Asian champions Qatar favourites at Gulf Cup
Doha, Qatar: Asian champions Qatar start as favourites at the 24th edition of Gulf Cup starting at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday, but Felix Sanchez’s team will have to face tough challenge, especially from Saudi Arabia, if they are to win the prestigious tournament.
Qatar, the 2014 champions, have a well-balanced team with Sanchez slowly introducing new faces without disturbing the core and the tough matches in some challenging away conditions in the recent World Cup qualifiers would have made the team stronger.
Qatar lead Group E of the World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifiers and Sanchez want to top the group phase in Doha as well.
They start with a depleted Iraq side on Tuesday and Sanchez said a good start would do their confidence a world of good.
“The Asian Cup is long over and we have to forget about that. This is another tournament, another start. We start with the same ambition, same possibilities,” said Sanchez at the pre-match press conference.
“A good start tomorrow is very important. It’s not that if we win tomorrow we will go on and win the tournament and if we lose tomorrow we will do badly in the tournament. But a good start against Iraq gives you a good feeling for the following games.
“Iraq are physically strong and have good quality players and we know it’s going to be a difficult game,” said Sanchez.
But Iraq’s preparations have been marred by the absence of several key players owing to today’s Al Shorta’s Arab Club Championship second-round match against Mauritanian side Nouadhibou, and their coach Srecko Katanec was less than impressed with the proceedings.
Katanec said he was keen to give his inexperienced players opportunities in Doha, but that is not going to weaken the team, who plays with plenty of passion.
UAE, the 2019 Asian Cup hosts, have a point to prove after failing to meet the expectations and falling to Qatar in the semifinals. They have started slowly in the World Cup qualifiers and Bert van Marwijk would be hoping for a change in fortunes in Doha.
They start their campaign on Tuesday, against Yemen who are ready to give all teams a run for their money.
Sanchez expected both UAE and Qatar to pose a stern challenge for Qatar, but Saudi Arabia who seemed to have regained their form after a brief lull is probably Qatar’s toughest obstacle in the tournament.
Saudi Arabia are unbeaten in their World Cup qualifiers although they are second behind Uzbekistan and in Herve Renard they have a proven manager.
Renard has taken Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015 to Africa Cup of Nations glory and three-time champions Saudi Arabia would be expecting more from their French manager.
Saudi Arabia start their campaign on Wednesday in Group B where 10 times champions Kuwait, who however are not the force they once were, will be their opponents.
The Green Falcons will then take on Bahrain before finishing off their group engagements with a match against reigning champions Oman.
With all teams familiar with each other’s play there is nothing much to pick between most sides and anyone can beat anyone on their day.
Sanchez has proved that he has the knack of getting the best out of his players, with whom he has a long term association and if Almoez Ali can find his goal-scoring form, if Akram Afif can tear up defences with his pace and provide the assists as well, if Qatar can play as one for all and all for one like they did in the Asian Cup, there will be no stopping them.
