ABU DHABI • Coming from nowhere to win the Asian Cup is just part of Qatar's long road to their home World Cup in 2022.
Felix Sanchez's team are keeping their expectations in check for the Copa America, the South American championship where they are guests along with Japan beginning in June, despite snatching the Asian title as a lowly world No. 93 side.
But it is hard to overstate their feat - from zero points in Australia 2015 to their first continental title in record-breaking style.
It also means that resource-rich Qatar are finally making headlines for the right reasons after the turbulence that surrounded their successful bid to host world football's showpiece.
Almoez Ali's bicycle-kick opener epitomised a stylish triumph, 3-1 over Japan in the final, as he broke Ali Daei's 23-year-old mark for goals at a single Cup.
"I'm sorry for breaking Mr Daei's record," a humble Ali said after scoring his ninth of the Cup.
"I expected to score goals, maybe three or four, but I didn't expect to score nine."
Fittingly for a team who have punched above their weight, Akram Afif struck a boxing-style pose as he celebrated the late penalty to end Japan's resistance, after they briefly threatened a comeback when 2-1 down.
Qatar conceded just one goal all tournament and scored 19, winning all seven games and beating other former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea.
They also thrived in a hostile environment in the United Arab Emirates owing to the ongoing Gulf blockade, with their fans largely barred from visiting and home spectators pelting them with shoes and bottles in the semi-finals.
The title raised the beguiling possibility of Qatar being crowned champions of both Asia and South America, although they will first have to get out of a group comprising Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay.
But Ali said the Copa is about continuing the methodical approach that has already paid dividends.
"We're not expecting to win, but just to learn - because, after the World Cup, the Copa is the biggest competition in the world," he said.
"Asia is the weakest continent for football so, in the Copa America, we will learn more. This will help us have a better performance in 2022."
After spending many millions of petrodollars on their world-class Aspire Academy, and scouring the world for top coaches, Qatar are beginning to recoup their investment. Head coach Sanchez led Qatar to their first Asian Under-19 title in 2014 and they reached the U-23 semi-finals last year, when Ali was also top scorer.
Afif chalked up a tournament-record 10 assists and formed a devastating partnership with Ali, underlining Qatar's cohesion in both defence and attack after years spent playing together.
"We've been together seven years so I know exactly where Akram will be, where he will pass and he always knows what to expect from me," Ali said. "We get along very well together too."
Qatar's win sparked jubilant scenes back home but, for the team, bigger goals now lie ahead.
"This is one step more to continue developing the team, to play another tournament in the summer and to be ready in 2022 to represent Qatar," Sanchez said.
For Japan, captain Maya Yoshida was aggrieved about Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov's decision to award a penalty for handball against him after a video review.
"That third goal was really tough to accept," he said. "It killed the game. If that's a penalty, I probably have to jump without using my arms. It was accidental but that was the referee's decision."
He added: "But they played well and deserve to be champions.
"No excuses, we move on."
The Samurai Blue are grouped with Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador for the Copa. But he hopes the setback will help them make a breakthrough beyond the last 16 at the World Cup.
He said: "Our first target is, of course, to qualify and then get over the wall at which we were stopped last time, the round of 16. That is an objective for Japanese football."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Virgil van Dijk says fans can boo him all they want as the Liverpool and Holland defender does not care a jot.. The PFA Player of the Year won the Champions League at the start of the month but was unable to follow it up with further silverware in the Nations League.
Carra puts Messi ahead of Van Dijk in Ballon d'Or race
Spurs need to 'believe' "We need to assess Dele in the next few days, but the hamstring is a muscle that you need to be careful with - in terms of the mechanism of the injury," he said.
Heel Spurs: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
Aussie horror show as Jordan stun Asian Cup champions. Bani-Yaseen's powerful header seals issue for the underdogs. Defending champions Australia made their worst ever start to an Asian Cup
Asian Cup: Jordan stuns defending champ Australia in 1-0 win
Solari believes in VAR as Real claim slim win at Ajax
While participation by girls in sports has increased at all levels (Olympic, professional, college and high school, and youth) and society is more accepting than ever of female athleticism, the fact that girls continue to drop out of sports at six times the rate of boys is an indication that we still have a long way to go as a society in reaching the goal of gender equality in sports.
PDF Adult participation in sport: analysis of the Taking Part Survey
Liverpool will be without forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino when they face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final as they look to overturn a 3-0 deficit, Manager
Liverpool's Salah, Firmino ruled out of Barcelona game
MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday (Feb 3) and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over Arsenal
Sports Direct annual profits fall 59% as weak pound takes its toll The high street retailer controlled by Mike Ashley reports a big drop in annual earnings after a costly hit from the weak pound
What is on Eleven Sports UK, how much does it cost, what
Football: Man City end Newport's FA Cup dream to reach
LIVERPOOL manager Juergen Klopp says his team have shown they are mentally equipped to handle a title run-in, having acquitted themselves well in high-pressure situations over the past few years. Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling under pressure | New Straits Times | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News
Reds can deal with defeat well: Klopp, Football News & Top
Living abroad opens your eyes to other ways of life that you didn't know or have had the chance to appreciate before traveling. By learning about other cultures and appreciating them in the process, you will have a greater understanding of other peoples' points of view.
Do I take the leap and work overseas? UK advice wanted
And once again, it was Saleh who tormented the Lions when he calmly stroked home the winning kick. Still, the Lions, under caretaker coach Nazri Nasir, bowed out with their heads held high as the team tried to take the game to the pacy and technically superior Omanis.
'Give Nazri Nasir the Lions job full-time' - SPORTS247.MY
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their third goal. Juan Medina, Reuters MADRID -- Karim Benzema stopped Real Madrid's underwhelming La Liga season going from bad to worse on Sunday after firing a last-minute winner to hand the European champions a barely-deserved 3-2 winner over bottom club Huesca.
Karim Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca
Find Live Cricket Scores, Match updates, Fixtures, Results, News, Articles, Video highlights only at ESPNcricinfo. Read Ball by Ball Commentary, Series schedule of all ICC International & Domestic
Boy catches angry 10ft snake with bare hands in Indonesia
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming live
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming online
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer live stream links
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch live soccer game today
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch champions league live streaming juventus
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
super soccer tv live streaming persib
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch usa soccer live stream
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch english premier league live streaming hd
#fut #Celtic #zidane #JUVENTUS #oasisandbeatles #oasisofficial #transfernews #adidasslipon #myfootballuniverse #satira #realmadrid #petercrouch #henderson #winner #liverpoolcity #lionelmessi #girlsniteout #Fcb #gym #conference #fcbarcelona #golf #knuckleball #hoffenhiem #Liverpool #mancity #kroenkeout #Liamgallagher #MSport #panini #football #sumbertv #kopisusu #zinedinezidane #GarageCafeDxb #gunners #alissonbecker #coffeebreak #gooners #4Series #leicestercity #liverpoolfc #serieatim #klopp #ronaldo #nutmeg #liverpool #roadtrip #beatifulgame #visubal #bayernmunich #salah #vandijk #ignoranza #valcea #bundesliga #oasis #footballdubai #mancityvsliverpool #jadwalbolahariini #seriea #football #trollfootball #firmino #risate #soccerbible #chocolate #thebeatles #comico #frasitrap #livesports #freekick #BMW #footballstreaming #cappucino #realmadrid #liverpoolfans #freekicks #streamingbolaid #watchlive #americanfootball #england #manchestercity
0 Comments