DOHA: Qatar’s key striker Hassan Al Haydos said yesterday his team was prepared to face the next stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers though admitting the coming games won’t be any easier than the first phase.
Qatar are top of Group C, Asian Zone qualifiers, remaining unbeaten in six games under coach Daniel Carreno.
Second-placed Hong Kong visit Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on March 24 for their last Group C clash against Carreno’s Qatar.
Four days later, Qatar fly out to China where they will play their last qualifying clash of this phase.
“Our team has been through a very difficult phase in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches,” Al Haydos said yesterday.
“All the teams who appear in any qualifying campaign have the potential to move ahead. However, regardless of who we face, we know we will face a difficult task,” Al Haydos said in an interview.
“It is a difficult task but not impossible for Qatar,” the Al Sadd stalwart added.
“We can achieve the dream of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time,” Al Haydos said. “Our team includes a group of players that is mix of young and experience. We have a good coach in Daniel Carreno. Our management provides us all that we need to remain fit and march on in our campaign,” Al Haydos said.
“I think all the players keep thinking about qualifying to reach the World Cup finals,” he said.
“That’s a great motivation to do well. We must do well because we are the hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” the key Qatari striker added.
Qatar has already qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup to be held in the UAE and it has reached the third and final round of the qualification that potentially lead to the 2019 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Meanwhile, coach Carreno named his squad for Qatar’s next two games.
Carreno has included Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria in his squad for games against Hong Kong and China PR.The Peninsula
