Sports
Qatar U-23 side take on Brazil in friendly today
Qatar U-23 side take on Brazil in friendly today
Qatar’s Olympic football team coach Fahad Thani (right) and Qatari player Ahmed Yasser address a press conference yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil
By Joe Koraith/Doha
The 2022 football World Cup is still eight years away. The infrastructure bandwagon, however, has already started rolling. Extra attention to detail is being given to ensure that everything is in place for the biggest sporting event in the world.
But for Qatar, another aspect that they are keen to showcase their potential for is their strength on the pitch. Young talent is being groomed to get ready for the big day when the Qatar national team takes to the pitch in front of the entire world. That though is a step-by-step process.
Today, the Qatar Under-23 players will get a taste of what to expect when they take on the Brazil U-23 side in a friendly match at the Al Arabi stadium.
The World Cup is the ultimate goal for Qatar football but they will have many other events to test their mettle with. The Rio 2016 Olympics are just two years away and will be a great chance for Qatari players to test their skills against the footballing powerhouses.
Though Brazil had a rather ignominious outing in the 2014 edition, they are still a brute force to reckon with. The Brazil U-23 side had reached the final of the London 2012 Olympics where they were defeated 2-1 by Mexico and had to settle for the silver. They will be looking at Rio to get that gold medal on home soil. That would help soothe the pain of their recent World Cup flop.
In a sense, the two teams playing today come from different ends of the footballing spectrum, though a similar thread weaves them together. Qatar is looking to build a team that can become a strong unit by 2022; Brazil too is looking to rebuild their team after the World Cup debacle.
That’s not to say that the Brazilian side won’t be favourites going into today’s match. And Qatar’s Olympic football team coach Fahad Thani knows that more than anyone else. “As we prepare for Rio 2016, our players must have the experience of playing against strong teams. They must get used to playing against big names like Brazil.”
For a player, especially the young ones, the more match time they get against quality opponents, the better they will be able to hone their skills. “We want our players to take part in different leagues. To judge a footballer, he needs to play 50 games in a season,” adds Thani.
The Qatar players will be banking on their familiarity with the conditions and the camaraderie within the team to put together a strong performance.
“We have been playing together for a few years now. Some of us started four-five years ago at Aspire Academy and I think there is harmony in the team,” said Qatari player Ahmed Yasser.
The Brazilians won’t be taking Qatar lightly. “We have respect for all teams. Every game has its lessons,” said Brazil coach Alexandre Gallo.
And a strong performance by the young squad will help raise the morale of the team. “The World Cup was a disaster for us. And now, it is a collective responsibility to rebuild the team. We have some key players in this squad and national team coach Dunga keeps abreast about their progress,” Gallo added.
Brazilian player Rafael Alcantara is looking forward to playing in Qatar. “For us young players, Qatar is very exciting. This is a fast-growing country; they are building a lot of stadiums, lot of infrastructure. I think the World Cup in Qatar will be very exciting” he said.
Brazil under-23 coach Alexandre Gallo (centre) with player Rafael Alcantara (right).