By Sports Reporter/Hamilton
Asian champions Qatar will get a chance to test their skills at the global stage today when they take on South American giants Colombia on day two of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Qatar, the 1981 finalists, are making a comeback to the event after 20 years following their historic Asian U-19 title win last October while rivals Colombia will be keen to go one better than their last-16 performance two years ago.
Coached by Felix Sanchez, Qatar have spent most of their time in May training and playing warm-up games in Australia and New Zealand.
Sanchez headed the Qatar team training yesterday at Waikato Stadium, the match venue for today’s Group C clash that will kick-off at 1:00pm local time.
This Hamilton encounter - to be played in cold conditions – will certainly provide an early opportunity for both sides to prove their mettle, especially Qatar who last appeared at the 1995 edition.
Colombia reached the last-16 stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup won by France two years ago. The South American giants - yet to lift the crown - finished third in 2003.
Both teams have never played each other at this level but a win for Sanchez’s boys today would see plenty of fans sit up and take notice, while Los Cafeteros will be keen to improve on their last-16 showing two years ago. Clubbed together with Senegal and Portugal, Qatar are considered the underdogs who could go all the way in Group C.
Qatar, where football remains the number one sport in the country, are returning to the U-20 World Cup after a 20-year absence, following an impressive title win at at last year’s AFC U-19 Championship in Myanmar.
Despite the lengthy absence from the event, Qatar will take to the Waikato Stadium pitch today knowing they were the surprise package at the 1981 event when they lost the final 4-0 to West Germany.
In October last year, Qatar began their Asian U-19 Championship campaign in style, topping Group D ahead of Korea DPR, Iraq and Oman.
Coached by Sanchez since 2013, Qatar then knocked out China PR in the quarter-finals.
After disposing of the Chinese, the Qataris then needed extra time to beat hosts Myanmar 3-2 in the semi-finals. Qatar bagged the trophy when they downed Korea DPR 1-0 in the final.
For Sanchez, Qatar will be looking forward to their inspirational captain Ahmad Moein who dictated play from midfield during Qatar’s triumphant run in Asia last October.
Moein was named Player of the Tournament after telling performances at the Mynamar event.
The 19-year-old makes up one part of Sanchez’s quartet from Belgian side KAS Eupen. Eight months ago, 13 of the players Sanchez took to Myanmar play their club football in Europe.
“A decision was made to send them to Europe so they could improve as players. It’s a great experience for them, no doubt about it,” Sanchez said at the time.
“I’d really like to see some of them in action at the 2022 World Cup and even the 2018 finals,” Sanchez, the former Barcelona youth coach, added after Qatar won the Asian title.
Meanwhile, Colombia coach Carlos Alberto Restrepo has selected a squad with just two youngsters with experience of playing in Europe. Andres Tello and Alexis Zapata play in Italy.
Restrepo will look towards these two for wins in Group C clashes but overall the Colombian squad has quality. Goalkeeper Alvaro Montero and central defender Juan Quintero are both rocks at the back. Key figures further up the pitch include attacking midfielders Sergio Villarreal and Jarlan Barrera and forwards Rafael
Borre and Jeison Lucumi. The latter was the team’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals.
Also on Sunday, Portugal play Senegal at the same venue.
Portugal, making their third-straight appearance at the U-20 World Cup, finished runners-up at last year’s European U-19 Championship. They won the title in 1989 and 1991 and were also runners-up in 2011.
This is Portugal’s 10th appearance at the event.
Portugal’s opponents on Sunday, Senegal qualified for their first U-20 finals after making the semi-finals of the African U-20 Championship earlier this year. They are coached by Joseph Koto.
Members of Qatar Under-20 football team.
