Qatar players during a training session at Aspire Academy practice pitches in Doha yesterday. BELOW; Qatar coach Fahad Thani during a press conference at the football headquarters yesterday.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Coach Fahad Thani has urged Qatar players to go all out for a win in this week’s friendly against Azerbaijan, knowing a ‘winning mentality’ would help the side get into the right frame of mind for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iran on June 4.
Qatar host Azerbaijan in a friendly on May 29 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, a venue where ‘Al Anabi’ crushed Latvia 3-1 three days ago.
“For our game against Azerbaijan, our mentality should be the same - we must play to win like we did against Latvia,” Fahad said at football headquarters at Aspire Academy.
“If we win that game, then we go into the Iran match with a winning mentality. It is really important to have the winning attitude,” he added.
“There won’t be many changes in the coming game from what you saw last week,” Fahad said in reference to last week’s friendly against Latvia.
On June 4, Qatar host Iran in Doha before heading to Uzbekistan for the last Group A, Asian Zone, qualifying match on June 18.
Qatar are in fourth place in Group A, Asian Zone, qualifying phase behind Uzbekistan, Korea and Iran.
Fahad admitted the game against Iran would be a ‘do-or-die’ affair.
“It is a do-or-die game against Iran,” Fahad said. “But as we know Iran played against Oman (and lost 3-0 recently),” he added.
“They didn’t field their regular players. We will analyse their performances from their matches in the qualifying campaign. Iran are good in defense. We are good too. We can cover great area,” the Qatar coach added.
The Qatar coach said the two friendly matches were planned to help him assess his playing XI for the game against Iran.
Fahad said he was satisfied with the performance of his players in the 3-1 win over Latvia.
“We are not changing our plans for the friendly against Azerbaijan (on May 29). That will be the last game before we take on Iran (on June 4),” Fahad said.
“After the game, we will continue our camp until match day. The game against Latvia was satisfying on a number of accounts. It was a positive performance and we got what we were looking for.
“As you know Latvia is physically a better side compared to us so to see my players stand up to them was a big plus for us. They provided stiff competition. My players provided stiff challenge - physically, mentally and tactically.
“We fought for the win and that is important for us. My players are showing that they are making things (selection) difficult for me,” Fahad said
“Our subs did a great job. It seemed they played better than the regular bunch of players. This is what we need. We need a strong back-up side. To have competition among the players is a good thing,” he explained.
“We tried to give the fringe players a go in the game against Latvia. That’s why you didn’t see some of the regular players. We want the players fresh and fighting for places in the side,” Fahad said.
Fahad said Qatar players have had the chance to take time off after the end of the Emir Cup final - which signalled the end of the 2012-13 domestic season on May 18.
“If you compare the game against Korea, now we have more time to prepare for our next World Cup qualifying match. This will take the pressure off the players. We will get more time to recover for the players. We don’t have many injuries. The medical team with me is happy with the players,” Fahad said.
“The present bunch of players is the best lot for this phase. I was keen to see the physical aspect of our players against Latvia.
“Latvia play more or less like the Iranians.
“What you saw against Latvia was just some of the plans we have been working on. Obviously, we can’t reveal all game plans in one match,” Fahad, sporting a white baseball cap, said.
“I can’t reveal my tactics,” he told local media.
THE PENINSULA
