Recent results and a secretive two-month training camp offer hope for the hosts but they always wanted Xavi in the dugout
, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 20 November.Stars League has been on pause since the middle of September as the national team entered an early and intensive pre-tournament training camp.
Familiarity is their strength and Sánchez has long employed either a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 system, the former designed to retain the ball, the latter to counter against it. This is a side brimming with technically proficient players: Akram Afif buzzes in behind the predatory Almoez Ali while the ball is funnelled down the left channel for the galavanting Homam al-Amin.
This is a lightweight side, however, and how they fare without the ball is a big concern. “Tough matches await us in the tournament,” Sánchez said recently. “We will face very strong teams – teams that are used to being in the World Cup. If we display our best, we will be able to compete.” You won’t hear much more than that from the team right now.
Qatar’s Bassam al-Rawi beats Ali Saleh to a header during the 5-0 win against the UAE in last year’s Arab Cup quarter-final.as the central pillar of the defence but his head could also turn out to be crucial. The centre-back is a big set-piece threat and that will be a route to goal for the hosts. He is diminutive but very combative and he will set the tone when they’re under pressure so if he stands firm, so will Qatar.
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