HomeSportsQatar Football Must Not Be Branded a Failure Said by Coach Sanchez

Qatar Football Must Not Be Branded a Failure Said by Coach Sanchez

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  • The hosts become the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup after losing their second match.
Qatar Football Must Not Be Branded a Failure Said by Coach Sanchez
Qatar Football Must Not Be Branded a Failure Said by Coach Sanchez (Image: Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera)

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said his team should not be called a “failure and disappointment” after losing their second group match against Senegal, a result that eliminated the World Cup hosts from the tournament.

After losing their first match to Ecuador, Qatar finally managed to score a goal in the tournament, but fell 3-1 to the African team, leaving them at the bottom of Group A without points.

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“I think we played a good game. When you come here you need to know where you come from [as a country]. Whether this is a failure and a disappointment depends on expectations” Sanchez told reporters on Saturday.

“Our goal was to be competitive… We have been working for so many months to be able to give a good performance. But sometimes the match doesn’t go as you expect. It also depends on the performance of the opponents. We don’t play at our highest level. We were competitive but we didn’t improve.”

Qatar fans celebrate after their team scored its first goal against Senegal, Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar
Qatar fans celebrate after their team scored its first goal against Senegal, Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar (Image: Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera)

“We are aware of how tough this competition is. We wanted to go far, but we know we had limitations as a country,” Sanchez added.

“It’s a small country, not a very large population. The local league is not very competitive. It’s our first time at the World Cup. If we can participate again, that would be great. It’s always helpful to get more experience.”

Asked if the team had reached the end of a cycle, Sanchez disagreed but admitted there could be changes when they defend their Asian Cup crown next year.

“We have some young players and more experienced players… Our goal is very clear, we will have a generational change. Some players will leave, some will come,” he said.

“We could have new players at the Asian Cup next year, some players can’t play at their best level for that long, but it’s not the end of a cycle.”

Sanchez added that the early start of the World Cup will not be fatal to the development of the country’s football.

“By doing that, we will gain more experience and be able to play in more competitions like this.”

Source: NEWS AGENCIES

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