Qatar determined as it embarks on historic World Cup challenge

🌟World Cup 2022 kick-off

✳ November 20
⚽ Qatar vs Ecuador 7pm

Doha, Qatar | QNA |  Thanks to the determination and spirit of its players and their insistence on writing history, the Qatari national team will begin its first-ever World Cup campaign in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, facing strong and experienced teams, led by the Netherlands, which has a great history, Ecuador, the emerging power in the South American continent, in addition to Senegal, the champion of Africa.

Although Qatar never reached a World Cup before, they remain the Asian champions. They adopted a successful strategy of developing young sporting talents in Aspire, which ultimately helped them secure their champions status.

The ambition of qualifying for the second round always accompanies the host countries of the World Cup, especially if they are from outside the major football powers, but in the case of Qatar, its team has a factor that no other team in its group has, which is the correct upbringing on football sciences, in addition to the fact that most of its elements work in harmony Tam with each other 10 years ago.

This complete harmony between the players of Qatar turned them into a solid team that defied the odds at a young age to win the 2015 Asian Youth Cup in Myanmar, and then qualify for the World Youth Cup in New Zealand.

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— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) November 12, 2022

In confirmation of the methodical, institutional approach to sports, the team continued with most of its core players and looked to develop further. they competed to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil 2016, but couldnt get over the line after losing that opportunity to their Iraqi counterpart.

The Qatari ambition did not stop at the youth level, they participated in the Asian Championship U-23 and came third, proving the team was on the right track.

Following the same vision and principles, the Spanish youth team coach Felix Sanchez was promoted to lead the first team, effectively leading the same team he coached at the youth level.

This helped ensure the players continue their development. Those efforts were crowned with winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, amid outstanding performance, unlimited ambition and a solid will to achieve victories.

The Qatari team can string a few surprises in the World Cup, as it made in the 2019 Asian Cup, and launched it in the same year to participate in the Copa America, which is the stronghold of the World Cup champions.

While the world waxes lyrical over the Qatari team, the Qatari team’s participation in the European qualifiers for the World Cup with strong European teams like Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan, helped the team gain valuable experiences.

The Qatari team was the first Arab team to participate in the Gold Cup organized by the CONCACAF. The team came close to winning the competition, with only bad luck knocking them out of the semi-finals.

In its first World Cup experience, Qatar will heavily rely on its promising players who were cultivated at Aspire and are characterized by their strong character and love dedication to their national team.

The squad, which was made with Qatari vision and Spanish hands, includes a group of players who were founded as young and matured into adults who have improved creativity on the field for years like Akram Afif, Al Moez Ali, Assem Madibo, Abdul Karim Hassan, Youssef Hassan, Bassam Al Rawi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Hassan Al Haydous Pedro Miguel, Hammam Al Amin, Mosab Khader, Mishaal Barchem, goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, Safety Valve Boualem Khoukhi and Karim Boudiaf among other young and promising players.

Qatar relies on a legacy of championships and achievements at the continental and regional levels, and with its ambitious team and its young elements, it searches for the best levels before the eyes of the world on its land and among its fans.

The Qatari team is an embodiment of country’s vision for sport in the country. When Qatar was announced as the winner of the 2022 World Cup, the focus wasn’t just on dazzling the world with good organization, but also on building a team that reflects the country’s sports development.

Qatar’s achievements and championship were always restricted inside Asia, but they were still a wealth of championships at the GCC, West Asia, and the continental level.

The group draw in the World Cup did not spare the host country, placing it in Group A with the three-time finalists the Netherlands, one of the strongest teams in the competition.

Qatar will also face African champions Senegal and Ecuador, who were a force in the South American qualifiers. Qatar will still have a chance to reach the last-16, given most of the teams in the group play at a similar level, in addition to the home advantage the Qatari team will enjoy.

Another advantage is that Qatar’s match against the Netherlands, the strongest team in the group will come last, giving the team an opportunity to put themselves in the best possible position before that match. That does not mean however that the matches against Ecuador and Senegal will be easy.

The first challenge for Qatar will be against Ecuador in the opening match of the World Cup on Nov. 20 at Al Bayt Stadium, in a difficult confrontation during which both teams are searching for the three points to escape from entering the spiral of exit early.

Whether Qatar wins the three points or loses them to Ecuador, the team will still maintain their qualification chances when they face Senegal on Nov. 25 at Al Thumama Stadium, and the Dutch team the 29th of Al Bayt Stadium.

During their participation in the World Cup for the first time, the Qataris will rely on the high morale of most of the players, and the good form presented by most of the team members during the current season, especially Akram Afif, Al Sadd player, best Asian player 2019, Al Moez Ali, Al Duhail player, and Hassan Al Haydos, as the fans have high hopes for The experience of these players in providing a good level and access to advanced roles.

Akram Afif, Al Sadd playmaker has been consistent with his performances throughout the past period. He is one of the most prominent stars of Qatar. He joined the first team after brilliantly leading the youth team to the Asian Cup for the first time in 2014. His performances improved dramatically under the leadership of Felix Sanchez in the first team. He helped the team win the AFC Asian Cup 2019 for the first time in the country’s history.

Al Moez Ali for his goal scoring ability. He can pounce on the slightest of chances and score. His nine goals helped Qatar win the AFC Asian Cup and he was named top scorer of the tournament.

Goal keeper Saad Al Sheeb will play an important role if his team is to meet the aspirations of the fans. He has been in good form in many of the previous competitions, most prominently in the AFC Asian Cup where he conceded only once.

Apart from the trio, there is a distinguished group of players across the whole team. At the back there is Abdelkarim Hassan, Khoukhi Boualem, Bassam Al Rawi and Pedro Miguel. In midfield, there is Abdulaziz Hatem and Karim Boudiaf, and in front of them are Hassan Al Haydos and Ismaeel Mohammad, in addition to Mohammed Muntari.

Qatar Football Association (QFA) Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel for the team’s stay. They will train at pitch no. 3 at Aspire Zone.

Qatar has won many titles, including winning the Gulf Cup three times in 1992, 2004, 2014. They also won the West Asian Championship in 2014, the Asian Games in 2006, the Asian Nations Championship for men 2019, and the Asian Youth Championship 2015.

At the international level, their biggest achievement was reaching the final of the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Qatari football has presented a distinguished group of players throughout its history, most notably Mansour Muftah, Ibrahim Khalfan, Mubarak Mustafa, Adel Khamis, Khalid Salman,  Adel MalAllah , Obaid Juma, Majid Al Sayegh, Badr Bilal, Mahmoud Soufi, Adel Al Mulla, Jafal Rashed, Ahmed Khalil, Younes Ali, Hussain Al-Romaihi, and Ibrahim Khalfan.

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SOURCE:  QNA