Qatar are exuding confidence ahead of their Group D Asian Cup qualifying match against Bahrain in Manama today, but they would be more concerned about their clash with South Korea four days later in Seoul, the outcome of which could have a decisive impact on their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Two qualifying matches inside five days – which also takes in a 12-hour flight to Seoul – can leave the team struggling with acclimatisation issues since the South Korean capital is experiencing below freezing temperatures this time of the year.
Qatar coach Fahad Thani finds himself leading two campaigns – one that is at its fag end and the other only recently started – but the Qatari said that playing two matches inside five days cannot be used as an excuse for poor performances.
“We don’t need to look for excuses. We knew the playing schedule for a long time.
The playing schedule wasn’t drafted all of a sudden. We have to deal with the circumstances that we are in. This is international football,” Thani said before the team departed for Bahrain yesterday.
He added: “We can deal with this matter by playing as a team, as one unit. We have dealt with such issues before. We need to address the issue and that is by playing quality football.”
Also with several national team players busy with domestic and regional competitions such as the QSL and the Asian Champions League, Thani has had to field several upcoming youngsters in the friendly matches against Egypt and Thailand earlier this month to decide on a good combination for the matches against Bahrain and South Korea.
“Hopefully we will do well in the coming matches. The boys have the confidence now,” Thani, who took over from Brazilian coach Paulo Autuori in January, said Thani.
Qatar, who struggled to beat a depleted Malaysian side in their Asian Cup qualifying opener, have a tough task against Bahrain despite their higher FIFA ranking. Qatar are now 98th while Bahrain have slipped to 117th, but history suggests matches between the two neighbours have been always closely fought.
“The players are not feeling any pressure as we have played good of late,” Thani said.
Meanwhile, China boss Jose Antonio Camacho will hope a sprinkling of stardust from the visiting David Beckham will rub off on his team as he fights for his job in today’s crunch Asian Cup qualifier with Iraq.
Critics have lined up to savage the former Spain and Real Madrid handler after China crashed out of World Cup qualifying, lost a series of friendlies and were beaten by Saudi Arabia in their Group C opener last month.
Now Chinese media say only a win will do as Camacho leads his players out in Changsha with Guangzhou Evergrande’s World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, his mooted replacement, watching from the stands.
“We are under pressure after the first loss. Every game is significant for us now,” admitted the Spaniard, according to the China Daily. “It’s the national team and we have the responsibility to try our best. In Changsha, we must win.”
Beckham, who is on his first trip to China in his role as an “ambassador” for the country’s football, has had his share of fairytale wins but today’s plot is shaping as a horror story for Camacho.
His opposite number is Vladimir Petrovic, a former China coach who was sacked after he failed to steer the team to the 2010 World Cup—with defeat to Iraq a contributing factor.
Petrovic now has the chance to exact poetic revenge as he returns to China, where he also coached double-winning Dalian Shide, for his first game with Iraq following the departure of Zico and interim manager Hakeem Shaker.
The statistics also read poorly for China, who are bidding to win a six-game winless run and have also not beaten Iraq in their last six meetings since the 2004 Asian Cup quarter-finals on home soil.
But China will draw hope from Camacho’s call-up of Chen Zhizhao, 25. The skilful and pacey winger has sparkled on loan at Brazil’s Corinthians, where fans have christened him ‘Zizao’ in reference to French legend Zinedine Zidane.