(REUTERS) - Qatar have what it takes to register their best Asian Cup performance when the continental showpiece kicks off in the United Arab Emirates this week, captain Hassan Al-Haydos has said.
The tiny, wealthy Arab state will make their 10th appearance in the Asian Cup and will be hoping to improve on their quarter-final appearances of 2000 and 2011.
Comprised largely of players from Al-Duhail and 2018 AFC Champions League semi-finalists Al Sadd, the Maroons are in Group E alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and North Korea - the only side below them in the Fifa rankings.
"I think we can go beyond the quarter-finals in the UAE," Al-Haydos told Qatar's Gulf Times daily on Tuesday (Jan 1). "We have very talented players and an excellent coach who has been with the team for one-and-a-half years.
"On top of that we have a very supportive national federation who are in sync with the team's requirements."
The confidence of Felix Sanchez's men of advancing deep into the tournament has also been boosted by two impressive displays in international friendlies last November when they beat Switzerland 1-0 and five days later earned a 2-2 draw against 2016 European quarter-finalists Iceland.
"There is no pressure on us (because of raised expectations). In fact the recent results have only motivated us," the Al Sadd striker said.
Â
"We are satisfied with our preparations. We hope to continue with our strong performance in the Asian Cup. We feel comfortable, we enjoy the game."
Qatar have also won two more recent warm-up matches against Jordan and Kyrgyzstan before losing narrowly to Algeria and Carlos Queiroz-coached Iran, the top side in the continent.
The Jan 5-Feb 1 tournament will be a platform for Qatar to impress before they host the 2022 World Cup, their first appearance at football's biggest event.
"It's a very important year for us as we are competing in the Asian Cup as well as the Copa America," added Al-Haydos.
"Then we have the World Cup coming up in four years. These tournaments are part of our preparations for the Fifa World Cup."
For Albirex Niigata S and Shuhei Hoshino, the magical number this week is 15. Find out who made FOX Sports Asia's Singapore Premier League (SPL) Team of the Week 14.
Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette free to face Rennes as UEFA
MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will travel with the rest of their squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion having nearly recovered
Man City's Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his Manchester United players after they gave him the perfect start to his reign with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff just days after Jose Mourinho was sacked. Former United striker Solskjaer had just two days to prepare his players for his first match as caretaker manager.
Manchester United : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises buccaneering
Blues expect hard time at Fulham after Ranieri exit LONDON • Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has backed the sacked Claudio Ranieri to come back stronger, at the same time warning his players to expect a strong reaction today from Fulham following the departure of his fellow Italian.
Latest FULHAM | The Straits Times
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he was not disappointed by his players' effort despite suffering a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for the home side at the Etihad but Palace hit back with goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend followed by a Luka Milivojevic penalty.
Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat - The Edition
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v AFC Bournemouth - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - January 13, 2019 Everton's Kurt Zouma scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cair
Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
en.banglatribune.com/sports/news/31201/Sigurdsson-double-helps-Everton-sink-Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY 0 EVERTON 3. Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. Sigurdsson is now the leading Icelandic goalscorer in the Premier League, moving two clear of the 55 scored by former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Cardiff City vs. Everton - Football Match Report - February
Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League after defeating Slavia Prague 4-3 at Stamford Bridge last night (Thursday). The Blues won 5-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final tie, having won 1-0 in the Czech Republic last week, with four goals in the first 27 minutes of the second leg helping Maurizio Sarri's side to victory.
Chelsea beat Slavia Prague to reach Europa League semi-finals
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their second goal against the Kashima Antlers in Abu Dhabi
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-gareth-bale-nowhere-near-being-reals-leader-says-ex-madrid-striker-mijatovic/
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic 01/04/2019 La Liga , Real Madrid (REUTERS) - Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic criticised Gareth Bale for lacking leadership qualities and hit out at coach Santiago Solari after the club's La Liga title ambitions were dented by Thursday's
Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real Madrid's leader, says
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar on Sunday left the door open for a potential move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. The world's most expensive footballer is currently recovering from a foot injury which he suffered on January 23 and has been linked with a return to La Liga ever since joining PSG from
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid - rappler.com
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar