Qatar are determined to replicate 2019 title success

Defender Bassam al-Rawi says Qatar are determined to replicate their success from the previous Asian Cup. In the last edition, the Al Annabi secured their maiden Asian Cup title by defeating Japan in the final.
Speaking about the upcoming tournament to be held in Qatar from tomorrow till February 10, al-Rawi said: “This tournament presents a new challenge for us as players. We are determined to give our best and bring joy to the Qatari fans, especially since it’s being held in Qatar for the third time.”
Qatar open the Asian Cup tomorrow when they face Lebanon at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, which staged the World Cup final. They also face China and Tajikistan in their other Group A matches.
Al-Rawi, whose free kicks played a big part in Qatar winning the title in the UAE in 2019 – believes the tournament at home will be a new challenge for the team.
The 26-year-old scored Qatar’s first goal in UAE by curling the ball over the Lebanon wall in their opening group match and secured their place in the quarter-finals with another beauty against former champions Iraq.
“Our focus is on the first match, and we will take the tournament step by step. There are many strong teams competing for the title, and the task is not always easy due to the constant development of all Asian teams,” he observed.
Acknowledging the support of the fans, the Rayyan star said: “We are eagerly awaiting the fans to support us. They always stand strongly with the team in all its matches and are a source of enthusiasm for all the players.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem expressed optimism about the team’s chances. Despite the formidable competition in the tournament, the 33-year-old is determined to play a significant role with the Qatar team.
He said that other teams view Qatar as a strong contender. “All teams will see the Qatar team as a champion and one of the candidates to compete strongly. Therefore, all our thoughts are focused on preserving this title, but we will play the tournament on the principle of step by step,” he said.
Reflecting on the pressure the team faces as defending champions, Hatem stated: “Pressure is part of football, and it is normal for any team that holds the title to go through these moments.”
He emphasised their positive approach to dealing with pressure, aiming to perform at the desired level. Hatem expressed hopes of facing Japan in the final, similar to the scenario in the last edition. He emphasised the significance of pleasing the Qatari fans, recognising their support as crucial for the team’s performance.
Recalling the best moments in his career, Hatem highlighted the victory in the 2019 Asian Cup, particularly the goal he scored against South Korea during the quarter-finals. The Qatar team is aiming to make history in the Asian Cup, aspiring to become the fifth team to win the competition in two consecutive editions. South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan have achieved this feat in the past.
Qatar go into the Asian Cup as hosts and holders but the shock axing of Carlos Queiroz as coach last month has thrown their title defence into serious question.
Prior to that, the talk was about how Qatar would right the wrongs of a disappointing early exit from their home World Cup just over a year ago. Qatar’s three straight defeats was the worst performance of any World Cup host in history.
Former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Queiroz took over following the departure of Felix Sanchez, but in early December the Portuguese was sacked and replaced by Marquez Lopez.
Marquez is a familiar face to Qatari fans because he coached Al Wakrah in the domestic league.