ZZZGLVVFRPTD 6$)(7<75$,1,1* 2BUBScT-BSHFTU4BGFUZ 5SBJOJOH$FOUFS 2YHU6DIHW\&RXUVHV 4XDOLILFDWLRQLQMXVWGD\V &ODVVURRP (/HDUQLQJ 'D\VD:HHN THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 ',66 LQIR#GLVVFRPTD Experience will be key: Asad Attiyah tips for Rossi Qatar midfielder Ali Asad aspires to Rallyist and shooter Nasser al Attiyah 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER be the team’s mainstay in 2022 PAGE 31 meets MotoGP star Valentino Rossi PAGE 36 QATAR VS IRAN Road to Russia World Cup 2018: Al Annabi take on Iran in qualifier at Al Sadd Stadium today at 7 pm Fossati confident of Qatar breaking Iran’s defence Coach blames We’re calm and his Iranian counterpart for focused, says Iran creating friction IKOLI VICTOR coach Queiroz DOHA QATAR national football team IKOLI VICTOR coach Jorge Fossati says it will DOHA be tough for the hosts against Iran in their Asian 2018 World PORTUGUESE Carlos Quei- Cup qualifier on Thursday due roz, coach of Iran, says his to the leaders’ defensive ap- players are calm and focused proach to matches but prom- for Thursday’s Asian 2018 ised that his players will put World Cup qualifiers against up their best to secure victory Qatar at the Al Sadd stadium. at the Al Sadd stadium. The match is the tenth In the race to Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying meeting FIFA World Cup, Portuguese between the two nations, with coach Carlos Queiroz’s side Iran having the edge with five are unbeaten in Group A and wins including a 2-0 win at are one point clear on 11 points home in the first leg. Iran’s coach Carlos Queiroz at the at the top of the group after Speaking at a press con- pre-match conference at the Al five matches, and seven points ference on Wednesday, the Sadd Stadium on Wednesday. ahead of Qatar (4), having won former Real Madrid and three and drawn two without Portugal coach said: “We Queiroz says the change of conceding a goal. face a difficult match with guard in Qatar’s national team Qatar got off to the worst Qatar. We are aware of all will not change texture of the possible start on the ‘Road to the potential of our rival, match so much because, “We Russia’ by suffering three de- Qatar national football team’s Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati (right), with Ali Afif, addresses the media ahead of the crucial 2018 World Cup we are doing our work with know enough of Fossati and feats on the trot but responded qualifying clash against Iran at the Al Sadd Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. (Below) The Qatar squad. calm and concentration. Qatar the scenario of the game.” well by beating Syria 1-0 and cannot afford to lose and we Responding to the com- claiming a point in China on want to win and take another ment of Fossati on his com- Matchdays Four and Five re- step towards our goal: The ment of Qatar relying on spectively. World Cup.” naturalised players, Queroiz Qatar will be without four “We know everything said, “With his experience players due to the suspen- we need to know about Fossati should know that he sion of Khalid Muftah, Ahmed Qatar, the coach, players and shouldn’t trust everything Yasser, Abdelkarim Hassan the system.” he reads in the press. After and Meshaal Abdulla all una- Queiroz assured that the so many years, unless he’s vailable for selection. Iranian team is "prepared to not the coach with the expe- Speaking at the pre-match do their best," adding that on rience that we believe he is. press conference, Fossati said: Thursday "it will be time to When you put a comment in “The game is essential for us speak on the field and turn dis- my mouth I did not say what but we cannot be definitive advantages into advantages." could I say. It is left for him but it is very important for “It is the day for all Ira- to understand because I nev- us to score victory. I have big nians to be together around er made those comments.” confidence in our abilities be- these fantastic players, show- Queroiz added that the cause our players are ready to ing the great strength of Iran,” main details determine a win confront a difficult opponent Queiroz said. in matches. “In football, it and we would give our best to Speaking on the last quali- is the team that scores more get a win. This is what I can fying match between the two goals wins. In order to score, promise that we would put our sides that generated so much you need to attack and defend best for sure. The result only controversy, the former Real not to concede. When you are God knows. Madrid, Portugal and Man- the best team on the pitch “It is one of the high qual- chester United assistant coach most of the time you will win.” ity features of the Iranian team Carlos Queiroz said, “The Queroiz insisted on giv- that they are very defensive. It match commissioner made his ing a final statement after is very simple to understand report, the referee made his the press conference, where- following the numbers in report and FIFA made its de- in he expressed his support the group table. No team has cision. Both teams suffered in for Qatar 2022 World Cup scored against them in the 2022 but is focused on quali- Matchday 6 (Fixtures) use multi-national players and the decisions and I know both and condemned Fossati’s group; it is not by coincidence fication for 2018 because we I have never heard him criti- teams have learnt from that chilly comment. it is because they defend very know that it is very important Group A: China PR-Korea Republic; Qatar-Iran; cise the Portuguese football and we don’t want to repeat “The comment Fossati well. They have a very good for Qatar to gain experience by federation,” said Fossati. the same mistake. should actually repeat is that I team in defence and also in playing in Russia before host- Syria-Uzbekistan Fossati enjoined fans and “This is a football match praised Qatar for the fact that attack. But I have watched ing the World Cup in 2022,” Group B : Thailand-Saudi Arabia; Iraq-Australia; supporters of the national and not a war and it’s a game they successfully won the bid all their games and I think the Fossati added. United Arab Emirates-Japan team to fill up the stands on that must be played with fair to host the 2022 World Cup game in Tehran that Qatar had Qatar had lost to Iran at the Thursday and cheer the Al An- play and respect and this is because I have said it many a chance to at least draw the Azadi Stadium in September nabi to victory. what I expect from both teams. times. He should emphasise game,” Fossati said. last year, following injury time coach Carlos Queiroz that Qa- phere was created by Queiroz Meanwhile, Ali Afif, Qa- When you see players like it and as a football coach I ex- The Uruguayan insisted goals from Reza Ghoochanne- tar rely on naturalised players. at that time because he talked tar's 29-year-old attacking left Majed, Tabata, Pedro, Hay- press my greetings and grati- that Qatar is determined to jhad and Alireza Jahanbaksh "What happened in Tehran about Qatar and the QFA deci- winger, said, “Our focus is to dos, Soria, Boudiaf they want tude to the QFA and Qatar qualify for Russia 2018 to gain who ensured a heart-breaking after Iran scored the first goal sions. From my point of view, gain the three points and we to play football only. Of course, leaders for all they have been experience before it hosts the 2-0 win. did not start that moment. The he has no business talking are truly focused. the players will be physi- doing for the game not just in first Middle East World Cup Fossati blamed the tension atmosphere was created be- about it. It was not in his right. "Our chances will be cal and fight but they need Qatar. That’s why I wish Qatar in 2022. the game had generated then fore I assumed my role and I I think he should focus on his reduced if we lose, so we are to be fair and respectful,” the best in their qualification “Qatar is not thinking of given the statement of Iran was clear that this bad atmos- country Portugal where they determined to win the match.” Queiroz added. but not at the expense of Iran.” World gymnasts in action in Doha Revenge on the menu in Asia return legs AGENCIES at home against the same op- tom with four points, Jorge ponents. Elsewhere, China PR Fossati’s side know that they ASIA’S third qualifying round and Thailand are still seeking must win in order to revive for the 2018 FIFA World Cup first-up wins with their hopes their fortunes. Russia picks up pace as the hanging by a thread. Group A bottom side China competition passes halfway on Japan and joint leaders look set to upstage nemesis Thursday. Matchday 6 sees the Saudi Arabia can maintain Korea Republic on home soil. continent’s 12 leading nations their place at the top of Group Indeed, all three Chinese Super do battle in return matches, B with away wins. Trailing the League representatives have re- with some confident of build- Japanese by a point, though, mained undefeated against their ing on their previous wins and hosts UAE are all too aware K League rivals in the ongoing strugglers seeking revenge.