From the Al-Bayt World Cup Stadium, the Qatari football team continued to bring joy to the faces of the Qatari and Arab fans after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Asian Nations Championship, and took a new step on the path to preserving the continental title it won in the last edition in 2019.
For the second time in a row in 11 participations in the Asian Cup, Al-Anabi was able to reach the semi-finals after winning on penalties 3-2 at the expense of Uzbekistan yesterday, Saturday, in the quarter-finals, and the regular and extra time ended in a 1-1 tie.
Summary of the match between Qatar and Uzbekistan | Qatar qualifies for the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup Qatar#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Qatar_Uzbekistan #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/Bpy8Wxi7mb
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 3, 2024
Next Wednesday, Qatar will face Al-Thumama in a major football epic against Iran, which eliminated the Japanese team, the defending champion, 4 times, and was one of the best candidates to win the title.
The players of the Qatari football team affirmed with one voice their readiness to challenge the powerful Iran in the semi-finals, calling on the fans to continue supporting and assisting them to continue the joy and write history.
Hussein Al-Haydos thanked the huge fans for their non-stop support and encouragement, “I thank the fans for their support of us from the first to the last minute of the match.”
Al-Haydos, captain of the Qatari team, acknowledged the difficulty of the confrontation against Iran, the holder of the title three previous times. “The Iranian team is strong and the semi-final match will be difficult, but we are ready and waiting for an intense public presence because it is very motivating for us.”
With his goal against Uzbekistan, Al-Haydos advanced on the list of all-time top scorers for the Qatar national team (42 goals), but the player pointed out that the most important thing at the moment is the national team. “I am not interested in individual numbers as much as I care about achieving championships and the national team’s performance and results in this tournament.”
Mishal Barshim: “This achievement is the result of teamwork”#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Qatar_Uzbekistan#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/itiPRu698y
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Abdulaziz Hatem spoke optimistically about the semi-final match, noting that Al-Anabi is one step away from competing in its second final in a row, and the fans must support it strongly to overcome Iran and reach the final match.
He said, “We cannot deny the difficulty of the next match. We will continue to play in our style and have the usual confidence in order to overcome Iran.”
⚽️🔥 The crossbar prevents Abdulaziz Hatem from scoring a special goal#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Qatar_Uzbekistan#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/hgXnEyCF5U
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 3, 2024
As for the player Jassim Jaber, he stressed the need to turn the page on the victory over Uzbekistan and think about the difficult match against Iran. “The next confrontation in the semi-finals is not easy and we must focus a lot. We need the support of the fans to continue writing the success story.”
Step by step towards the final
For his part, Ismail Muhammad considered that the Qatari team is progressing steadily so far in this tournament. “Praise be to God, the team has achieved a historic achievement by reaching the semi-finals for the second time in a row. This achievement did not come from nowhere, but rather is the result of the players’ effort and never-ending ambition.”
The Qatari Al-Duhail player added, “We are progressing step by step, and thank God our steps are steady. We are up to the responsibility placed on us and we aspire to win the next match to make our fans happy.”
In the same context, Ahmed Fathi acknowledged that passing to the semi-finals constitutes a great incentive for the players to continue their ambition in this tournament. “We were happy today with the qualification, but now we have to focus on the next confrontation in the semi-finals, and I hope for a large public presence at Al Thumama Stadium so that the Qatari joy continues.”
Watch the penalty shootout from the Qatar-Uzbekistan match (3-2)
🇶🇦⚽️ Qatar qualifies for the semi-finals of the Asian Cup Qatar 2023 #Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Qatar_Uzbekistan#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/gHTKQbz6v3
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 3, 2024
“This is my advice to the Qatar national team.”
Khaled Al-Fadhli, the former captain and goalkeeper of the Kuwaiti national football team, did not hide his overwhelming happiness after the end of the penalty shootout and the Qatari team’s qualification for the senior four. “Congratulations to Qatari football and the Qatari national team, which achieved a great achievement today. For me, today’s match may be the most difficult match that Al-Anabi has played in the Asian Championship.”
Al-Fadhli continued his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, “Despite the technical fluctuations in the match, especially coach Lopez’s change of Hassan Al-Haydos in the 51st minute, it affected Al-Annabi’s performance, but the important thing is that he succeeded in crossing over.”
In the midst of the joy of qualifying, Al-Fadhli, currently an analyst for the Qatari Al Cup channels, called on the Qatari national team players to maintain focus in preparation for a very difficult confrontation against Iran, and said, “The next confrontation is difficult but not impossible… Al-Anabi, with the support of its loyal fans, is able to go to the Asian Cup final.” “.
Almoez Ali praises Barshim’s performance and talks about the penalty kick#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Qatar_Uzbekistan#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/cpKHau3UZ0
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 3, 2024
In order to avoid the mistakes of facing Uzbekistan and not repeating them against Iran on Wednesday, the former Kuwaiti goalkeeper sent a message containing advice to the Qatari team: “The most important thing in the next match is the mental factor, and the officials and technical staff must focus on this point well.”
Al-Fadhli believes that Al-Annabi’s victory over Uzbekistan enabled him to untie the knot of recent years, and perhaps it may constitute an incentive to untie the knot of the Iranian team, which has historical precedence in direct confrontations.
The 49-year-old former international said, “Untying the knot today gives Al-Annabi great confidence before facing Iran, so he must focus, make an effort, believe in his abilities, and compete as an equal because nothing is impossible in football.”
2024-02-04 15:47:29
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