Qatari players take part in a training session, watched by coach Felix Sanchez, yesterday ahead of their Group E match against India at the Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. Pic: Hussein Sayed
Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez has expressed confidence on his team’s preparations ahead of the Group E match against India at the Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
The match will be played today at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with the kick off set for 8:00pm. Reigning Asian champions Qatar are eyeing to retain their top spot in the group in the remaining matches.
Al Annabi are on top in the group with 16 points after almost a perfect show in the event as they only dropped points against India after a goalless draw in September 2019. Oman are second in the group with 12 points.
Qatar are returning to action after an impressive performance in the ‘friendly’ European Qualifiers in which they appeared as a guest side. They defeated Luxembourg (1-0) and Azerbaijan (2-1) before holding Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 draw in March.
The home side will be boosted by the return of star Akram Afif – who missed weeks of action due to injury - as Sanchez named 27-player squad for the Asian Qualifiers.
The squad also includes striker Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Hasan Alhaydos and Abdelkarim Hassan.
Coach Sanchez said the team is focused to win the group after working hard in the training camp.
“We are ready for the match against India,” he told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“The players have put a lot of efforts in training. Our preparation for the match is good. The target is to put a strong performance and achieve good result,” said Sanchez.
The head coach expected a tough match against Indian against whom his side played a draw.
“That match against India was tough. There are no easy games and you have to play well to win. It is going to be a competitive match,” Sanchez said before expressing his content over Afif’s recovery.
Coached by Igor Stimac, India are fourth in the standings with three points and they aim to secure an automatic place in the third round of the Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
Star Sunil Chhetri will make a return for the ‘Blues’ after missing March friendlies against Oman and the UAE.
Stimac hoped his team will repeat a good show against the Asian champions but cautioned his players about the difficult challenge ahead.
“We are very proud of what we achieved in the last game. That was a big surprise to everyone all over the world – India holding Asian champions Qatar in Doha,” India coach said yesterday.
“But I reiterate that such a result can happen in one out of 10 games – to get a point against Qatar. They are such a quality team and the best team in Asia. We need to work a lot harder to get continuous success against better sides. It will be an extremely difficult game,” said Stimac.
In today’s first Group E match, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will square off at the same venue at 5pm.
