HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND: Qatar won't be lacking in effort and commitment
as they try to grab the slim chance the Group C side has of advancing
at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, team manager Abdullah Hanzab said on
Thursday.
On Wednesday, Portugal beat Qatar 4-0 to qualify for the next round,
leaving the Gulf side in a must-win situation going into the last
group clash against Senegal on Saturday.
"That game is our last hope to move forward. We have to win in order
to move ahead and qualify for the next stage," Hanzab said on
Thursday.
"We will give all we have in the last game. Our boys are professional.
We know they feel the loss. They feel responsible for the loss. But we
have great confidence in them," he added.
"I know they will give their best. They will play well again," Hanzab added.
Hanzab said pelting rain did not help matters in a game played against
a top side on Wednesday night.
"Obviously we are not happy with the result against Portugal. This was
was our second game which was lost for a few reasons," Hanzab said.
"You could say it was not our day on the pitch. We were up against a
quality side and our players did not show the level that was
required," he added.
"We were facing one of the best sides in Europe, the favourites to win
this tournament.
"I would also say the playing conditions were pretty extreme. There
was unbelievable rain when the teams played the match," Hanzab said.
Hanzab said Qatar boys needed to ignore their indifferent form in the
first two games.
"We have to keep this match aside and turn our attention to the last
game which is against Senegal. God Willing we will field the best
side," Hanzab said.
"It is job of the backroom staff and the other officials of the team
to help the boys snap out of the last game. And we are doing just
that," he said.
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