(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Qatar have their task cut out going into the last Group B match of the AFC U-23 Championship against Japan today at the Rajamangala Stadium in Thailand.
Coach Felix Sanchez will need a win against the already-eliminated Japanese side so as to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Qatar has drawn both their group games against Syria and Saudi Arabia to sit in third place in the standings on two points, two points adrift of the leading duo with just one round of matches remaining.
With the Syrians and Saudi Arabia due to face each other at Thammasat Stadium, a win over Hajime Moriyasu's side would be enough to guarantee the Qataris a place in the next round.
'It's our last group game and it's very important, said Sanchez, who has taken the West Asian nation to the semi-finals of this competition in each of the last two editions.
'We know it is going to be a very difficult one. This generation of Japan is a good one and they have a great squad at this level but we have to show we can compete against teams like that.
Despite coming to Thailand with high hopes of a run deep into the tournament, Japan are already out of contention for a quarter-final berth after back-to-back defeats in their first two games.
As a result, their focus has started to shift towards the nation's hosting of the Olympic Games in July and August.
The loss against Syria coupled with the opening day defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia means Hajime Moriyasu's side have no chance of progressing to the knockout rounds of a tournament the Japanese won in 2016.
Meanwhile, Syria head coach Ayman Hakeem has called on his players to finish their Group B campaign with a victory when they face Saudi Arabia today.
Hakeem's charges currently top the standings after drawing with Qatar on Matchday One and then recording an impressive win over Japan last time out.
Despite being within a point of qualifying for the last eight, Hakeem is refusing to adopt a cautious approach against the Saudis, insisting instead that Syria have every intention of going for the win as they seek
Continental glory and a place at this year's Olympics.
'We always approach a match wanting to win so we do not want to go into the match against Saudi Arabia in a relaxed mood thinking we only need a point to qualify, declared the Damascus native.
'We want to end the group stage with a good result so, because of this, we will concentrate from the first minute until the last. We promised the people of Syria that we would not just be participating in this tournament, and that we wanted to win and qualify for the quarter-finals.
Although striker Ala'a Aldin Dali is pushing for a start after coming off the bench to score against both Japan and Qatar,
Hakeem remains adamant that he will choose a team which best suits Syria's needs for what promises to be an intriguing encounter with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, head into the match knowing that a win would guarantee their place in the next round.
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