Ljubuski, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Qatar will take on Switzerland in a do-or-die game in the IHF Junior World Championship at the Gradska Sportska Dvorana Indoor Hall in Ljubuski, Bosnia and Herzegovina, today.
While table toppers Germany and Croatia (eight points each) have already qualified to the tournament’s second round, not even a win against the Swiss can assure Qatar a place in the last 16.
Switzerland are third with four points. Though the Netherlands and Qatar share two points each, the former are ahead on better goal difference (-3 to -7).
Winless Algeria complete the table.
The Dutchmen are favourites to defeat Algeria in the last group game. If that happens and Qatar win over the Swiss, then better goal difference will decide the best two from among the three.
If Algeria creates an upset and Qatar win, Qatar will qualify directly as the fourth-best team.
An Algerian win and a Qatari loss would mean those teams, as well as the Netherlands, would have two points each. Once again, goal difference will decide the fourth qualifying team.
Despite the dicey situation the team finds itself in, Qatari players will approach the game with renewed confidence.
Against Algeria, they struggled initially but rediscovered their form towards the end. They scored six goals in the final few minutes to silence their opponents.
Selvedin Omahic, who scored 14 time in four games, will be Qatar’s key hope.
Hadi Hamdoon, Kamaleldin Mallash and Abdulaziz Al Shammari (all 11 goals) have also proved useful time and again.
They are likely to face a huge challenge from the Swiss trio of Kevin Jud (20), Luka Maros (19) and Sergio Muggli (17).
But Qatar coach Dragan Zovko sounded optimistic.
He said: “It’s amazing what a win can do to your side’s morale. My players are in good spirits and I think we can do well against Switzerland. We’ll try to tighten our defence.”
He added: “Our goalkeepers Grco Mirnes and Abdulaziz Althafiri are in fine form and that’s an encouraging sign. We’ll focus on nothing but winning the game.” THE PENINSULA
