•DOHA • These are heady times for the Qatar national football team.
On the back of winning their first Asian Cup last Friday, Felix Sanchez's men have risen 38 places to 55th in the latest Fifa world rankings released yesterday.
Not only are Qatar enjoying their highest position in 26 years, they are now ahead of Mohamed Salah's Egypt and Africa Cup of Nations champions Cameroon.
The team returned home to a rapturous welcome from tens of thousands of ecstatic fans, including Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who has reportedly rewarded the footballers handsomely for bringing joy to the people at a time of simmering political tension in the Gulf.
Qataris did not travel to the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the Cup, as the country is currently under a blockade led by its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who have accused Doha of supporting terrorism - a charge it has denied.
According to an article published on Fox Sports Asia's website, which cited Iranian media reports and a now-deleted tweet by Iranian football writer Sina Saemian, Al Thani has lavished gifts on every player.
They reportedly included a London apartment, a £2 million (S$3.5 million) cash reward, a monthly salary for the rest of their lives, a Lexus car and a luncheon hosted at his royal residence.
While some have questioned the country's recent triumph, claiming it has come out of the blue, former Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez believes the Cup win was deserved as the Qatar Football Association (QFA) had kept the 2022 World Cup hosts "on the right track".
The former Spain midfielder, who now plies his trade in Qatar as Al Sadd's captain, told TV channel Al Kass Sport: "Now you see the results produced by the Qatari team. It is a great team now. I am proud to work with these young players.
"We must remember that the QFA has been preparing this team for years to win this title.
"The Aspire Academy project is the idea of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and the idea is now achieving great success. What Aspire has done is to prepare a platform for the emergence of players that we currently see on the pitch."
Thirteen out of Qatar's 22-strong Cup squad had links with Aspire, and Xavi has been frequently seen helping out at the academy when he is not tied up with his club commitments.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The competition replaced the AFC Challenge Cup, last played for in 2014. Six teams were eligible to compete after losing in the first round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification competition, and three teams were eligible to compete after losing in the play-off round two of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification competition.
Did you know about these beautiful Eid traditions? | Qatar Living
Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts Young fans taking photos with Qatar forward and 2019 Asian Cup Most Valuable Player Almoez Ali at Doha International airport, as Qataris welcome
Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts | World
worldsportstale.com/soccer/qatars-asian-cup-heroes-rewarded-with-lavish-gifts/
02/09/2019 Comments Off on Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts •DOHA • These are heady times for the Qatar national football team. On the back of winning their first Asian Cup last Friday, Felix Sanchez's men have risen 38 places to 55th in the latest Fifa world rankings released yesterday.
Latest QATAR | The Straits Times
Get more information about QATAR at straitstimes.com. Skip to main content. Toggle navigation The Straits Times Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts. Feb 8, 2019, 5:00 am.
NBA would have fined Pelicans $100K a game if they sat a
worldsportstale.com/nba/nba-would-have-fined-pelicans-100k-a-game-if-they-sat-a-healthy-anthony-davis-report-says/
Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts. NFL News. Bart Starr: Packers QB Brett Favre gives touching tribute to a Green Bay legend.
AFC Asian Cup 2019: How Park Hang-seo rejuvenated football in
- Vietnam family rewarded with $0.65 for good compliance with site clearance order. - Took meth several days earlier, says truck driver who killed eight in accident. Other - 3 Newborn Endangered Right Whales Seen After Year With No Births. [New York Times] - Koreans lurk as Qatar defy abuse to reach Asian Cup quarters.
Qatar Happening - February 2011 by Qatar Happening - Issuu
Qatar's Asian Cup heroes rewarded with lavish gifts, Football
The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 brought with it not only football but also lots of great entertainment. Hot music sensation Karl Wolf, along with Jay Sean and Erika David, tore up the stage the night
The end of Ramadan marks the joyous occasion of Eid Al Fitr (feast after fasting) on which celebrations are held, typically for three days. Eid commences on the sighting of the Shawwal (tenth month of the Hijri calendar) crescent moon,when the 29 or 30 days of Ramadan conclude after sunset.
Morning Stories Roundup: Ancient Sua Tree in Hanoi to be
A British man has been arrested for wearing a Qatar football shirt in the UAE. Ali Issa Ahmad, 26, was on holiday in the UAE when he bought a ticket for the second round match between Qatar and Iraq on January 22 and wore a Qatar shirt to the game.
The Record - Corruption in world football and the fall of
The UNSUNG HEROES of Vietnam's AFC Asian Cup 2019 journey. Before Park's arrival, the Golden Dragons' last Suzuki Cup title win had come 10 years ago, which was their last appearance in the final of the tournament too, and they had missed out on qualification for two consecutive Asian Cups - 2011 and 2015.
British football fan arrested for wearing Qatar top in UAE
0 comments:
Post a Comment