Alkass Digital
Qatar may have ensured a place in the quarter-finals but head coach Felix Sanchez feels the Asian champions must win their last Group A match against Iraq if they want to go far at the FIFA Arab Cup.
The result in today’s match at the Al Bayt Stadium will not affect Qatar’s progress but for the four-time champions Iraq, it’s a must-win match to secure a place in the last-8 stage.
Qatar defeated Bahrain 1-0 in their opening match and confirmed their last-8 berth with a 2-1 victory over Oman. Iraq are unbeaten in the tournament but the side under caretaker coach Zeljko Petrovic has just two points from two draws and need to beat the hosts to advance without ifs and buts.
Both Oman and Bahrain, who have one point each, will face off in Group A’s other match, which will take place the same time at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Sanchez, whose team will top the group irrespective of today’s results, said Al Annabi are targeting a victory to finish the first stage with a perfect record.
“Iraq are tough opponents from what we have experienced in our past matches. We will try to play a competitive game against them,” the Spaniard told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We know if we have to go far in the tournament we have to be in our best in all the matches,” he added.
Iraq have been impressive in the tournament so far and the Sanchez was expecting a tough encounter against Petrovic’s side.
“We know Iraq need points to qualify for the quarter-finals and we expect them to be offensive in the match. Iraq have always been a tough side. But we are going to play for a win,”
Sanchez said, before adding revenge of a 2019 Gulf Cup defeat to Iraq was not in his players’ minds.
“We are not seeking revenge against them. We lost an important game in the Gulf Cup but here we just want points not the revenge,” he said.
While hinting changes in the starting team, Qatar coach said players are highly motivated to do well, which is helping them overcome the fatigue.
“We will make our plan against Iraq, surely there will be changes but we will play to win,” he said.
Sanchez confirmed Pedro Miguel, who was injured during the match against Oman, will not play today hoping the defender to be fit for the quarter-finals.
Qatar are yet to know their opponents in the last-8 stage, with coach saying his team is confident of playing against any team.
“We will be ready to play any team in the knockout stage. We respect all the teams and we think any team we will face in the quarter-finals will be strong,” he said.
Qatar’s Assim Madibo said: “Matches against Iraq are always exciting. Iraq play high quality football and it is not going to be an easy game for both the sides.”
Meanwhile, Iraq coach hoped for a “hundred percent” performance from his team in the crucial match.
“We need to beat a strong Qatari team to advance. The most important thing for us is to give our best so we can make everybody proud of us no matter what the result will be,” Petrovic told reporters yesterday.
“Qatar are the Asian champions and they have competed in high-level competitions and they are well prepared for this tournament,” he added.
Petrovic said possible changes in Qatar squad for the match will not help his team.
“All players in Qatar squad are very good. We have to be clever and continue to play good football,” he said.