Qatari players taking part in a training session on the eve of their AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualification Round 2 match against India at the Al Sadd Stadium, yesterday. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Qatar will be looking to secure their second successive win in the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup 2023 joint qualifying campaign today when they take on India at the Al Sadd Stadium.
The match will kick off at 7.30 pm.
The 2022 World Cup hosts, who have set twin targets heading into the qualifiers, will be aiming to maintain the same momentum which fetched them a resounding 6-0 win against Afghanistan five days ago.
Although Qatar coach Felix Sanchez termed the match as a ‘tough’ one, the Asian champions start as favourites against a side which is ranked 103 on the FIFA ranking computer while the hosts are in 62nd place.
On the other hand, India suffered a loss at home to Oman, where they put up a spirited performance but went down 1-2 as the away side scored two late goals.
“It is an important game for us. It will be a tough game,” Sanchez, while speaking at a press conference on the eve of the match, said yesterday.
“India have done well in the last few matches and we respect them. We have seen how they played in the last match against Oman and we read that they plan to make a number of changes from the last match,” Sanchez added in response to a question.
“We have to change 4-5 players. We’ll see how everyone is feeling. There is no reason to fear and we shall look to score goals and play good football,” Indian coach Igor Stimac had said after losing to Oman.
Qatar have set their targets in the qualifying campaign with the 2022 hosts keen on clinching in the Finals of the 2023 Asian Cup as quickly as possible.
“We have twin targets in mind…qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup and prepare a good team for the 2022 World Cup,” Sanchez said.
“We expect all the 11 players to give their best and play to their best when they take to the field and we also want our substitutes wherever they are called to take to the field to play their role to perfection,” the Spaniard added.
About making changes to the composition of the team for today’s match Sanchez said yesterday: “We have not decided yet on the tactical changes, we have a few things in mind, but we will see how things go out during the last training session on the eve of the match and we will decide.”
Qatari midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem said his team-mates will be on guard against a wounded India after their last match loss to Oman.
“We do not wish to underestimate our opponents. We want to qualify for the Asian Cup 2023 and we want to give our best and we will be playing before the home crowd so that will motivate us to give our best performance.”
Meanwhile, India coach Stimac said ‘anything is possible in football’.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference the Croatian said: “I know the Qatar team pretty well. Their physical strength is great, and their technical capabilities, and movements are fantastic. It’s difficult to find any weak point in their squad,” Stimac said.
“But in Football, everything is possible. You never give up,” he added.
On any special preparation for the Qatar match Stimac said yesterday: “We didn’t have much time after the Oman game. Even as we know Qatar are a very good team, we are trying to give everything on the pitch. So we have been working on the players, and talking to them on how to prepare.”
Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said the they have put the loss to Oman behind them.
“Not getting a result against Oman was disappointing for us. But as a player you have to take it in your stride, and move on to the next challenge. We think it’s a good opportunity to play against Qatar. We will try our best, and try to get a result from the game,” Gurpreet said yesterday.
