Qatar will seek to put the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to South Korea behind them when they clash with Iraq today for a spot at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year. The match will be played at 5.45pm at the Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
Qatar and Iraq meet in the third place play-off with the winner claiming the continent’s sole remaining place at the Olympic Games after Japan and South Korea advanced to the final of the AFC U23 Championship and took the first two tickets for Brazil.
“Nobody likes to play in a third place game, but this is a special case because we still have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics,” said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.
“The players were not happy (after losing to South Korea), but they are aware and very motivated because it’s a very good opportunity for us to go to Rio, so the players are fully motivated for the game.”
Both coaches declared their teams fully fit for the crucial game, with Qatar’s influential captain Abdelkarim Hassan available despite some concerns while Mohamed Muntari returns from suspension for the host nation. Safa Jabbar and Saif Salman will be available for Iraq after missing the 2-1 loss to Japan.
“After five games in a short period of time, fitness is an important point in the game,” said Sanchez. “We hope we are going to face this game in good condition. Physically, technically and tactically the players are motivated and I’m sure they are going to give 100 percent.”
As the host nation, Qatar can expect to have the backing of the majority of the crowd at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium today evening, but Iraqi coach Abdulghani Shahad is confident his team will not be affected by the relative lack of support for his team.
“It can have an impact and be an advantage for the Qatar team,” said the coach. “But our team they are used to focusing when they are playing without fans or with a few fans and they are used to putting on a good game.
“Both teams have the same feelings. Both are coming from a shock after the defeat in the semi-final but for the Iraq team the main target is to get one of the three tickets for Rio.
“So our main focus is on our team and the Qatar team and how to prepare the team and to realise our goal.”
Iraq have a strong track record at the Olympic Games, having reached the semi-finals in 2004 when they joined Japan and South Korea as one of the continent’s three representatives in Athens.
They also narrowly missed out on a place in Atlanta in 1996, losing to Japan in the third place play-off.
“In the last game we provided a good performance and we had the possibility to qualify for the final,” said Shahad. “I was sure that both Arab teams could reach the final, but this is football and we are now ready for the next game.
“We had a meeting with the players, we spoke with them and told them this is the last game and we have to go for the victory.”