Objection was unsuccessful
©IMAGO
A three-way tournament with a home advantage and a favorable schedule: this is the starting point that the Asian Continental Association gave Qatar. The opponents are served; Critical words were heard at least from the recently defeated United Arab Emirates.
UAE coach Cosmin Olăroiu made no big secret of his frustration with World Cup participants Qatar and its logistical privileges. “I don’t want to come here and say this and that. It’s obvious to everyone, but now we can’t change it. They achieved their goal,” Olăroiu said after his team’s 2-1 defeat at Qatar’s Al Rayyan.
What had happened? With this success, the 2022 World Cup host qualified for a World Cup for the first time – but was granted certain privileges by the continental association AFC in the tournament with three teams. Qatar was allowed to play both games in its own country and also had the longest break between the two games. This also applied to Saudi Arabia – the 2034 World Cup hosts also managed to qualify. Both countries were placed at the top of the group due to their world ranking position.
Olăroiu: Everyone should have the same opportunities
“In tournaments like this, all teams should have the same chances,” criticized Olăroiu, a former professional football player in Romania. Resistance had already formed when the two tournaments were awarded to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The four football associations that were disadvantaged as a result, including the UAE, protested against this – but the objection was unsuccessful.
Olăroiu said after the bitter exit in the decisive game: “It was very simple. Our group should have played in Saudi Arabia and that group should have played here in Qatar. That way everyone would have the same chances.”
Second World Cup chance for Qatar coach Lopetegui
Qatar will take part in its second World Cup after 2022 next summer (June 11 to July 19) in America. The emirate was eliminated from the home tournament with zero points and 1:7 goals in the preliminary round. This is Saudi Arabia’s seventh World Cup participation after 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 and 2022.
A premiere awaits the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, who trains the Qataris and was fired as Spain’s head coach in Russia in 2018 immediately before the start of the tournament. “This is one of the best days of my career,” said Lopetegui after qualifying.
Before the 2018 World Cup, the association parted ways with him because Lopetegui took a job at Real Madrid after the tournament and had held discussions with the club in advance without the association’s knowledge.