As the 2022 World Cup approaches, Qatar’s Spanish head coach Felix Sanchez Bas is placing on a entrance of normality. Inside, nonetheless, he is aware of the dimensions of what’s forward of him and what’s at stake.
It’s tough to stay calm once you face a problem for which a complete nation – Qatar, the hosts and the one debutant among the many 32 contributors – has spent 12 years making ready for.
This Spanish coach, who got here out of Barcelona’s youth academy in 2006, led Qatar, fiftieth within the FIFA rankings, to its most historic milestone: successful the Asian Cup in 2019.
Now, he has spoken to MARCA concerning the World Cup and the way his staff goes to strategy the match.
The World Cup begins in 20 days together with your match in opposition to Ecuador. Are you wanting ahead to the referee’s whistle?
“We’ve got been working for a few years and now we see it so shut and we’re wanting ahead to that day. However these remaining days are additionally vital to complete making ready the staff and reaching our greatest model.”
How do you deal with the added stress of being the host?
“We’ve got had preparation program, considering that we’re Qatar, a small nation with little expertise, with gamers who’ve all the time performed in Qatar, in a minor league. Having the ability to give them this worldwide expertise by taking part in tournaments just like the Gold Cup or Copa America, in addition to friendlies, has ready us, though it’s going to by no means be the identical situation or the identical state of affairs. We attempt to keep normality. We already know that there’s that stress, and we do not have so as to add to it. We’ve got our routine, we attempt to isolate ourselves from the noise round us and concentrate on getting our greatest efficiency. It is tough as a result of then you definately go onto the pitch, you see 60,000 individuals. It is the primary World Cup match and there is a lot expectation that it is arduous, however that have will assist them.”
Is it real looking to assume {that a} nation with solely 6,000 federation licenses can do nicely in a World Cup?
“We’re a really small nation, lower than one million individuals, with 6,000 licenses, and now we have by no means performed in a World Cup. Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands have. Our gamers play within the Qatari League, which is getting stronger however continues to be removed from the most effective on the planet, which is the place many of the gamers we’re going to play in opposition to play. We are going to face groups which have reached the finals of a World Cup, are champions of Africa. Many gamers are the most effective on the planet of their positions, with World Cup and Champions League expertise…. So we all know what our function is, we all know that we aren’t favorites but additionally, inside our prospects, we should set excessive expectations, excessive targets, attempt to compete to the utmost. In 2019 it was very tough to assume that Qatar may win the Asian Cup and we received it. Clearly, I am not speaking about Qatar successful the World Cup, however competing at stage in opposition to these three groups is our problem. Then that is soccer, and also you by no means know what can occur.”
What are Qatar’s fundamental strengths?
“At this stage there may be quite a lot of bodily distinction with the opposite groups. We’ve got gifted gamers, we attempt to play as a unit and on the counter we will be harmful. When now we have the ball we attempt to handle, though we all know that in opposition to opponents of this stage it is rather tough to take the initiative and we must adapt as a result of that’s the actuality. It will be suicide to attempt to take the initiative if we wish to be aggressive. We attempt to be compact defensively, permit the minimal alternatives and be robust in transitions.”
You begin with Ecuador, then Senegal and eventually the Netherlands. What did you assume once you noticed the draw?
“I believed ‘We have been drawn in a really tough group’. However, after all, then you definately take a look at all of the teams and say to your self ‘Nicely, with any group we’d have stated one thing related’. It may have been stronger or weaker, however that is the group we have been drawn in and it’s extremely tough for Qatar. Ecuador for a lot of is an unknown staff that in South America has been the feeling. After Brazil and Argentina, who’re in a league of their very own, they’ve been up there. They’ve a brand new technology of gamers and have created a really aggressive group, a staff that’s on the rise.”
The gamers taking part in in Europe are going to be bodily brisker. They may have 20 to 25 video games in comparison with 50 to 55 in a full season. Can this be a figuring out issue?
“I believe so. When it comes to efficiency and spectacle, they are going to arrive at the most effective time of the 12 months. In a World Cup on the finish of the season there are gamers who, in the event that they go far in competitions just like the Champions League, will likely be bodily and mentally exhausted. This can make a giant distinction, the gamers will arrive recent and this may enhance the standard of the matches. The spectators will get pleasure from it extra.”
For Qatar, 70 to 75 p.c of the squad are gamers skilled on the Aspire Academy, which began in 2006 with a base of 800 Qatari youngsters.
“I labored for a few years at Aspire. The Academy and the Federation go hand in hand, our coaching heart is simply one other a part of Aspire. Aspire has been working for 16 years now, it is a very profitable long-term challenge, and in soccer there may be normally no persistence to maintain tasks. It is without doubt one of the components of the most important success. With out this challenge we’d not have been capable of give this coaching to the gamers from a younger age, and the truth that so many have made it to the primary staff is the most effective signal.”
You may have been dwelling in Qatar for 16 years, what sort of environment do you anticipate through the World Cup? What would you say to the followers who’re going?
“There’s going to be a soccer environment, as a result of it is going to be all within the metropolis. I might inform them to benefit from the World Cup and Qatar, most of them are going to get to know a brand new nation, a brand new metropolis and a brand new tradition. Many occasions individuals go to locations prejudging, however I hope that when individuals come they are going to see the truth of the nation and really feel snug. The Qatari persons are very pleasant, they like individuals from overseas to return and really feel comfy. They’re going to get pleasure from themselves on and off the sphere.”
Who’re your favorites to win the World Cup?
“I see quite a lot of very robust groups. Brazil is all the time a favourite, Argentina goes by an excellent spell. Spain is a candidate as all the time, I actually just like the soccer concepts of Luis Enrique, as he has quite a lot of high quality and variability at tactical stage, of participant profiles. It’s a staff to be taken into consideration.”
What do you consider the function of your pal Xavi Hernandez as head coach of Barcelona?
“When Xavi arrived as a participant, he was already very near us. He was all the time near the staff and it was clear to him that he needed to be a coach afterwards. Teaching Barcelona was his future, however he arrived at a really tough time for the membership. On a soccer stage he’s very clear about it. He’s doing an excellent job, he has made a giant change in a really quick time at Barcelona, he has created enthusiasm among the many followers for the best way the staff is taking part in, for the squad they’ve now and I’m satisfied that with Xavi the titles will come in the long run.”