Doha: Hosts Qatar — who have sprang many surprises and caught the attention of the handball world with their sterling performances at the 24th Men’s World Championship — will be looking to go all the way when they take on Poland in the semi-finals today at the Lusail Multipurpose Arena here today.
It will be Qatar’s — or any Asian team’s — maiden appearance in the semi-final of a world championship. Having come this far, coach Valero Rivera — credited with turning an average Qatar side into world beaters — is very keen to extend the team’s “dream” run.
“My challenge is the same as that of my players. For most people seeing Qatar playing for a medal would have looked like an illusion but due to our hard work we made it a reality,” Rivera said.
“It is much more than ambition. It is like a dream come true for everybody who is involved with the national team of Qatar,” he added.
In previous championships, Qatar has not been able to make it past the pre-quarter-final stage.
With the win over Germany on Wednesday, the Asian Games gold medallists kept their hopes of becoming world champions alive. In fact, Qatar have lost just one out of their seven matches so far — the only loss coming against defending champions Spain in the group stage of the championship.
Rivera can add another chapter to his magnificent career if Qatar are able brush aside their semi-final opponents Poland — he can boast of being a finalist in consecutive world championships with two different teams.
He had guided Spain to the title in 2013.
In the quarter-finals, Qatar eliminated 2007 world champions Germany while 2007 world championship finalists Poland ended Croatian hopes.
The Poles on the other hand are banking on their experience to get the job done. Five of their current players are survivors of the 2007 final. But their coach Michael Biegler expects it to be an evenly-matched encounter.
“I see it as a surprise that Qatar have reached the semi-finals but it is just as big a surprise that we have got that far, I think. Our semi-final against Qatar will be decided in defence and by the goalkeepers,” he said.
The second semi-final is a clash of handball titans, Spain, the reigning world champions, and France, the reigning Olympic and European champions.
France will play their 10th World Championship semi-final in history while Spain will be looking to successfully defend their title of world champions.
“We are sure we have a chance against Spain,” French coach Claude Onesta said. His team defeated Spain one year ago in the semi-final of the European Championship in Denmark.
However, he said he had the greatest respect for his opponents. “Spain are a world-class team with players of the highest calibre. We are totally prepared to deal with it. Playing against Spain is a great moment for us.”
His counterpart, Spanish coach Manuel Cadenas, hoped to enjoy another great moment with his team after winning European bronze in 2014 in this, his first big event as successor to Rivera.
“Our team has improved from the start. We are the only team that has won all seven previous matches. Though it will be hard, why should we not manage to beat France?”
While France had another easy-going quarter-final against Slovenia, Spain had to struggle until the final second when a goal by Joan Canellas decided the encounter against Denmark.
THE PENINSULA
