Qatar【Qatar World Cup:Full Explanation】

All 32 teams participating in the World Cup in Qatar are introduced.

This time, it will be the Qatar national team from Group A of the Asian representatives, who will carry the prestige of their homeland and host nation in their first appearance in the World Cup after winning the Asian Cup in 2019.

Basic Information
Manager
Basic Formation & Tactics
Star players（Top three）
Players List

Basic Information

Our national team players sent a solidarity message to Indonesians following the stadium disaster 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Sn6oWuWLKg
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) October 2, 2022

Number of appearances	Debut
Highest Achievement	None
FIFA Ranking	50th
Capital city	Doha
Population	2.8 million
Manager	Félix Sánchez Bas
Nickname	Al-Annabi (The Maroons)

＜Results of last 6 games＞

8/21	Test match	MoroccoA	△	2-2	H
8/24	Test match	Ghana A	〇	2-1	H
8/27	Test match	Jamaica	△	1-1	H
9/21	Test match	Croatia U-23	●	0-3	H
9/24	Test match	Canada	●	0-2	N
9/28	Test match	Chile	△	2-2	N

＜Overview＞

・Taking advantage of the abundant financial resources available only in the Middle East, a national-scale development institution called the Aspire Academy was established to consistently strengthen the team from the under-category onward. The academy is coached by Felix Sanchez, who has experience in training players in the Barcelona cantera, and has instilled in them the skills and tactical awareness required by international standards. The result of these efforts is the 2019 Asian Cup victory.

・With many countries playing in the World Cup qualifying rounds, the combination of the exemption from the qualifying rounds and the Corona Vortex has made it a struggle to improve and strengthen team perfection. However, the fact that this tournament will be held in the middle of the season will work to the advantage of each country, allowing them to have more time to prepare for the tournament in the short time available.

・The qualifying group includes European powerhouse Netherlands, Africa Cup of Nations winner Senegal, and South American side Ecuador. Although these opponents are not easy to beat, they will be aiming to advance past the group stage by making the most of the advantage of being the host nation.

＜Group Stage Schedule 【Group A】＞

	Match day	Local game start time	opponent	Total match record
Section 1	November 21	19：00	Ecuador （44th）	1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss
Section 2	November 25	16：00	Senegal （18th）	None
Section 3	November 29	18：00	Netherlands （8th）	None

Manager

"Perfect practice, rather than 'talent', makes the ultimate difference."

Fèlix Sánchez, a former coach at Barça's youth academy, left Barca in 2006 to be part of a new Qatari academy (U15s, U17s, U19s, U23s & first team).

13 years later, he led Qatar to the Asian Cup glory. pic.twitter.com/umI9lLbhbq
— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) February 4, 2019

（Name）	Félix Sánchez Bas
（Date of birth）	December 13, 1975（46）
（nationality）	Spain
（inauguration）	Jul. 2017

・He coached in the Barcelona cantera in his 20s, and his experience was bought into the Aspire Academy in 2006. He has been in charge since the U-19s in preparation for his country’s hosting of the World Cup, and has strengthened the team over the long term while instilling Spanish-style tactics.

・The team defeated Japan in the final in 2019 to win the Asian Cup and bring Qatar its first major title.

・In addition to his tactical vision, he is well-liked.

Basic Formation & Tactics

The three midfielders and the WB are free to move around. Variable units and “flying” tools.

＜At Attack＞

・Qatar’s strength is its ability to observe the opponent’s defensive formation and change the way it builds its attack. Al-Haydos may fall into the anchor position, or one of the IHs may join the front line.

・The three backs are carefully built up based on the three backs, with the keeper added, and the starting point is the wingback who takes a high position on the ball side via the volantis. However, the opposite WB drops down to a real SB position and balances.

・ Depending on the flow of the game, when a side change is made, the opposite WB goes up to receive the ball. There is a variable possibility that Afif will join the second row, with WB Ahmed and midfielder Al-Haydos moving up front instead.

・CB Khoukhi overlapped with the second row as a “flying” tools” and was involved in chance creation and finishing.

＜At Defense＞

・In the attack to defense phase, the team presses quickly, but it depends on the situation whether to recover or delay the opponent, and the volantis returns to the team with a moderate balance as the WB takes a high position.

・High up, they will play three backs, but in their own position, they will play five backs, in which case the top player, Al-Haydos, will take the same position as the ball carrier and participate in the defense.

・Sometimes Afif is absorbed into the second row to form a [5-4-1], in which the ball side players of the five-back move forward to crush the ball holder together with the balanchi, while the remaining players in the line close the distance.

Star players（Top three）

Hassan AL-HAYDOS （MF/Al-Sadd）

・”Control tower”

・He is an absolute attacker who leads the attack with his brilliant ball handling and high attacking sense. He can not only provide the best last pass from a sharp breakthrough, but also score a goal by himself.

・Formerly a right wing player, he is now a top player in the national team and activates the powerful top two.

Saad AL-SHEEB （GK/Al-Sadd）

・”guardian deity”

・He has a steel mentality and makes numerous good saves with his precise positioning and calm response in tough situations. He also participates in the build-up and covers extensively behind the DF line.

・At the 2019 Asian Cup, he was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper after conceding just one goal in seven games.

Akram AFIF （FW/Al-Sadd）

・”Qatar’s ace striker”

・He uses his speed to dribble through the opposition and makes the difference with a surprise last pass. He can also threaten the goal with a strong mid-range shot with a compact swing.

・The top two pairing with Ali will be a threat both individually and in coordination against the world’s best.

Players List

＜GK＞

Name	Age	Club team	Representative Results (Goals)
Saad AL-SHEEB	32	Al-Sadd	79 caps	・Best goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2019 Asian Cup.
Meshaal BARSHAM	24	Al-Sadd	14 caps	・Competing with his colleague Al-Sheeb for the guardian’s position at Al-Sadh.
Yousef Hassan	26	Al-Gharafa	9 caps	・High saving ability against shots from close range is attractive

＜DF＞

Boualem KHOUKHI	32	Al-Sadd	99 caps(21)	・Leader of DF ・Characteristics are attacking uphill from the last line and mid-range shots.
RO-RO	32	Al-Sadd	78 caps(1)	・Utility that can play DF anywhere.
Tarek Salman	24	Al-Sadd	54 caps	・Offense and defense with defensive sense and ball skills.
Bassam Al-Rawi	24	Al Duhail	51 caps(2)	・Leading three backs with reading and decisiveness
Salem AL-HAJRI	26	Al-Sadd	23 caps	・Graduated from Aspire Academy ・Crush the opponent with high-intensity defense ・Play volunteers and CBs
Ahmed SUHAIL	23	Al-Sadd	2 caps	・CB with blessed physicality and bravery ・Has a father who was a former Iraq national team goalkeeper
Jassem Gaber	20	Al-Arabi	0	・Young talent with a reputation for defense ・By handling passes, it brings fluidity to the assembly of attacks.
Abdelkarim Hassan	29	Al-Sadd	121 caps	・It is strong in aerial battles, and if you give it space in front of you, it will show a dynamic attack. ・Has experience playing in the Belgian first division
Musab Khoder	29	Al-Sadd	29 caps	・Active participation in attacks from the sid
Sultan AL-BRAKE	26	Al Duhail	4caps	・Left foot and offensive ability are his strong points.

＜MF＞

Hasan Al-Haydos	31	Al-Sadd	163 caps(33)	・Qatar’s highest number of caps in its history
Karim Boudiaf	32	Al Duhail	108 caps(5)	・Ball handling to be the starting point for side changes
Abdulaziz Hatem	32	Al-Rayyan	97 caps(11)	・ Mental support that shines on both offense and defense ・ Hides the ability to score
Ismaeel Mohammed	32	Al Duhail	66 caps(4)	・Watch for accurate crosses and inside-flowing tricks.
Assim Madibo	26	Al Duhail	43 caps	・“Qatar’s Kante,” whose weapon is small but powerful in capturing the ball ・From Auxerre, a prestigious French training school.
Abdullah AL-ahrak	25	Al Duhail	28 caps(1)	・Has been a member of Real Madrid’s cantera
Homam Ahmed	23	Al-Gharafa	25 caps(2)	・Good quality crosses and mid-shots are attractive.
Mohammed Waad	23	Al-Sadd	18 caps	・Weapons are accurate passes and powerful mid-range shots fired from the left foot. ・Show your strength in a duel
Ali Asad	29	Al-Sadd	56 caps(12)	・Crosses and through passes from both feet

＜FW＞

Akram Afif	26	Al-Sadd	83 caps(24)	・First Qatari to play in Spain
Almoez Ali	26	Al Duhail	74 caps(39)	・Qatar’s fateful goal machine ・Score the first goal against Japan in the 2019 Asian Cup Final
Ahmed Alaaeldin	29	Al-Gharafa	45 caps(1)	・Egyptian Attacker ・Making a difference by leveraging high physical ability
Mohammed Muntari	28	Al Duhail	45 caps(12)	・Head with his height is a threat.
Abdelrahman Moustafa	25	Al Duhail	4 caps	・A sharp cut-in for the goal
Khalid Muneer	24	Al-Wakrah	2 caps	・An up-and-coming wing that creates chances from the left side with a sharp dribble ・Director’s favorite pupil
Abdulrasheed Umaru	23	Al Ahli Doha	0 caps	・Moves widely up front to score.