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Qatar wary of desperate Kuwait
Qatar coach Bruno Metsu is wary of Gulf Cup champions Kuwait in their must-win clash at the Asian Cup on Sunday, knowing they are desperate to salvage their reputation after two defeats.
The host nation go into the game at Al Khalifa Stadium on three points in Group A, alongside China, with Uzbekistan on six points and Kuwait on none.
If they beat Kuwait and China either lose or draw with the Uzbeks, then they will be through to the knockout rounds.
Like Kuwait, they also have plenty at stake, especially since being named surprise 2022 World Cup hosts despite having no significant football pedigree.
In seven previous appearances at the tournament, they have only got that far once before — in 2000, when they made the quarter-finals.
Frenchman Metsu is taking nothing for granted against a team that upset Saudi Arabia to win the Gulf Cup last month.
“It won’t be easy against Kuwait. They don’t want to lose as they don’t want to finish with nothing, so we need to be ready mentally to get through this important game,” he said.
Metsu, whose team lost their opener against Uzbekistan 2-0 before bouncing back to beat China by the same scoreline, said they need to start the match in an attacking frame of mind and get an early goal.
“The best way is for our players to be strong, be organised,” he said.
“If we want to win we must start with speed, be attack-minded because it will be a tough game.
“Kuwait are dangerous. We know how difficult they are. We need to take risks because that is what we have to do if we want to win.”
Key defender Hamid Ismael said the team had learned a lot from their first match against the Uzbeks, where they crumbled under the pressure of playing the opening game of the tournament in front of an expectant nation.
“The pressure was over after the first match,” he said.
“We are focused more now. The first match forced us to wake up and the pressure is not there so much now.”
The pressure is definitely on Kuwaiti coach Goran Tufegdzic, with his side yet to get a point.
A win against Qatar would give them a glimmer of hope of staying in the tournament, but to reach the quarter-finals they need China to lose their final group game against Uzbekistan as well.
The Serb insisted that their motivation remained high despite losing 2-1 to Uzbekistan and crashing 2-0 to China.
“Our team still has a chance to qualify and our motivation is up,” he said.
“We have a responsibility to all our fans and to the Kuwaiti people to play a good game and take all three points.”
Tufegdzic, who took over from Mohammed Ibrahim in early 2009, made clear how significant the match was.
“Our team is playing for its reputation,” he said, adding that he was confident they could fix their problems up front, with only one goal scored in two games so far.
“It is true that we have very good ability in the team but we have had problems with our finishing.
“But with such a short time between the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup it is difficult to maintain such high form.
“I hope, though, that in this last match our team gets goals and gets back to its best.”
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