Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz
Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz expressed his joy at the team’s 2-1 victory over their Jamaican counterparts in a friendly match held in Austria on Thursday.
The match took place during the team’s training camp in Austria, as part of their preparations for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be hosted by the United States of America and Canada from June 24 to July 16.
After the match, Queiroz stated: "The current training camp is progressing according to plan, with the objective of preparing the players in all physical, technical, and tactical aspects for the challenges of the Gold Cup, which is a very important competitive tournament." He also noted that the competition holds significant importance as it serves as a crucial milestone in achieving the ambitious goals we have set since he took charge of the Qatari team.
“Undoubtedly, this victory is a morale booster, particularly for our new and young players,” Queiroz said. We will review some of the decisions we took through a general evaluation after the end of the camp in order to determine the final list that will compete in the tournament, due to the presence of additional players. We still have enough time, as we have a third and final week ahead of us. And It is very important in order to set the basic rules for the style and the way we will follow during the matches,” the Portuguese coach said.
Expressing his satisfaction with the camp, Queiroz remarked, “I am extremely pleased with the players’ performance, particularly the young players. They have demonstrated remarkable dedication during training sessions and have shown great determination in their appearances during the first two matches. What impresses me the most is their immense potential for development within a short period.”
“We are pursuing significant goals from the outset, including competing in the Asian Cup finals and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. However, to achieve these objectives, it is crucial to form a cohesive unit. While we may win individual matches relying on 12 or 13 players, reaching the pinnacle of success necessitates an integrated group of experienced players who have proven themselves in successive games,” Queiroz said.
This victory against Jamaica during their second friendly match of the training camp, marks the first win for the Qatari team under Queiroz’s leadership. Qatar will take on New Zealand in another friendly encounter on Monday, before they depart for the United States on the following day for the Gold Cup. Qatar previously made an impressive appearance in the 2021 edition of the tournament, reaching the semi-finals.
