Qatar coach Felix Sanchez is confident his young squad can match the best in the continent as they kick off their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign against Lebanon in Group E in Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium today.
Sanchez’s squad is one of the most youthful among the 24 nations represented at the tournament, with seven of the players who have travelled to the United Arab Emirates having graduated from the side that won the 2014 AFC U19 Championship in Myanmar.
And with the country continuing to build towards their hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Sanchez believes the AFC Asian Cup will be the perfect proving ground for his players.
“There is a group of players that played in (AFC U-19 Championship) some years ago and had a good achievement,” said the Spaniard, who coached the U-19 team and also worked with the country’s U-23 squad before taking over the senior side.
“Now they’re in the first team and it’s a group of – in my point of view – very talented players with the qualities to compete and play in Asia, and of course we want to be here to try to compete against everyone.
“But we’re going to focus and we can’t look further than the game against Lebanon because this competition is a few games and you need to be OK in all of them.”
Qatar have twice reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup – in 2000 and on home soil in 2011 – but Sanchez refused to be drawn on his side’s expectations at this year’s tournament as he declared his squad fully fit for the Finals.
“Everyone is fine and ready to play,” he said. “We know Lebanon. We saw them playing, we know their strengths and we know it will be a hard game and we’re only focused on that.
“We’re going to try to show that we’re able to compete against all the Asian teams we’re going to face in the competition, to compete and compete well and get results.
“How far we will reach is difficult to say, but I’m quite sure that this group of players are able to compete against all teams in Asia and it is time to show they have the quality and ability to do well.”
Lebanon will be appearing at the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2000 and, while coach Miodrag Radulovic is delighted to be leading the country to the Finals, he stressed his team would not be overawed by the occasion or the Qataris.
“Everybody in Lebanese football is dreaming about this competition for 20 years and we’re proud that we’re in this company,” he said. “We’re living the dreams of the players and the football fans of Lebanon.
“We’re in a strong group, but my players are ready to give a good performance and we will be fighting for each point and each goal. Our focus is on the first game. It’s a very important game. Not decisive, but important. I know very well what to expect from such a level but I’m sure my players will have the possibility and the quality to make a performance and we are ready for tomorrow’s game.
“Qatar is really a very good team, I made a good analysis of them. They have built a team for the world championship, they have very good balance in the team, they have the best player of Asia in the team and the Spanish coach is a long time with the players. But also we are together almost four years and we built a good team. We have our system and we have tactical discipline and I’m optimistic about tomorrow’s game.”
Qatar players take part in a training session in Al Ain on the eve of their AFC Asian Cup match against Lebanon yesterday. PICTURES: Fadi al-Assaad
