Qatar’s coach Daniel Carreno (centre) oversees team’s training session in Doha, yesterday. The Maroons are preparing for the FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bhutan to be played on Thursday in Doha.
DOHA: With coach Daniel Carreno heading the proceedings, Qatar football players hit the training pitch yesterday ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bhutan on Thursday.
With just two days to go before the Group C qualifying game at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Qatar players underwent intense fitness drills before taking part in practice sessions at Aspire Academy yesterday.
Yesterday’s training session was the second day of drills after Qatar thrashed Singapore 4-0 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in a friendly.
Qatar squad, being coached by Carreno since May this year, spent two weeks in Europe where they trained in Switzerland and Austria.
Qatar scraped past Maldives 1-0 with a late goal in June to register their first win in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Soon after playing their game at air-conditioned Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on September 4, Carreno-coached Qatar will fly out to Hong Kong for their third qualifying game at Mongkok Stadium on September 8.
Exactly a month later, Qatar will prepare to host China for their third 2018 World Cup qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on October 8. Maldives will also visit Doha in the same week for their return clash on October 13 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Qatar’s iconic football venue. A little over a month later, Bhutan will welcome Qatar for their home game on November 17 at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
The game against Bhutan in November this year will be followed by a gap of four months.
In March 2016, Qatar will welcome Hong Kong for the return game between the two teams.
The game will be played on March 24 at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
Five days later, Qatar will visit hosts China for their return game on March 29 at Shanxi Stadium, Xi’an.
THE PENINSULA
