DOHA: Qatar will be playing to win the 2013 Gulf Cup title, coach Paulo Autuori (pictured) said yesterday.
Coach Autuori will lead the Qatar squad that will head for Bahrain after their friendly against Egypt on December 28.
Qatar are one of eight sides competing for the Gulf Cup title.
The Gulf Cup will be played in Bahrain from January 5 to 18.
“We will be playing to win. If we win, that will help improve the players’ confidence going into the remaining (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers in 2013,” Autuori said during a press conference.
“It is good that we are playing such a high-level of tournament,” the Brazilian added.
“We have injury concerns but at the same time, we have quality playersas back-up,” he said. “The confidence in the camp is very good,” the coach added.
“I will try to find solutions and alternatives for players who are injured and we will not cry or complain if things go wrong,” Autuori said.
The coach said that the team is ready for the Egypt friendly.
“It is an important match for us as we are heading into a very important event (the Gulf Cup). This match (at Al Gharafa Stadium) will help us settle down on combinations and tactics,” he said without elaborating.
Autuori declined to comment on remarks made by Bahrain coach that ‘Qatar were favourites for the Gulf Cup title’.
When asked about the first match against the UAE in Bahrain, Autuori said: “I know the UAE side. They have young and experienced players. They have a good coach. They play good football. It will be an interesting game.”
Meanwhile, the Egypt national football team landed in Doha yesterday.
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) management headed by Saud Al Muhannadi received the side at the airport.
Egypt are coached by Bob Bradley, the former US manager.
The match will be played at Al Gharafa Stadium with kick-off time fixed for 7:30pm.
Al Muhannadi said: “This is an important match considering Qatar are preparing for the Gulf Cup. I am sure we will see an explosive match with excitement. Both teams are very talented.”
He added: “We are playing Egypt after a long gap and I am sure we will see a quality game.”
The eight-side Gulf Cup is the region’s premier national team event.
It will be the the 21st edition of the competition. Kuwait are the current holders.
Qatar have already announced a batch of 35 players that will be trimmed closer to the event in Bahrain.
Coach: Paulo Autuori
Squad: Ahmed Sufian, Khaled Abdul Rauf, Majed Mohammed, Mohammed Abdul Muttalib, Marcone, Jarallah Al Marri, Hamid Ismail, Abdul Karim Salim Ali, Fabio Cesar, Younis Ibrahim, Majid Mahdi, Mohammed Kasola, Yusuf Ahmed, Abdul Karim Hassan, Wisam Rizq, Talal Al Balushi, Khalfan Ibrahim, Massad Hamad, Hassan Al Haydos, Bilal Mohammed, Ibrahim Al Ghanim, Qassem Burhan, Lawrence Quaye, Sebastian Soria, Ali Afifa, Hussein Ali, Baba Mallick, Adel Lamy, Khalid Muftah (Lekhwiya) Rajab Hamza, Abdul Aziz Hatem, Khaled Saleh, Mohammed Razaq and Musa Alalaq.
THE PENINSULA
