Qatar’s mystery men may not be the 2022 World Cup flops they’re expected to be

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For all of the focus — and there has been plenty — on Qatar’s suitability as the host nation of the 2022 World Cup, the spotlight has largely avoided focusing on the strength, or otherwise, of the tiny Gulf nation’s football team.

Felix Sanchez Bas’ players are a group of unknowns. The squad for the game in Lugano — against a side that reached the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup finals — and next week’s friendly against Iceland in Eupen, Belgium, was made up entirely of players based in Qatar.

FIFA ranks them at 96th in the world, sitting between the Faroe Islands and India, yet next Wednesday (Nov. 21) marks the beginning of the four-year countdown to Qatar 2022. When they kick off the most controversial World Cup in history, they will not be able to rely on the element of surprise to upset more established nations, as they did in Lugano.

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Only one previous host nation, South Africa, has failed to progress beyond the group stage of their World Cup, but Bafana Bafana at least went out with a bang in 2010 by eliminating France with a 2-1 victory in Bloemfontein. This year’s hosts, Russia, shocked the world by avoiding that fate and even eliminating Spain en route to the quarterfinals.

Qatar, having never previously qualified for a World Cup, are aiming not only to win a game but make it into the knockout phase, so the pressure is growing on the team to become competitive.

“The players were celebrating in dressing room [in Lugano] because we have beaten a team of players who play in the Champions League and major leagues in Europe,” coach Sanchez said .”It shows we are playing in the right way.

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“The purpose of the game was to see where we are and whether we can compete with the best teams in the world.”

As Shaqiri acknowledged, Qatar’s players are by no means household names. So who are the Qatari players?

Akram Afif, whose second-half goal won the game for Qatar, is clearly a talent. The 21-year-old winger is on loan at Doha-based Al Sadd from Villarreal, having spent time with Sevilla as a youngster.

He has pace and trickery and could have scored two other goals against the Swiss.

Qatar captain Hassan Khalid Al Haidos, also with Al Sadd, is the No. 10 who bears a striking resemblance to Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez in terms of stature and style of play.

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