Vinay Nayudu
Doha
Much like an entire nation, even though small in size, hosts Qatar are eager for their national team to bring on their game when they face Senegal in their crucial Group A clash of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday.
The Al Annabi are capable of a much better display has been the common refrain and not without a reason. The 2019 Asian Cup champions have an attacking line up with players who can hold their own. Having made their World Cup debut they would now need to overcome their nerves and show the steel.
Their long time coach Felix Sanchez too is eager and called for his boys to bring on their “A Game”.
Addressing the media on the eve of the clash against Senegal, Sanchez said, “We hope that now we are free from all the pressure that we had in the opening match. I hope we can compete and bring our ‘A Game’ and show that we can be more competitive than we were the other day. We are playing a very high-level team so we need to prove ourselves, play our game and see what happens.”
Performance under pressure matters and Sanchez wants his team to prove its mettle.
“The curtain raiser wasn’t what we expected,” he said. “Maybe we felt a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility. We were nervous as well. In this World Cup, for any moment you are not performing well, you will be punished. In our profession, footballers and coaches are always feeling the expectation of performing well especially in a World Cup.
“We want to play our best game, achieve our best level. Then the outcome of this game is in our hands.”
Exuding confidence and assuring fans was Qatar defender Ismail Mohamad. “The last match is history now,” he said. “I think we are starting a fresh page with the team and preparing for the next match.
“I do think that the team is on the right path. I think that in the next match we will be better prepared and we will give it our all.”
Mohamad said Qatar has taken inspiration from shock wins for Saudi Arabia, who beat Argentina, and Japan, who beat Germany. “It goes without saying that those teams, especially Saudi Arabia, are making us a little bit jealous and motivating us to perform as well as they have.
“We want to give it our all tomorrow,” he stressed.
Qatar in their first World Cup appearance fell to a 0-2 defeat in their opener against Ecuador.
Senegal too have lost 0-2 to the Netherlands, thus it’s now a level field and a do-or-die affair for both the African and Asian champions.
What is also to Qatar’s advantage is that all their players are fit unlike Senegal who, besides the absence of Sadio Mane, now might miss duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Abdou Diallo who were taken off injured against the Netherlands.
Senegal Coach Aliou Cisse, however, is sure that his team will live up to the challenge. “We had other difficult games in the past,” said Cisse.
“I am not planning to do any revolutionary changes, we are optimistic and expecting that Diallo and Kouyaté will be ready for tomorrow despite picking up knocks and leaving the match against the Netherlands early.
“Mendy is doing very well. He has my full trust.”
Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos, attacking forwards Almoez Ali and Akram Afif, Homam Al Amin, defender Abdelkarim Hassan could be the key and dazzle if they can find the rhythm and balance to their attack and defence.
Qatar players are also used to the African flair and play style which should make the Qatar-Senegal exciting.
Stage fright over, time for Qatar to show the world that they belong at this level – the result notwithstanding.
