November 24, 2022, 9:37 AM
November 24, 2022, 9:37 AM
The Qatar coach, the Spanish Félix Sánchezexpects his team to show “their best level of play” against Senegal on Friday (9:00), to avoid the bad pills of early elimination.
A second defeat would be synonymous with elimination for Qatarwhich would thus become the second host country of the World Cup, after South Africa in 2010, to be eliminated in the group stage, and the first to do so after two games if they lose their second game of the year against the ‘Lions’. group A.
In 2010, South Africa arrived with a chance of going to the round of 16 at third and last game of the group stage.
Qatar, reigning champion of the Asian Cup, they were defeated 2-0 by Ecuador in their first matchbecoming the first World Cup host country to lose the opening match.
Sánchez encouraged his players to overcome the pressure and show the qualities against Senegal, champion in January of the African Cup.
“We hope we have gotten rid of the pressure of the first game,” said Sánchez this Thursday. “I hope we can competeshow our game and that we can be more competitive”, he continued.
The coach stated that his team did not have to compare themselves with other previous host countries and that he was following his “own route”.
Sánchez received the support of the captain of the Qatari team, Ismail Mohamad, who encouraged fans not to write them off after just one match. “We’ll give it our all tomorrow,” she guaranteed.
