Qatar squad gets a month's rest period

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Friday, June 16th 2017 10:51 PM

DOHA: Qatar national team that beat Republic of Korea on Tuesday has been allowed to rest and recover for a month, QFA said on Thursday. Qatar won their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday to close a hectic football season. QFA said the squad would be in rest mode from June 14 until July 14. The squad and the backroom staff will rest and then resume training for Qatar's remaining 2018 World Cup qualifying games to be played in August and September. Qatar take on Syria on August 31 and before playing their final game against China on September 5. With two goals and an assist, Hasan Al Haydos provided the spark that belatedly ignited Qatar’s attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia next year as Jorge Fossati’s team earned the country a surprise win over Korea Republic. Whether it will be enough to qualify the 2022 World Cup hosts for their first-ever World Cup appearance remains in doubt, but the Qataris will at least go into the penultimate round of matches with something to play for. With two games to go, Qatar sit on seven points, five fewer than Uzbekistan but knowing that wins over Syria and China in their final two games could unlock the path to Russia 2018 via the playoffs.