponents in a diffi cult situation. I The next game is a diffi cult one a long time as they celebrated in,” Sanchez said. of the threat posed by Qatar, add- matches in the Asian Cup. We problems for Qatar defenders. hope we can beat Qatar tomorrow,” because of the quality of the op- with the crowd. “In terms of the Like Qatar, Saudi too have ing that he has been preparing his know we’re playing against the While Renard emphasised said Renard, who has previously ponent. But we are confi dent in emotions, the last game was a grown in the competition. Herve players for the game against the Asian champions, but we don’t on his side’s strengths, he also won the African Cup of Nations the qualities of our players and very important one. We knew the Renard’ side had got to a worst Asian champions. “We are happy fear anybody. We’ve a good team pointed out that Qatar has weak- with Zambia and Ivory Coast. Gulf Times Thursday, December 5, 2019 2 FOCUS Bahrain coach confi dent ahead of Iraq semi-fi nal Sousa’s side are looking for Bahrain’s shot at their first Gulf Cup title victory against an unbeaten Iraq side today Bahrain coach Helio Sousa (left) address a press conference on the eve of their 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final against Iraq in Doha. (Right) Iraq coach Srecko Katanec talks to the media yesterday. By Sports Reporter matches ending in draws. Doha The fi fth meeting in the semi- fi nal has its importance in the context of the tournament, but as ahrain, who are looking far as Sousa is concerned, it is the for a historic fi rst title at long term that matters. the 24th edition of the Reacting to Bahrain’s defensive Arabian Gulf Cup, will style of play, Sousa said: “When Btake on the only undefeated team we don’t get to have the ball we in the tourney, Iraq, in the fi rst have to defend; when we have semi-fi nal at the Abdullah Bin the ball we attack. We scored four Khalifa Stadium today. goals against Kuwait and had The Bahraini team is one of more chances. We will try to do the founders of the Gulf Cup and our best and show the quality of has fi nished as runners-up four our players. We are playing one of times, even as a win has eluded the best teams in Asia and that’s a them in all these years. great experience.” Confi dent Bahrain head coach He also said the defensive Helio Sousa feels his side is new approach gives them an edge but they can go further ahead in against the opposition, and it the tournament. also helps them attack better. He “Yes we are ready for Iraq. Af- added that defending is an im- ter preparing for a whole month portant art of the game and his we have reached the semi-fi nals team uses it eff ectively. and we can reach beyond that,” It’s been 31 years since Iraq, Sousa said yesterday. the host of the next edition of the Bahrain opened their 2019 Gulf Cup, last lifted the title. The Gulf Cup campaign with a 0-0 three-time champions last won draw against Oman, which was in 1988, having won in 1979 and followed by a 2-0 defeat to Sau- 1984 as well. di Arabia before their heroics Katanec has high regards for against Kuwait. his side’s opponents. “They are a good team with Yes we are ready for good players. They make good Iraq. Aft er preparing for defence. They have players who a whole month we have can surprise you. They beat Iran reached the semi-fi nals recently. So I respect them and ‘ we will try to play our game,” he and we can reach beyond that said, referring to Bahrain’s 1-0 win over Iran in the World Cup Iraq goalkeeper Mohamed Hameed Farhan (second from right) deflects a shot at their goal during the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup match against the UAE on Friday.