Qatar to rely on good form, ‘fast players’ vs Uzbekistan

Coach Marquez Lopez on Friday said defending champions Qatar will be looking to play an attacking game against Central Asian giants Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Saturday.
Under Marquez, Qatar are on a four-match unbeaten streak that has taken the 2019 champions into the quarter-finals against a side that beat Thailand 2-1 in the Round of 16 clash three days ago.
Qatar’s chief striker Akram Afif has scored four goals in as many matches while his captain Hasan al-Haydos has netted two to inspire confidence in coach Lopez going into Saturday’s clash at Al Bayt Stadium. Al Annabi have scored wins against Lebanon, China, Tajikistan and Palestine.
“We have talented players and we have fast players, possibly the fastest players in the competition,” Lopez warned at a pre-match news conference on Friday.
“The quality of the players and the performance of the team mean we have made it to the quarter-final,” Lopez, who is less than two months into his Qatar job, added.
The 59-year-old Spaniard quickly said he expects a physical clash between the two sides.
“This is going to be a very physical game,” Lopez said. “I know the players of the Uzbekistan team very well as I previously faced some of their players in the AFC Champions League matches when I was coach of Al Wakrah,” he added.
“I am well aware of the quality of these players and their skills. The most important thing is that we will focus on our strengths and try to win the match,” he added.
“The Uzbek players have skill, quality and speed, and like I said it will be a physical match. But my players are physically prepared, especially since I rotated them during the group stage in order to give everyone the opportunity to play and compete in the tournament,” he said.
“We have reached what we are looking for, we’re in the quarter-finals and if anyone thinks we can’t make it to the final that is up to them,” the Spaniard said.
“There’s no negative pressure on the players, they are well motivated. They want to win. There’s going to be positive pressure for us to achieve in this very difficult game,” he said.
Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec also sounded confident going into the last-eight clash. The Central Asians are looking to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2011 edition also held in Qatar.
Thirteen years ago, Uzbekistan beat Qatar in the opening game of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup before being knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals.
“My job is to prepare the team as best I can. We are together for two-and-a-half years and if they don’t know how to play now it will be wrong, but I’m confident they know. They know we have to be organised,” Katanec, who is from Slovenia, said on Friday.
“All coaches are smarter when we win, but we depend on the players, on their qualities and the game tomorrow is starting from 6:30 for two hours and they have to be in good shape.
“We have reached a nice position, we didn’t lose, we have conceded less goals so they have to worry, like we have to be worried.
“When we started this Asian Cup I said I know the situation, that we go game by game,” Katanec said. “Tomorrow is another game. We did well, but it was what it was, so we will try to do our best.
“We are good. I have a nice group of players. They have to be confident, we reached (the quarter-finals) and tomorrow, it’s the game. So go ahead. We have nothing to lose, give everything and I’ll be satisfied with the team,” the 60-year-old added.