Qatar

The hosts have not far to go now before the wait is finally over. The most recent few years have been spent trying to participate in as many international competitions as possible.

They have participated in the Copa America, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and even made an appearance during European qualification for the World Cup that will be held in Qatar. In addition, they have played a part in the qualification for the World Cup that will be held in Asia.

The fact that they were able to win the 2019 Asian Cup by such a large margin demonstrates that they have a lot of talent. It has not been possible to persuade any of those talents to play in Europe, and as a result, the entire team is currently situated in their native country. 

Coach Felix Sanchez, who began his career as a coach for Barcelona’s youth team, has been in place with the senior side since 2017 and has performed well enough. He could really make a name for himself if he does well this winter.

TACTICS

Qatar is a team that likes to attack, and you can see the influence of Spanish football in their style of play at both the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2021 Gold Cup. When defending, a 5-3-2 formation transitions fluidly into a 3-5-2 formation, and vice versa. The coaching has been excellent, and the team is well-organized and fluid.

Qatar has a wealth of attacking talent, but its defense has shown signs of weakness in the past. When the defenders are hesitant to step out of their positions, there are sometimes holes behind the midfield, which allows the opposition to frequently find opportunities. 

READY TO SHINE

Akram Afif

The winger will typically begin the game as one of the front two players, but he will be given the freedom and the license to wander in order to create and score goals.