BHUTAN: Qatar squad yesterday landed here in Bhutan for this week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup joint qualifying match.
The Qatar squad - headed by coach Daniel Carreno - will hit the training pitch today at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, team officials said yesterday.
Qatar, who crushed Bhutan 15-0 in their opening leg, are leading Group C with 15 points following five successive wins in the qualifying campaign.
Also known as Al Anabi, Qatar will be hoping to forget their 2-1 loss to Turkey in Doha on Friday.
“We were facing a strong Turkey side yet we managed to show character” Carreno said moments before flying for Bhutan.
“It was a good opportunity for us to prepare ahead of our game against Bhutan,” he added.
“We were not so strong in the first half,” Carreno said. “But we managed to recover quickly in the second half though we wasted some chances to score,” he added.
“We could have scored twice in the second half for sure but we could not,” Carreno said.
“The Turkish side showed great character and their goalkeeper was the standout force in this game,” he said. “We tried to get the equaliser but I guess in the end it was fair result,” Carreno said. “My players tried their best on the pitch though. It was a tough game,” he said. “We missed Mohammed Kasola. This was the first game for Magid Ibrahim who needs more match practice,” he said.
“Thankfully, we don’t have any major injury concerns going into the clash against Bhutan,” Carreno said. “We will be ready on game day,” he said.
“My message to the players is that they have to ready for any situation. They have to keep fighting,” Carreno said when reminded that Qatar had it easy against Bhutan in the opening leg.
THE PENINSULA
