Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui (left) and Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada speak during a press conference ahead of their Gulf Cup opener against defending champions Bahrain in Jeddah yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: “The World Cup is in the past. We are starting a new story.”
That was coach Julen Lopetegui’s message yesterday as Qatar prepare to begin their first competitive assignment since the World Cup, facing defending champions Bahrain in their opening Group B match in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah tonight.
Kick-off is at 9pm, with the UAE taking on Yemen in the other Group B match at 6:55pm.
For Lopetegui, the Gulf Cup is the first chapter of that new story. The Spanish coach, who retained his position after Qatar’s World Cup campaign, has kept the core of the squad that featured in Qatar’s first appearance at the tournament through traditional qualifying route.
Of the 26 players selected for Khaleeji 27, only three changes have been made to the World Cup group. Al Sadd defender Tarek Salman returns, while Hashim Ali and Naif Al Hadrami have been brought back after two years away from the national team. Al Hashemi Al Hussein, Lucas Mendes and Mohammed Muntari are the omissions.
Hassan Al Haydos remains available after reversing his international retirement, while Akram Afif and Almoez Ali continue to lead the attack.
Qatar’s World Cup ended with defeats to Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, which gave them their first point at the finals.
But Lopetegui is not looking back.
“The Gulf Cup is an important tournament with a special significance for the people of the region. We have prepared well and are ready to compete,” he said.
Qatar face the defending champions in a fixture that has been closely contested in recent years. Bahrain have won two of the teams’ last four meetings, Qatar one, while the other ended in a draw.
“History stays in history. We are in the present and want to change these numbers,” Lopetegui said.
Bahrain, who lifted the title in Kuwait in the previous edition, will provide an immediate test. Lopetegui acknowledged the quality of Dragan Talajic’s side, saying: “They have good quality and a lot of strength. We know that, and that is why we are here to do our best.”
Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada expects another fiercely contested Gulf Cup.
“This edition is expected to witness strong competition,” Abunada said.
“We want to go as far as possible in the tournament, but we will take the matches step by step and focus on ourselves.”
Bahrain, meanwhile, are determined to make a strong start to their title defence.
Sayed Dhiya Saeed said defending champions Bahrain must raise their level.
“In the last edition, we won the title after strong competition. Now we have to produce an even better level because defending the championship requires double the effort from everyone,” he said.
Qatar's Hassan Al Haydos (right) and Yusuf Abdurisag attend a training session.
Talajic also knows what awaits his side.
“This tournament is the World Cup for the Gulf countries. We are playing against our brothers, and it is a very difficult tournament,” he said.
Qatar’s immediate focus is the Gulf Cup, with Lopetegui making it clear that the Asian Cup can wait. Qatar will travel to Saudi Arabia again for the AFC Asian Cup from January 7 to February 5 next year, where they will bid for a third successive continental title.
The Gulf Cup, one of the region’s oldest football competitions, has been dominated by Kuwait with 10 titles. Iraq have won it four times, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia have three titles each. Oman, the UAE and Bahrain have two apiece, with Yemen yet to lift the trophy.
Saudi Arabia edge Kuwait
In Group A yesterday, hosts Saudi Arabia edged Kuwait 1-0 in their opening match.
An own goal by Yousef Al Haqan in the 73rd minute was enough to give the home side all three points.
Iraq and Oman opened the Gulf Cup with a 1-1 draw, with Mohammed Qasim putting Iraq ahead before Nasser Al-Rawahi equalised for Oman.
