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Qatar on the world stage

By Tang Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-09 10:06

A worker cleans players' seats at the Khalifa International Stadium, a day ahead of the start of the AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday. Saurabh Das / Associated Press

A small Middle Eastern country will use the Asian Cup as a stepping stone to a far bigger event, writes Tang Zhe from Doha

The soccer world should have forgotten by now that no West Asian team made the World Cup finals in South Africa last year.

After securing the 2022 World Cup in December, Qatar has brought unprecedented attention to the region through hosting this year's Asian Cup, which is considered an early dress rehearsal for the 2022 tournament.

"I'm sure it (The AFC Asian Cup) will be the best tournament ever and be the model for future events," said Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam. "You will see the changes in the competition and how we have improved over the past eight years."

The surprisingly successful bid for the 2022 Cup has put the tiny desert country in the world spotlight. And it is eager to convince the world that it can hold the world's biggest single sport event 11 years from now.

"Our target is not only the Asian Cup, but to prove our ability to host a high-standard FIFA competition," said Suzuki Tokuaki, tournament director of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. "This is just a step towards the 2022 World Cup. Qatar needs to gain more organizing experience and attract more fans from around the world."

Besides providing special services and facilities, Qatar's national team also hopes to boost its performance in the Asian Cup under French coach Bruno Metsu, as it desperately wants to qualify for the event the country will host.

"Qatar players have made big preparations, and we will focus on becoming a very strong team in the tournament and as we build up for the World Cup," said Metsu, who unexpectedly led African dark horse Senegal to the quarterfinals of the 2002 tournament.

"We want to show something not only for Qatar, but also for the world," he said, "I am sure Qatar will organize a fantastic World Cup here, and will have a good team in 2022."

Similar to Qatar's vision, China also sees the Asian Cup as a springboard to the World Cup as head coach Gao Hongbo continues to emphasize the Qatar event is merely a warm-up for the 2014 World Cup and asked fans to play down their expectations for the young national team, which has an average age of just 24.

"Our target is to secure a berth at the 2014 World Cup," Gao told China Daily in an interview last September. "Every game before next June, including the Asian Cup, is a warm-up for the World Cup qualifying matches."

After Gao took over the squad in May 2009, China has seen a steady rise up the FIFA world rankings, from 108 to a current position of 87.

"Though Gao's team has made considerable progress, it's hard for it to take an obviously different look into the Asian Cup due to the country's shortage of top-class soccer players," said Wei Di, chief of the Chinese Football Association, "The team will make every effort to reach the knock-out stage, but the most important thing is to get more experience."

For the Japanese side, after reaching the last 16 at the South Africa World Cup, which was the team's best performance at a World Cup on foreign soil, it is expecting to stamp its dominance in Asia by grabbing a fourth Asian Cup title, though it will have to count on several new faces due to injuries to some of its veterans.

"Going out with this lineup, we should not fear any opponent," said Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, as he called up eight Europe-based players, including CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Borussia Dortmund rookie Shinji Kagawa.

"The history of Japanese football won't end at the Asian Cup. I want to use as many young players as possible to prepare well for the 2014 World Cup," said Zaccheroni, who won an Italian Serie A title with AC Milan in 1999.

Though other World Cup attendees, Australia and South Korea, are among the title favorites, the 57-year-old Italian regards the teams from the Middle East as the most formidable opponents as the conditions in Qatar will suit them.

(China Daily 01/09/2011 page8)