Qatar’s Lopetegui Demands Full Commitment Ahead of World Cup Clash

As Qatar prepares to launch their campaign in the crucial stage of World Cup qualification, head coach Julen Lopetegui has urged his players to remain mentally resilient and give their utmost effort. The team faces Oman today in the opening match of the Group A play-off round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers. A win is essential for Qatar to maintain their hopes of participating in football’s biggest tournament.

Decisive Matches Ahead

The match will take place at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, with Qatar looking to secure a strong start in this pivotal round. Following today’s encounter, they will face the UAE on October 14, 2023. The top team from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will enter a two-legged play-off next month for a chance to reach the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

Qatar has yet to qualify for the World Cup through traditional means, having only participated as hosts in the 2022 tournament. Lopetegui, who took over coaching duties from Luis Garcia earlier this year, has seen mixed results with the team. He emphasized the importance of effort and mental strength as they pursue their World Cup dream.

“We are entering a decisive and pivotal phase with two crucial matches that require the highest levels of mental preparedness,” Lopetegui stated at a pre-match press conference. “Our goal is to achieve the dream of reaching the World Cup, which will only be possible through exerting our utmost effort.”

Squad Changes and Challenges

Lopetegui has made several changes to the squad since the last round, including the return of veteran forward Hassan Al Haydos, who came out of international retirement, and a call-up for midfielder Guilherme Torres. Despite these adjustments, the team has struggled to find consistency, losing to Lebanon (1-0) and Russia (4-1) in recent friendlies, alongside a 2-2 draw against Bahrain.

Qatar also missed their top scorer Almoez Ali due to injury, adding to the uncertainty regarding their final lineup for today’s match. Lopetegui noted that they will assess player readiness before making their final decisions.

“We have many different situations, and we must wait until tomorrow to determine the full readiness of the players before selecting the ideal lineup for the first match,” he said.

Oman, coached by veteran Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, presents a formidable challenge. Lopetegui acknowledged their strengths, highlighting the respect he has for Queiroz’s leadership.

Support from Fans

Defender Boualem Khoukhi expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform against Oman, emphasizing the importance of fan support. “We are ready for the match, which will not be easy. The players’ morale is high, and we seek to appear highly focused to achieve victory,” he commented.

Khoukhi believes that the presence of fans will be a significant motivator for the team. “The ball is in the players’ court, and we are expecting a large turnout from our fans. God willing, we will not disappoint,” he added.

In an intriguing development, veteran striker Sebastian Soria, 41, trained with the national team recently, hinting at a potential surprise return after eight years away from international duty.

The match is set to kick off at 18:00 local time. With high stakes and strong emotions, Qatar is poised to give their all as they strive to keep their World Cup dreams alive.