The Peninsula
Asian champions Qatar are preparing for next week’s home friendlies against Bulgaria and Slovenia with extensive training sessions under the supervision of head coach Felix Sanchez in Doha.
Qatar will take on Bulgaria on March 26 before facing Slovenia on March 29, with the upcoming friendly matches being Al Annabi’s first international assignment following the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 in December.
Education City Stadium – a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue – will host both the friendly matches featuring the home side. The 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia will also play matches in Qatar against Slovenia (March 26) and Bulgaria (March 29).
While Qatar have not played international matches for almost three months, the national players were representing their respective clubs in a hectic domestic season, which included the recently-concluded QNB Stars League and the 50th edition of Amir Cup.
Earlier this week, Sanchez announced a 23-player squad, including all the probables for Qatar’s debut FIFA World Cup appearance except for captain Hassan Al Haydos and seasoned midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem. Al Haydos is nursing an adductor muscle injury while Hatem underwent a knee surgery recently.
Qatar team management has planned the upcoming friendlies as part of team’s preparations for the World Cup at home. Al Annabi’s build up for the FIFA showpiece in the last couple of years also include participation in the Copa America, Gold Cup and European Zone World Cup qualifiers. Qatar finished third in the FIFA Arab Cup, with Algeria being the eventual winners.
Meanwhile, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic yesterday said his team was looking forward to action in Qatar after a four-month break.
The coach, who earlier termed Qatar matches as a great opportunity for his team to acclimatise to conditions before the World Cup, said one of his goals during these matches will be to bring team even closer.
“Our goals of the tournament apart from of course, better games and results, will be to bring the team even closer,” said Dalic.
“This time too, the result is important, but it will be a little more relaxed. Our goal is to win, but we will organise plan so that the new players can fit in better. Slovenia has caused us big problems in Ljubljana, Bulgaria will also be demanding,” he added.