2023-07-07 06:02:00
The Qatari team, burdened with qualitative absences, will try to repeat its qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals, when it faces its Panamanian counterpart, Saturday, in Texas, in the competition in which it participates by invitation and will continue in the United States of America and Canada until July 16.
Mexico, the defending champion eight times, and Costa Rica will meet in the next match, also on Saturday, in Dallas, while Canada will face a fiery confrontation with the United States, the defending champion, on Sunday in Cincinnati, which will also host Guatemala’s meeting with Jamaica on the same day.
“Al-Annabi” came third after losing to the United States with a single goal, in the semi-finals of the last edition, which crowned the “Uncle Sam” country for the seventh time in its history.
The Qatari team secured its place in the quarter-finals, after a valuable and rare victory over Group B leaders Mexico, who accompanied it after finishing second.
Will and determination to overcome absences
And while the technical staff of “Al-Aadam” led by Portuguese Carlos Queiroz hopes for the return of Al-Moez Ali, the top scorer of the last edition (4 goals), after recovering from a muscle strain that kept him away from the past three matches, the many absences of Qatar stars in the first round lead the confrontation with Panama, most notably the brilliant goalkeeper. Meshaal Barshim, and each of the captain Ahmed Fathi, Muhammad Waad, Tariq Salman and Tamim Mansour Moftah, due to the accumulation of warnings, in addition to Youssef Abdel Razzaq, who was sent off after a stampede after the end of the match with Honduras.
According to CONCACAF regulations, cautions do not expire after the end of the first round.
And while midfielder Mustafa Meshaal, who Queiroz will depend on a lot in the midfield, confirmed that the national team is developing game after game, his colleague Assem Madibo pointed out that Al-Annabi will arm himself with will and determination and play with a fighting spirit to achieve victory and overcome absences.
Queiroz continues to motivate
In his own way, the seasoned Portuguese renewed his players’ motivation through his social media platforms, stressing that what was achieved was the result of the effort and position of a great team.
“The result is a reward for the will to win and the fighting spirit against all odds,” Queiroz, 70, said.
“Certainly, we still have a long way to go to be where we want to be,” added the coach, who marked the first round with his criticism of the referees.
“Let’s keep our humility and prepare for the next stage,” he continued.
After the disappointing participation in the World Cup at home and the exit from the group stage without any victory or draw, the participation of the Qatari team in the Gold Cup represents a strong rehearsal for the next stage crowded with important benefits, most notably the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals, and the Asian Cup hosted by the defending champion, In Doha early next year.
In turn, the Spanish coach of Panama, Thomas Christiansen, considered, after a draw with El Salvador in the last round, that his team had achieved its goal in the first round by occupying the top of the group.
Panama, which won the championship twice previously in 2005 and 2013, topped its group after two consecutive wins over Costa Rica and Martinique and a draw with El Salvador.
Under the leadership of Christiansen, Panama, which advances Qatar one place in the world rankings (57 vs. 58), will face the Asian champions for the second time in the Gold Cup after their first meeting on July 14, 2021, which ended in a draw (3-3) in the opening of their matches in the group stage. At that time, the goals of Al-Annabi, led by former coach Felix Sanchez, were signed by the trio Akram Afif, Al-Moez Ali and Hassan Al-Haidous, respectively.
In its eleventh participation, the tenth in a row, Panama relies on its right wing, Yoel Barcenas (29 years), one of the stars of the first round who previously played professionally in Girona and Real Oviedo, Spain, and is currently playing with Mexican Masatlan. It also relies on its left wing, Ismail Diaz (26 years). The professional at the Chilean Universidad Católica.
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