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Sanchez Shifts Focus Towards Semi-Final

Sanchez Shifts Focus Towards Semi-Final

QFA

Signs of happiness were clear on the face of Qatar national team coach Felix Sanchez, after his side’s 5-0 victory over the UAE on Friday evening, in the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-final.

With almost 60,000 singing and chanting spectators creating an electric atmosphere at the FIFA World Cup venue, Al Annabi showed a ruthless performance against their Gulf rivals to storm into the semis, where they will meet Morocco or Algeria on December 15.

An own goal by Ali Salmeen took Qatar ahead in the sixth minute before feared striker Almoez Ali opened the floodgates with a penalty strike in the 28th minute.

Boualem Khoukhi tripled the lead with another spot kick in the 36th minute while Abdulaziz Hatim (44th minute) and Almoez (45+3) – his second goal of the match – sealed the crushing victory.

Speaking at the press conference after the match, Sanchez said: “We achieved a huge and deserved victory, and I think that the first half was one of the best games for me with the team, although the team has played many matches in an excellent way, and has achieved very good results against big teams.”

The Spanish coach described getting to the final as the “dream” of every team, particularly for Qatar, playing at home and in front of their fans. However, he stressed the need to work hard in order to achieve this dream.

He added: “We will face a strong opponent in the next round, regardless of the qualified team from the match between Algeria and Morocco – both of them are African champions, and they are ranked high in the world.”

Sanchez stated that he will first wait to know the semifinal opponent, and then analyse and develop the plan with which he will play the match, with both of the possible opponents being noted for their strength, speed and skill.

He concluded by saying: “The most important thing now is the team’s recovery, before the next match.”