Doha: Asian champions Qatar will be looking for a positive result when they face the 2016 Euro Champions Portugal at the Estadio Algarve.
Coached by Felix Sanchez, Qatar lost to Serbia and Portugal last month in the 2022 World Cup European qualifying zone before drawing Luxembourg 1-1.
A full-strength squad is available to coach Sanchez, who recalled Asian Cup hero keeper Shaad Al Sheeb, influential defender Abdul Karim Hassan, and regular skipper Hassan Al Haydos.
Feared strikers Akram Afif and Al Moez Ali will be key to a promising show from Sanchez, who is expected to go with a balanced formation. Bassam Al Rawi, Pedro Miguel and Abdulaziz Hatem are also expected to make the starting XI.
However, Sanchez is aware of the difficulty in facing the former European champions who will be most likely led by the five-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Our match against Portugal is difficult because we will have to face one of the best teams in the world, regardless of who will be in the line-up of the match," Sanchez said.
"Our goal is to benefit from these matches technically," he said.
Qatar, ranked 43 globally, has been appearing in the European leg of the 2022 WC qualification phase to gain match practice ahead of the 32-team event next year.
After today's match, Qatar will take on the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday before heading back to Doha.
Two months ago, Qatar reached the CONCACAF semi-finals, where they lost to the United States. Sanchez’s boys are preparing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar next year.
Qatar and Portugal have faced each other once before. Portugal beat nine-man Qatar 3-1 last month.
Goals from RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva, Porto midfielder Otavio and Manchester United superstar Bruno Fernandes ensured victory for Portugal. Al Sadd left-back Abdelkarim Hassan scored the sole goal for Qatar, who had goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham and centre-back Boualem Khoukhi sent off.
Meanwhile, Portugal – coached by Fernando Santos – have welcomed back Man United trio Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot. They will be joined by Ruben Dias of Manchester City, Danilo Pereira of PSG and Diogo Jota of Liverpool.
When Qatar and Portugal – ranked 7 in the world – played last month, Ronaldo missed the game, but coach Sontos said he needs to play to stay in form.
“Cristiano will play. He needs to play. The last game he played was in the Champions League (against Villarreal on September 29)," coach Santos said yesterday.
"Last weekend, he played for 20 minutes. If he only plays with Luxembourg, you will be practically 15 days without playing. So there is a strong probability of him going to the game against Qatar. So that he can keep the competitive rhythms at the maximum level against Luxembourg,” coach Santos said yesterday.
“I want to see if players assimilate and put into practice what is on the board and what has been done in training. In the previous game against Qatar, there was a very good response and I believe that it will be the same tomorrow (today), because I trust my players a lot,” the Portuguese coach said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Football Association (QFA) has already created a buzz at the match venue through various activities promoting the visiting team.
