Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Qatar midfielder Ali Asad believes that experience and an inventory of skills will be his assets as he aspires to be an ‘Al Annabi’ mainstay during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on his home soil.
Talking exclusively to www.sc.qa ahead of facing Asia’s top-ranked team Iran in Thursday’s FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers, the 24-year-old Al Sadd player called the game at the home of his club “one of the most important in my career” and added that he is prepared for even bigger occasions that will beckon in the future.
“The 2018 FIFA World Cup could be the last for some of my teammates if we qualify, but I have age on my side and can play in front of my countrymen in the dream-come-true tournament in 2022,” said Asad, who has scored 10 international goals in 40 appearances.
“Everyone in the Qatar Football Association and Aspire Academy are doing their best to prepare a good team for 2022 – which should contain a mixture of youth and experience. I will be 28 then, which is when midfielders peak. As one of the experienced players in the squad, I will take on more responsibility and guide the youngsters.”
Asad sees the fixtures against Iran and then Uzbekistan (on March 28) as stepping stones towards showcasing Qatar as a fast-improving Asian side. He said: “We will compete hard against Iran. We played well in Tehran in September and lost only because of a goalkeeping error at the death.
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