Match against Iran Always Difficult, Qatar Captain Al Haidos Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Qatar football captain Hassan Al Haidos says that it is always very tough against Iran and even more so away from home, in front of their fans.
Speaking to FIFA.com, Al Haidos acknowledged the difficulty of their opening Group A fixture against Iran in the FIFA World Cup qualification at the imposing Azadi Stadium – but spoke confidently of Qatar’s chances.
“It’s always important to begin well,” the Al Sadd man said
“I don’t think we could have had a more difficult home game. It’s always very tough against Iran and even more so away from home, in front of their fans, but I think we’re ready to face the challenge this time,” Al Haidos added.
But Al Haidos’ optimism goes beyond the Iran match. The 26-year-old believes Qatar has the quality to secure a long-awaited first ever FIFA World Cup berth, even before it qualifies automatically as host in 2022.
“This time I’m very optimistic,” he said.
“We’re more determined than ever to realize the dream we’ve been pursuing for a very long time,” Hassan Al Haidos added.
