Syria's Spanish coach, José Lana, expressed his strong confidence in his players' ability to achieve a positive result against Qatar, the hosts of the Arab Cup and reigning Asian champions for the past two editions, emphasizing that nothing is impossible in football. These defiant statements come ahead of the highly anticipated match between the two teams on Thursday, a game that has gained added significance following Syria's surprising victory over Tunisia in the opening round.
At Wednesday's press conference, Lana said: "The Qatari national team is strong and has very talented players. They are playing at home in front of their fans. We respect them greatly, but in football, anything is possible, and we'll see what happens tomorrow." He added: "We are waiting for today's training session to determine the team's formation for the next match, and I am confident in the players' ability to give their best and continue the strong performance they showed in the first game.".
A morale boost from a historic victory
The Syrian national team enters this match with extremely high morale after achieving a valuable 1-0 victory over Tunisia last Monday. The lone goal came from star player Omar Kharbin with a perfectly executed free kick in the third minute of the second half, giving Syria three precious points and placing them joint top of Group A with Palestine. This victory was not only a perfect start to the tournament, but also a powerful message that the Syrian team is capable of competing with the best despite all the circumstances.
A history of resilience and overcoming adversity
The Syrian national team has always been known for its fighting spirit and ability to achieve remarkable results in regional and continental competitions. Despite the significant challenges Syrian football has faced over the past decade, the "Eagles of Qasioun" continue to soar, relying on a generation of talented players active in various Arab leagues. The team hopes to draw inspiration from past glories and deliver a performance that satisfies the aspirations of Syrian fans, who see football as an outlet and a source of national pride.
Facing the Asian champions on their home ground
There is no doubt that the task will not be easy for the Qatari national team, which is seeking to recover from its surprising loss in its opening match against Palestine. "Al-Annabi" (the Maroons) are considered one of the strongest teams in the continent, thanks to their victories in the Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023, in addition to the considerable experience they gained from hosting and organizing the 2022 World Cup. The Qatari team relies on a cohesive group of players who have been playing together for years, giving them an advantage in terms of organization and harmony. The Syrian national team, on the other hand, relies on a constellation of stars, led by Omar Kharbin, along with prominent players such as Mahmoud Al-Mawas, currently with Al-Shorta of Iraq and formerly with Al-Sailiya of Qatar, and Mohammed Al-Hallaq, who plays for Al-Faisaly of Jordan.
For his part, player Simon Amin stressed the importance of fan support in the upcoming match, saying: “We are happy with the victory over Tunisia, but we must focus on the upcoming matches, especially against host nation Qatar. We want to take advantage of the large fan presence of our community in Qatar, and we will strive to draw energy from this support to achieve a respectable result.”.
