Qatar has played in three different continental events, featured in over a dozen of high-intensity games this year, as the FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts prepare for their debut in the football showpiece at home.
Despite the gruelling season which also includes players commitments with their club, Al Annabi are firing on all cylinders and adopting a never-say-die attitude at the ongoing FIFA Arab Cup 2021, which is what impresses their head coach Felix Sanchez.
The Asian champions have featured in the joint qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup, represented Asia in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA as debutants besides facing tough sides in the European Qualifiers. Qatar have also underwent hectic training camps in several stops in Europe.
On Friday, Al Annabi played a cliffhanger against a spirited Omani side sealing a 2-1 win following a stoppage-time own goal to enter the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup, two days after battling past Bahrain 1-0.
“The players are still doing their best despite the long season. They played a number of competitions and have braved tough teams,” Sanchez said while hailing his team following a win against Oman, who were tough in the second half.
“The players struggled physically in the second half but this happens in such a busy season. The players are human beings and not machines. I am completely satisfied with them,” he added.
With two back-to-back victories in the Arab Cup, Qatar have ensured themselves as the Group A winners ahead of tomorrow’s match against four-time champions Iraq.
“We have a game to go and we have to play well in the match to make our people proud of the team. It is very nice to see the fans happy,” said the Qatar coach.
“We will select the formation we will require against Iraq. We are a team of 23 players with good levels, and the 11 players who will participate in the match will be aiming for the victory,” he added.
Meanwhile, Oman coach Branko Ivankovic was looking for answers after two last-gasp goals in as many matches cost his team crucial points.
“We played a great game against Qatar although we ended as a losing side. The players fought very well and deserve credit for their performance,” said the former Croatian footballer.
“Losing in that way may be sad. The Iraqi team drew with us in overtime and we lost against Qatar in the last seconds,” said Ivankovic, whose team also conceded a stoppage-time equaliser against Iraq in their opening match.
On Friday, substitute Fahmi Durbin saw his header hit the crossbar and bounced behind the goal-line with VAR declaring the winner for Qatar in seventh minute of stoppage time.
Earlier, Akram Afif gave Qatar a lead with a 32nd minute spot kick before substitute Khalid Al Hajri leveled for Oman in the 74th minute.
“The decision on second goal may be correct but I think that the penalty kick was not correct at all,” said the Oman coach.
Oman with a point in hands will meet Bahrain tomorrow, hoping for a win in their last group match and Qatar’s victory against Iraq (2 points) to progress to the quarter-finals.
