LUSAIL: Hosts Qatar have their eyes firmly focused on defending their AFC Asian Cup title going into their Group A opener against Lebanon at the Lusail Stadium today.
Having clinched their maiden AFC Asian Cup title in 2019 with a 3-1 win over four-time winners Japan 3-1 in the final, head coach Lopez said his charges are ready to hit the ground running starting with Lebanon.
“We have undergone extensive preparation and certainly, it’s not an easy task especially with the limited time available,” said Lopez, who took over from Carlos Queiroz in December.
Qatar defeated Lebanon 2-0 at the same stage in UAE 2019.
“I commenced training in the final week of December but despite the short duration, I am familiar with the players and their title ambitions. Working under pressure is something I’ve grown accustomed to over the years and it doesn’t faze me much,” he added.
“(Lebanon’s) Hassan Maatouk is a key player, and they have a strong selection with 10 other skilled players supporting him. We won’t dwell on their weaknesses, instead, we hold great respect for the Lebanese team.”
Lebanon face a daunting task against a Qatar side they have not beaten in seven previous encounters (W6 D1) but head coach Miodrag Radulovic said his side are well prepared.
“In football, progress takes time, it’s not an overnight achievement,” said Radulovic. “I know many of the players in this group, a combination of experience and youth. The results of the recent friendlies have indicated that we are on the right track. We are expecting a high-quality game against Qatar.”
