Qatar ready for key Uzbekistan test

Qatar will be looking for a positive result when they take on Uzbekistan in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent today.

Coach Jorge Fossati says a tough task awaits his boys.

"The game, as has been the case in this group, will be difficult because the participating teams are equal in terms of capability," Fossati said during a press conference yesterday.

Iran lead the six-team group with 14 points from six matches, followed by Korea with 10 points while Uzbekistan are in third spot with nine points followed by Syria (8) and China (5).

Qatar are with four points and the Uruguayan tactician says there are no easy matches for the taking in the group.

"In this group, no team can say that the other side is an easy opponent. The match will be tough. We have a lot of respect for Uzbekistan but that does not stop us from doing everything we can to win," Fossati said.
Both the teams go in to the match having suffered loss in their last matches. The visitors lost 1-0 to group leaders Iran while Uzbekistan went down to Syria. Fossati said much should not be read about the previous results. "I do not think the previous matches will have an impact on tomorrow's game. Every football match has a different story, and we will write a positive new page in the Qatari football book through our efforts tomorrow," Fossati said.

Qatar had lost the home tie to Uzbekistan 1-0 and thus will be reverse the result in the away match. "The Uzbekistan team is characterized by being organized at the highest level and in every game it follows a clear strategy. Its players follow the coach's instructions. This discipline is what distinguishes them," Fossati said.

A win in Tashkent would move Qatar to within two points of Uzbekistan. The visitors will miss Boualem Khoukhi and Abdelkarim Hassan on account of suspension, while defender Ahmed Yasser and forward Meshaal Abdulla are available for selection after serving their bans.

The Qatar coach said he has advised his boys to be on the guard against the opponents in today's match.

"Uzbekistan is a tough opponent and Qatar should play with caution. The Uzbeks are very dangerous in the air, but they will be wary of the strength of the Qatari national team," the Uruguayan said.

"Every coach in the world has the information he needs about the team he will face," Fossati said.

"We are ready for this game," he added. A win against Syria would have lifted the Central Asians into second place in Group A but Omar Khrbin's injury-time penalty now leaves Uzbekistan, who will be without the suspended Islom Tukhtakhujaev, with a major fight to secure a top-three position as Syria lurk just a point behind in fourth.

Asked if he was surprised by Uzbekistan's recent loss to Syria, Fossati said on Monday: "I was not surprised as I said earlier in this group all levels are close and any result achieved by one team on another is not a surprise.

"The surprise would have been if there was a big difference in the goals between the teams and that can be confirmed by looking at the results of the teams so far," he added.

"The Iranian team is strong in terms of defense and this quality has allowed them to lead the group. So it was Iran's defensive strength that gave him the top place (in Group A of Asian Zone qualifying campaign)," Fossati said.

MENAFN2803201700630000ID1095350002