(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar will kick off their Asian Cup preparations later this month when the team will fly to Austria for an extensive training camp.
Coached by Felix Sanchez, Al Anabi will undergo a two-week training programme from May 24 in Vienna to prepare for the high-profile tournament.
Qatar have been drawn with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and North Korea in Group E of next year's Asian Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al Anabi are one of the 24 teams that will feature in the biggest tournament for national teams in Asia.
One of the top matches at the 2019 Asian Cup will see Qatar taking on Saudi Arabia. The two famously played the final of the 2014 Gulf Cup in which Qatar edged the hosts in the final. Sanchez, following the draw for the continental event, said his team will focus on football during the tournament.
'The players are very professional and we're going to think only about the football, the Qatar coach said in an interview.
'When we play the game against Saudi for sure there is three points and both teams will need them and we are going to treat them like any other game and thinking only about football.
'Once you are on the green, it's only about football.
Saudi Arabia, who have won the AFC Asian Cup three times, will be looking forward to returning to the UAE, the place where they defeated the hosts on penalties in the 1996 final. Qatar, hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, staged the region's premier football event in Doha in 2011 when Japan emerged as the champions of Asia. Qatar also hosted the event in 1988.
Continental giants and defending champions Australia are drawn in Group B with Syria, Palestine and Jordan while hosts UAE - who finished third in the 2015 edition - were placed in Group A with Thailand, India and Bahrain.
Group C will be shared by 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Korea Republic, China PR, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines.Iran, who will appear at next month's 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, headline Group D with 2007 champions Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen. Iran also have won the AFC Asian Cup three times.
Group F has Japan as the top side along with Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan.
Oman won the Gulf Cup at the end of December last year in Kuwait. Japan are four-time winners in Asia.
Organisers confirmed that hosts UAE will kick-off Asia's most prestigious tournament against Bahrain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 5.
MENAFN1105201800630000ID1096841381
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.