Qatar's Edmilson Junior (left), Homam Al Amin (centre) and Jassim Jaber warm up ahead of match against Switzerland.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar are gearing up for their crucial Group B clash against co-hosts Canada with renewed belief after a gallant performance against Switzerland that earned them their first-ever World Cup point.
Al Annabi head into the contest brimming with confidence after their 1-1 draw in their opening match against group favourites Switzerland following a late equaliser.
They now face Canada in Vancouver on Friday (1am Qatar time).
As the two-time Asian champions prepare for the match, head coach Julen Lopetegui and his staff are working on the shortcomings exposed in the opening game with an aim of delivering a better performance.
Qatar’s determination was rewarded in remarkable fashion against Switzerland on Saturday. Deep into stoppage time, Homam Al Amin delivered a dangerous cross into the area where Boualem Khoukhi challenged Switzerland’s Miro Muheim in the air. Khoukhi’s header took a telling touch off Muheim before wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net, cancelling out Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty.
The equaliser sparked emotional celebrations among the Qatar players, who had spent long periods of the match resisting relentless Swiss attacks through disciplined and committed defending.
Khoukhi said the late goal reflected the team’s belief and refusal to surrender.
“We believed in ourselves until the last moment. We played a great match, and getting a point is much better than losing, especially since the opponent is a team of Switzerland’s calibre,” the seasoned defender told media on the sidelines of team’s training session.
“I am certainly very happy after leaving the match with a point, and we want to continue in the same way in the upcoming matches.
“We took a lot of risks in the last minutes, and we had to do that because we were behind in the score.
“A draw is better than a loss, and we have two very difficult matches ahead of us against Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and InshaAllah, we will be better than in the first match.”
Forward Edmilson Junior echoed the same sense of belief inside the camp, saying the result has given Qatar the confidence needed to push for an historic breakthrough.
“The point we earned against Switzerland feels like a victory, especially since the equaliser came in a fantastic way in the final moments against a strong team with a great reputation in Europe,” he said.
“I think Switzerland is the best team in our group, so coming away with a point and avoiding defeat will give us a lot of confidence before our next match in the World Cup.
He added that the squad was encouraged by the support from fans and determined to build on the draw in the upcoming matches.
“We are happy with the fans who came to support us. There were a large number of them, and this is important for us. The fans’ support will benefit us greatly in the upcoming matches.
“We are here to give our all. We will play each match without looking at the others, and we will fight to avoid defeat. Participating in the World Cup is a dream, and we will do our best despite the difficult weather conditions and high temperatures.”
Canada, however, present another stern examination. The co-hosts also celebrated a historic milestone after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, earning their first-ever point at a World Cup after losing all six matches in their previous appearances in 1986 and 2022.
Led by American coach Jesse Marsch, Canada boast considerable quality through Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies and Juventus forward Jonathan David.
Lopetegui expects an even tougher task against the home side.
“The next match will be the most difficult because it is against Canada, one of the host countries, and they will be playing in front of their fans,” the Spaniard said.
All four teams in Group B have one point apiece, with Switzerland set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles on Thursday.
