The Peninsula
Defender Bualem Khoukhi has said Qatar’s maiden appearance in Copa America was hugely beneficial for the team’s young players.
On Sunday, Asian Cup champions Qatar lost to former World Cup winners Argentina 2-0.
Qatar started the 12-team event with a gutsy 2-2 draw against two-time champions Paraguay before conceding an 85th minute goal against Colombia in their second match.
“We have gained a lot of experience from this tournament which will benefit us in the future and in preparation for the 2022 World Cup especially as half of the Qatar players are young and need to participate in such big tournaments,” Khoukhi said yesterday.
“Copa America is different from all other tournaments we have played before because of the very strong level of the teams from South America. We played three strong matches against Paraguay, Colombia and Argentina. Before the tournament began, we played against Brazil’s in a friendly match. These four quality matches gave us good experience against strong teams which everyone knows,” Khoukhi, the centre of Qatar’s defense, said.
The 28-year-old added: “Yes, especially in the first game against Paraguay, we could have gone and picked up the three points, but we were unlucky as the game ended in a draw. I think the win over Paraguay would have changed everything. I thank my fellow players and the technical and administrative bodies for their efforts in the tournament.”
Khoukhi, who scored against Paraguay, said Qatar will be up for it for their next Copa challenge next year.
“The next edition will be different. Next year we will enter the tournament with greater readiness since we have the experience of participating in the 2019 edition,” Khoukhi said in an interview before the team’s departure from Brazil.
When asked about playing at the Maracana Stadium, Khoukhi said: “Playing at these big stadiums is different and an important experience for us, especially when a team like ours plays in front of huge number of fans. The pressure is there and it is not easy.”
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, also praised Qatar’s fight ‘against top sides’
“I am very proud of the national team, which has played against big teams at Copa America,” Al Thawadi said while speaking with the Qatar media contingent travelling with the team.
“Against Paraguay we came back in a wonderful way. That was heroic stuff to come back from a 2-0 deficit. Against Colombia we nearly hung in for another fighting draw until that late strike,” Al Thawadi said.
“The fight was there from our players. Overall it was a good technical level exhibited by the team. Qatar team has got praise from far and wide over the player development. Remember competing at Copa America is not easy at all,” he said.