Confident Qatar eye Iran scalp in Road to 26

Asian champions Qatar will be looking for their second successive win in their journey to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face continental giants Iran in Dubai today.
Last week, coach Marquez Lopez's side comfortably beat Kyrgyzstan 3-1 in what was the first win for two-time Asian champions after a loss against the UAE which followed a draw with DPR Korea last month.
Coach Lopez yesterday said in Dubai that his squad remains upbeat ahead of their game against Iran, coached by Amir Ghalenoei.
"Our victory over Kyrgyzstan (last Thursday) was a great moral boost for the entire squad. We are confident that we can build on it and continue in the same aggressive manner to gain more points," Lopez said yesterday during a pre-match news conference.
"We know very well the strength of the Iranian team and yes, we have a difficult match ahead of us but we have prepared well. We can contain the threat their players present. Let me tell you we have developed a strategy that will boost our game," the Spaniard added.
Qatar defender Tariq Salman said yesterday: "We are excited about the match against the Iranian team. This match undoubtedly seems very difficult, but everyone on our side is ready to go after a winning result. Our victory in the last game gave us great confidence and now we have the ability to get another win."
Lopez will be hoping to see another effective performance from key defender Abdelkarim Hassan who was recalled to the national set-up after almost two years in the wilderness. Against Kyrgyzstan, Hassan was the platform that allowed Qatar to have experience at the back and threatening runs from either of the two flanks.
Almoez Ali, Qatar's chief striker, opened the scoring in the 3-1 win against Kyrgyzstan with a slick finish in the 39th minute. With the ever reliable Akram Afif set to start the game today and new legs in Edmilson Jr also available, Almoez can bring much needed teeth in the front of the Iranian goalmouth.
Iran coach Ghalenoei admitted Qatar could present a danger to his side today.
"Qatar play football with a plan and they are dangerous. A few months ago, we played in the Asian Cup (semi-finals)], which we lost. But this game has its own conditions and it is very different from that match," Ghalenoei said yesterday.

"Football is for enjoyment and we must try to win a good game to make the fans happy. We are not looking for revenge, because football is not a place to take revenge, but we want to win to make our fans happy. We respect the good team of Qatar. They have shown that football is progressing in Asia," he added.
"If we win this important game, we will have gone more than 50% of our qualifying journey and this is what we are looking for," the coach said.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand said yesterday: "We knew we could have advanced comfortably by winning against two toughest teams in the group – Uzbekistan and Qatar. Unfortunately, in the first game against Uzbekistan, despite the fact that we played well, the game ended with a goalless draw. Now we are ready to compete with Qatar and I hope we can get a good result."
The match kicks off at Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai at 7pm Qatar time.
Key Points
** Qatar and Iran are set for a blockbuster clash when they meet in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 today.

** Iran lead the standings together with Uzbekistan while a win for Qatar will see the two-time AFC Asian Cup™ champions drawing level with today's opponents.

** Iran had to be satisfied with a draw against Uzbekistan on Thursday and will know that they can't afford to drop points against Qatar.

** Particularly concerning for head coach Amir Ghalenoei will be the fact that goals have been hard to come by, with Iran only having found the back of the net twice in three matches.

** Thursday's 3-1 win against Kyrgyz Republic was Qatar's first triumph of their campaign and head coach Marquez Lopez will be hoping the victory was the booster his side needed in their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals on merit for the first time.

** The West Asian side will go into the tie with the psychological advantage of having defeated Iran 3-2 in thrilling AFC Asian Cup semi-final in February.
ENDS