[FM16] International Management: The Rising of Qatar

[Guest]

 

I don't see many FM stories on national team managements and the ones I see are usually European nations. So I've decided to manage the Qatari national football team.

About the country:
It's a small country with a population of 2.2 million based in the Persian Gulf, with its only land borders with Saudi Arabia. The capital city of Qatar is Doha.


Football Honors:
Winners of the Gulf Cup of Nations 3 times in 1992, 2004 and 2014. Winners of the WAFF Championship 1 time in 2014. Winner of the Asian Games 1 time in 2006. They have also qualified for the Asian Cup 9 times with the furthest they have got is the Quarter Finals.

They has hosted the 1988 and 2011 Asian Cups and set to host the 2022 World Cup.

Current Ranking (as of July 2015 in FM):
97th


Leagues loaded:
Qatari Star League
Q-League


Teams im going to take control of:
At the moment I will just be taking control of the main Qatari national team but I will keep my eye on the players in the team and I will also take control for any major tournaments they feature  (Olympics, U20 World Cup etc).

Overall/Long term aims
-To qualify for World Cups (even though it looks unlikely for the first one but we will try our best)
-To make Qatar one of the heavyweights in Asia.


About the manager:
Alex Smith was born and grew up in Wellington, New Zealand and then growing to play for Team Wellington and then the Wellington Phoenix and at 23 he was first called up to the New Zealand national team, going on to earn 44 caps and scoring 5 goals for his country. After retiring from football at 31 Smith was offered a role as the New Zealand U20s manager, he has held this position for 3 years with average levels of success. In July 2015 he was hired by the Qatari Football Association to be the new manager of the national team. He is now 34 years old with a Continental B License.


Current competitions and expectations
-World Cup Quals. 2nd Round
With China, Hong Kong, Maldives, and   Bhutan in my group I expect China to be the only ones that will challenge us for the top spot in the group (to qualify for the final round I either have to finish top of the group or be one of the top 4 second place teams).


Upcoming Fixtures in 2015
11/6 5-0 away win against Bhutan (WCQ) (before I became manager)
4/9 home against China (WCQ)
8/9 home against Hong Kong (WCQ)
9/10 away against Maldives (WCQ)
13/10 home against Palestine  (Fr)
13/11 home against Bhutan  (WCQ)
17/11 away against China (WCQ)

 

Well thats the first episode of my first ever story on FM! I hope to upload the next one within the next week. Feel free to leave a comment if you want. 

Thanks for reading this, I hoped you liked it

AJ 

[Guest]

Here is bit more about the Qatari Football

Rival nations:
Our biggest are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Clubs
Some of the clubs richest and most reputable clubs in Qatar are Al-Sadd, Lekhwiya, Al-Jaish, Al-Gharrafa and Al-Rayyan, all competing in the Qatari Stars League.

Leagues
The Qatari Stars league is the 5th most reputable league in Asia after Nihon-League 1 (Japan), K-League (South Korea), Professional League (Saudi Arabia) and the Super League (China). The second division in Qatar called the  Q-League is only the 48th most reputable league in Asia.

Nickname
The nickname for the Qatari national football team is "The Maroons"

National Stadium
Qatar play most of their games at the 50,000 seater, Khalifa International Stadium in the capital city of Doha

Players:
Some of the top players for Qatar are:
31 year old Sebastian Soria, striker for club team Al-Rayyan. Soria has already accumulated 62 caps and scoring 25 goals.

Attacking midfielder Khalfan Ibrahim has had 47 caps and 15 goals for the national team. The 27 year old plays for the Qatari Stars League club Al-Sadd.

Goalkeeper Qasem Burhan having played 13 times for the U20 side and played 40 with the main Qatari team. The 29 year old also plays for Al-Gharrafa.

One of the top youth prospects for the Qatari national team is Akram Afif. The 18 year old having only put on the Qatari jersey 3 times for the U20, he already looks like a future leader in the main team. He is currently on loan at 2nd League Belgian team KAS Eupen from Qatari Stars League team Al-Sadd

[Guest]

 

September 2015
The games in September are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against China and Hong Kong, both being played at the Khalifa International Stadium

Captains
I have chosen Anas Mubarak and Wesam Rizik to be captain and vice-captain respectively for now.

 

Qatar vs China
Chinese midfielder Bu Xueqing gave them the lead with a close range goal  in the 21st minute. A minute later Mohammed Razak of Qatar equalised with a goal  from close range. Razak scored a 2nd from close range in the 76th minute. Final score 2-1 to Qatar with Mohammed Razik taking man of the match.

Qatar vs Hong Kong
Rodrigo Tabata (Qatar) scored the first goal on the 6 minute mark with a well timed header. In the 28th minute Mohammed Razak (Qatar) scored a close range header from a corner. Sebastian Soria (Qatar) then scored a well placed long range shot to make it 3-0 before halftime. Soria then scored a close range  goal in the 65th minute. A solo effort from defender Ibrahim Majid  (Qatar) in the 70th minute made it 5-0. Final score 5-0 to Qatar and man of the match going to Sebastian Soria.

Qatar go top of group 3 in the Asian World Cup Qualifiers with 9 points with China and Hong Kong behind on 6 points and Maldives and Bhutan trailing behind on 1 point

Youth squads
U20 (all friendlies)
1-1 away draw against Indonesia
0-2 away loss against Philippines
U19 (all friendlies)
1-1 away draw against Jordan
0-0 away draw against Gibraltar
0-2 away loss against Luxembourg

Ranking
September - 86th (up 11 from 97th)


October 2015
The games in October are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Maldives and a friendly against Palestine, being played at the Galolhu Rasmee Dhandu (Maldives) and Jassim bin Hamad Stadium (Qatar)
respectively.

Maldives vs Qatar
Mohammed Razak (Qatar) had a long range shot that took a deflection off a denfender and went in on the 10th minute. Sebastian Soria doubled Qatars lead with a well placed shot in the 58th minute. In the 75th minute Qatar gave away a penalty, Moosa Hassan stepped up to take it and scored. Final score 2-1 to Qatar. Player of the match went to Mohammed Abdulrab Al-Yazidi.

Qatar vs Palestine
An error by defender allowed Mohammed Razak (Qatar) to score in 28th minute. Just after halftime Qatar were awarded a penalty, Karim Boudiaf stepped up to take it and he scored placing it in the bottom corner. After a mistake by defenders, Fahed Attal (Palestine) scored in the 54th minute. Babo Seddiqi Barro sealed the win for Qatar with a header. Final score 3-1 to Qatar. Man of the match went to 19 year old Tameem.

Youth squads
U20 (all friendlies)
2-0 home win against China
5-0 away win against Bangladesh
3-1 home win against Sudan
U19 (Asian U19 Championship Quals.)
2-0 neutral win against Afghanistan
1-1 neutral draw against Iran
1-1 neutral draw against Yemen
1-2 neutral loss against Turkmenistan
The Qatar U19s did not qualify for the Asian U19 Championship

Ranking
October - 83rd (up 3 from 86th)

[Guest]

Here is the next episode

November 2015
The games in November are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Bhutan and China, being played at the Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar) and Helong Stadium (China) respectively.

 

Qatar vs Bhutan
An error from Traore (Qatar) allowed Drakpa (Bhutan) to take an early lead.
5 minutes later Mohammed Razak headed the equalizer in the 6 yard box. Sebastian Soria (Qatar) added 2 easy goals to his name within 4 minutes before halftime. Mohammed Razak (Qatar) added to close range shots within 10 minutes late in the second half.
Final score 5-1 to Qatar. Hat trick hero Mohammed Razak earning himself man of the match.

China vs Qatar
Mohammed Razak gave Qatar the lead with a close range goal in the 59th minute. Daniel Goumou sealedthe win for Qatar by scoring a shot from outside the box in the 90th minute. Final score 2-0 to Qatar. Player of the match went to Mesaad Ali Al-Hamad.

Qatar winning 6 from 6 puts them in 1st with 18 points. China and Hong Kong behind on 15 and 12 points both having played 7 games each. Maldives and Bhutan still on 1 point each having only 6 games. The last 2 games will be in March 2016

WAFF Championship groups have been drawn placing Qatar against Jordan, Syria and Oman. This competition is to be played in next year in December 2016

Youth squads
U20  (all friendlies)
5-0 home win against Bangladesh
4-0 home win against Philippines
U19 (all friendlies)
0-2 home loss against Oman
3-0 home win against Azerbaijan

The Qatar U23 have been drawn against UAE, China and North Korea in the U23 Asian Cup in January 2016

Rankings
November - 77th (up 6 places from 83rd)


December 2015
There were no international games played in December

Rankings
December - 75th (moved up 2 from 77th)

Upcoming fixtures (January and February 2016)
12/1 vs UAE U23s (U23 Asian Cup)
15/1 vs China U23s (U23 Asian Cup)
19/1 vs North Korea U23s (U23 Asian Cup)

 

Feel free to leave a comment

[Bedese]

Very solid start. Will you be managing a club side as well, or stick to just the NT?

[Jimbokav1971]

Good start, and the U20's Manager has followed your lead, but the U19's Manager needs to be either sacked or shot, (or sacked and then shot).

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Jupjamie said:

Very solid start. Will you be managing a club side as well, or stick to just the NT?

I haven't decided yet but if I do it will be after the World Cup Qualifiers or World Cup. Do you have any suggestions for a team or league if i were to manage a club?

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Good start, and the U20's Manager has followed your lead, but the U19's Manager needs to be either sacked or shot, (or sacked and then shot).

The U19s Manager was fired after the 2-0 loss to Oman. In his first game as U19s Manager he beat Azerbaijan 3-0 so hopefully its a sign of good things to come.

[Bedese]

1 hour ago, ajj2410 said:

I haven't decided yet but if I do it will be after the World Cup Qualifiers or World Cup. Do you have any suggestions for a team or league if i were to manage a club?

I don't have a clue, but I know that Qatar naturalise a lot of Brazilians who play in Qatar so that they can become a part of the NT, which is why I suggested club management. Bring in some talented Brazilians to help you out  

[Guest]

32 minutes ago, Jupjamie said:

I don't have a clue, but I know that Qatar naturalise a lot of Brazilians who play in Qatar so that they can become a part of the NT, which is why I suggested club management. Bring in some talented Brazilians to help you out  

I don't know it takes alot more time managing both. I will see happens with Qatar.

[Jimbokav1971]

14 hours ago, ajj2410 said:

I don't know it takes alot more time managing both. I will see happens with Qatar.

Well the easy way around that is to go on holiday between International fixtures. 

[Guest]

Here is the next episode 

January 2016
U23 Asian Cup is being held in Qatar. The U23 Qatar team will play UAE, China and North Korea.

My expectations are that we should finish 1st in the group with no one really challenging us. In the knockout stages we should at least reach the semis.

Qatar U23s vs UAE U23
6th minute own goal by Saeed Mohammed (UAE). Al-Marri (Qatar) scored from a deflection off a defender in the 10th minute. Al-Sulaiti then put it 3-0 just before halftime. Final score 3-0 win for Qatar U23s. Man of the match went to Ahmed Yasser Mohammadi.

Qatar U23s vs China U23s
Mohammed Muntari (Qatar) scored a close range header just before halftime. Badar Al-Sulaiti scored a long range shot in the 61st minute. Final score 2-0 win for  Qatar U23s. Mohammed Muntari earned himself player of the match.

With 2 wins from 2 games Qatar U23s have qualified for the quarter finals with a game in hand.

Qatar U23s vs North Korea U23s
Ahmed Abdulkadir gave Qatar the lead when he scored a close range goal in the 60th minute

Qatar won the group with 9 points. China qualified for the quarter finals aswell by coming 2nd with 6 points. While both UAE and North Korea finished on 1 point each.

Qatar U23s have been drawn against Oman U23s in the quarter finals

Qatar U23s vs Oman U23s
Mohammed Muntari (Qatar) got the first goal with a shot from in the 6 yard box in the 6th minute. Oman then equalised with Waleed Al-Saadi's shot just before halftime. The second half was scoreless so it went to extra time. Qatar took the lead in extra time when Ahmad Moein Doozandeh shot took a deflection off a denfender. Final score Qatar U23s win 2-1 aftee extra time. Player of the match went to none other than Ahmad Moein Doozandeh.

Qatar U23s were drawn against Iraq U23s in the semi final.

Qatar U23s vs Iraq U23s
Ali Qasim (Iraq) scored a well executed shot in the 6th minute of the match. Saif Salman then doubled the score with a well place free kick in the 50th minute.
Final score 2-0 to Iraq U23s. Man of the match went to free kick specialist  Saif Salman.

Qatar U23s have been drawn against South Korea U23s in the third place playoff

Qatar U23s vs South Korea U23s
With the first 120 minute being scoreless the game went to penalties. Final score  4-1 (0-0 aet) to South Korea U23s on  penalties. Man of the match going to South Korean Son Sung-Bae

Iraq went on to win the 2016 U23 Asian Cup by beating Australia 2-1 after extra time. With my expectations before the tournament being to reach the semis, we didn't do any better or any worse than the expectations.

Youth squads
No U20 or U19 games were players in January

Ranking
January - 75th  (no move)

February 2016
No games scheduled for February

Rankings
February - 70th (up 5 from 75th)

Upcoming fixtures
23/3 vs Maldives  (WCQ)
26/3 vs Hong Kong  (WCQ)

Feel free to leave a comment 

[Guest]

March 2016
The games in March are the final 2 Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Maldives and Hong Kong, being played at the Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar) and Hong Kong Stadium (Hong Kong) respectively.

Qatar vs Maldives
Qatar took the lead with a close range shot from Daniel Goumou in the 27th minute. Sebastian Soria doubled Qatars lead with his header from a corner right on halftime. Final score 2-0 win for Qatar. Man of the match went to Mesaad Ali Al-Hamad.

With that win Qatar have qualified for the final stage of the World Cup Qualifiers  (Asia) with one game in hand

Due to Qatars performance in the World Cup Qualifiers they have alsoqualified for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Hong Kong vs Qatar
In the 85th minute Sebastian Soria stepped up to take the free kick just outside the box and scored. Final score 1-0 win for Qatar. Player of the match was Khalid Muftah.

So with 8 wins from 8 games Qatar topped the group with 24 points. China behind on 18 also qualified for the final stage. Hong Kong finished 3rd on 12 points. In 4th were Maldives with 4 points. In last place were Bhutan with only 1 point.

The final stage groups were drawn, Qatar were put in the same group as Australia, Japan, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Palestine.
(The top 2 from each group qualify for the World Cup while the two 3rd place teams playoff with the winner playing a team from another confederation)

Expectations:
My expectations for the Qatar in the final stage of the World Cup Qualifiers are that we should come 3rd and only be beaten by Australia and Japan.

Upcoming fixtures
2/9 vs Palestine  (WCQ)
6/9 vs Jordan  (WCQ)

Youth squads (all friendlies)
U20
2-1 home win against Kuwait
U19
1-1 home draw against Myanmar

Ranking
March - 67th (up 3 from 70th)

April 2016
No games were played in April
Ranking
April - 66th (up 1 from 67th)

May 2016
No games were played in May
Ranking
May - 65th (up 1 from 66th)

June 2016
No games were played in June
Ranking
June - 65th (no change)

July 2016
No games were played in July
Ranking
July - 49th (up 16 from 65th)
49th is the highest ever Qatar have been in the rankings.

August 2016
No games were played in August
Ranking
August  - 49 (no change )

[Guest]

September 2016
The games in September are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine and Jordan, being played at the Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar) and Amman International Stadium (Jordan) respectively.

Qatar vs Palestine
Sebastian Soria went one on one with the keeper and placed it to the side of him giving Qatar the lead. Final score 1-0 win for Qatar. Man of the match went to Sultan.

Jordan vs Qatar
Luiz Ceara headed it home after a free kick from Sebastian Soria to give Qatar the lead in the 6th minute. Final score 1-0 win for Qatar. Player of the match was goalscorer Luiz Ceara.

So after 2 games that leaves Australia, Japan and Qatar all on 6 points. While Jordan, Palestine and Uzbekistan are on 0 points.

Youth squads (all friendlies)
U20
3-3 home draw against Uzbekistan
2-0 home win against Canada
1-1 home draw against Saudi Arabia
U19
1-2 home loss against FYR Macedonia
0-0 home draw against Australia
2-2 home draw against Georgia

Upcoming fixtures
7/10 vs Australia (WCQ)
11/10 vs Japan (WCQ)

Rankings
September - 40th (up 9 places from 49th)
Another record high ranking for Qatar.


October 2016
The games in September are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Australia and Japan, being played at the Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar) and Kobe Sports Park Stadium (Japan) respectively.

Qatar vs Australia
Christopher Oikonomidis scored a well placed shot in the bottom corner of the goal. Final score 1-0 win to Australia. Christopher Oikonomidis was man of the match.

Japan vs Qatar
Japan's Taiga Araki took the lead with a well executed finish in 44th minute. Araki then sealed the win with a headed cross in the 93rd minute. Final score 2-0 win to Japan. Man of the match going to goalscorer Taiga Araki.

After 4 games Japan and Australia are 1st= with 12 points each. In 3rd place with 6 points is Qatar. Jordan and Uzbekistan are both on 3 points. In last place is Palestine with 0 points

Youth squads (all friendlies)
U20
5-3 home win against UAE
4-0 home win against Trinidad and Tobago
1-0 home win against Philippines
U19
2-2 home draw against UAE
3-1 home win against China

Upcoming fixtures
9/11 vs Uzbekistan (WCQ)
15/11 vs Wales (Fr)

Ranking
October - 52nd (down 12 from 40th)

Feel free to leave a comment

[Guest]

November  2016
The games in November are Asian World Cup Qualifiers and friendlies against Uzbekistan and Wales, being played at Paxtakor Stadium (Uzbekistan) and Parc y Scarlets (Wales) respectively.

Uzbekistan vs Qatar
Said Boutahar got Qatar off to a good start with a well placed shot. Uzbekistan than equalised with Rashidov's strike in the 12th minute, he then added a 2nd goal 6 minutes later. Al-Bloushi then scored with a header in the 6 yard box.  Al-Bloushi then added his second a few minutes later with a shot that bounced in off the post. Ibrahim curled his free kick around the wall and into the top corner of the goal in the 70th minute. Boudiaf then sealed the win with a volley from outside the box. Final score 5-2 win for Qatar. Man of the match went to the scorer of the first goal, Said Boutahar.

Wales vs Qatar
The game remained scoreless. Final score 0-0. Man of the match was Joe Allen of Wales

Youth squads (all friendlies)
U20
2-0 home win against Japan
5-2 home win against Cape Verde
2-1 home win against New Zealand
U19
0-0 home draw against Iraq
1-1 home draw against Jordan
0-2 home loss against Oman

Upcoming fixtures
4/12 vs Syria  (WAFF Championship)
7/12 vs Jordan  (WAFF Championship)
10/12 vs Oman  (WAFF Championship)

Rankings
November - 51st (up 1 from 52nd)

December 2016
The games in December are WAFF Championship hosted by Bahrain with games against Syria, Jordan, Oman and any other knockout games if they qualify.

WAFF Championship Expectations
Since Qatar won the trophy 2 years aho when it was held in Qatar my expectations for the team in the WAFF  Championship were to go out there and lock the trophy away in the Qatari Football Association HQ for another 2 years.

Qatar vs Syria
Bahrain scored first with a penalty in the 32nd minute. Sebastian Soria then equalised with a well timed shot early in the second half. With 5 minutes left on the clock Yassin Yaqoub headed it home for Qatar. Final score 2-1 win to Qatar. Man of the match went to game winning goal scorer Yassin Yaqoub.

Qatar vs Jordan
Qatar took the lead with a well placed free kick from the edge of the box. Just before halftime Qatar got a second through a Sebastian Soria volley off a corner. Jordanian defender then made a horrible mistake kicking the ball into his own net. Jordanian captain A. Deeb then got one back but it was too little too late for Jordan. Final score 3-1 win to Qatar. Tresor Kangambu took player of the match.

Qatar vs Oman
Qatar left it late with 82nd minute corner going in off Ali Afif's head to score the first goal of the game. Final score 1-0 win to Qatar. Man of the match went to Omani Ahmed Hadid.

Qatar won all 3 group games. They have qualified for the Semi Final and are to play against 77th ranked Iraq. The game is to be played at at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, where it is expected the 35,000 capacity stadium will sell out.

Qatar vs Iraq
Qatar had a total of 33 shots to Iraq's 9 but still neither team could get one past the keeper. The game went to penalties with Qatar winning 5-4. Mostafa Karim took out man of the match.

Having won the Semis Qatar have qualified for the Final of the WAFF Championship. They were to play 81st ranked Oman at the Bahrain National Stadium where it is expected to sell out.

Qatar vs Oman
Tresor Kangambu opened the scoring with a goal that one of the top if not Goal of the Tournament in the 8th minute. After a mistake by Qatari defenders, Omani Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali punished them by scoring an equaliser in the 19th minute. Qatar then hit back with a well placed shot from just inside the box to give them the lead from Sultan. The score stayed 2-1 to Qatar for the rest of the game. Man of the match went to winning goalscorer Sultan.

Qatar were the Champions of the WAFF winning the WAFF Championship for the 2nd consecutive time.

Captain
Current captain Qatari captain Anas Mubarak has decided to step down as captain. Mohammed Razak has been promoted captain from vice-captain and Sebastian Soria has been chosen as the new vice-captain.

Upcoming fixtures
18/3 vs Palestine
22/3 vs Jordan

Ranking
December - 59th (down 8 from 51st)

[Guest]

January 2017
No international games were played in January

Awards
Lionel Messi was named World Player of the Year with Mesut Özil in 2nd and Neymar Jr. in 3rd.

Sebastian Soria was named as Qatari Player of the Year.

20 year old Tameem of Qatar won Asian Young Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive year. Also Qatari players have won it the last 3 years in a row.

Ranking
January - 61st (down 2 from 59th)


February 2017
No international games were played in February
Ranking
February - 59th  (up 2 from 61st)

March 2017
The games in March are Asian World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine and Jordan, being played at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium (Jordan) and Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar) respectively.

Jordan vs Qatar
A mistake by Jordanian defenders led to an own goal. Sebastian Soria then scored two goals within 5 minutes. Jordanian Fahed Attal then pegged one back for Jordan with a one-on-one shot against the keeper right before halftime. Sebastian Soria then got his hat trick 15 minutes from time. Mohammed Jamal of Jordan then scored a beautifully timed header in the 82nd minute. Sebastian Soria then scored his 4th goal ofthe game in the dying minutes. Final score 5-2 win for Qatar. Player of the match went to none other than Sebastian Soria.

Sebastian Soria also broke the record for scoring the most goals in a Asian World Cup Qualifiers match with his tally of 4 against Jordan

Qatar vs Palestine
Wing back Talal Al-Bloushi gave Qatar the lead with a shot catching the keeper to far out of his box. Al-Bloushi then added a second with a well hit shot from the left side of the field. Palestine then close the goal difference to one with a headed corner before the halftime break. Khalfan Ibrahim then scored a close range volley to extend the lead. Mussab Al-Laham then scored for Jordan in the 89th minute but it was enough to stop Qatar.
Final score 3-2 win for Qatar. Man of the match went to Talal Al-Bloushi.

After 7 games in the Asian WCQ Japan is at the top with 19 points followed closely by Australia with 18 points. In 3rd is Qatar with 15 points. 4th place is Jordan with 6 points and 5th is Uzbekistan with 4 points. In last place is Palestine with no points yet.

All Qatar have to is get 1 point in the last 3 games to qualify for the Asian WCQ playoff game against the other 3rd place team.

Youth squads (all friendlies)
U20
1-1 home draw against Laos
U19
3-1 home win against Bahrain

Upcoming fixtures
9/6 vs Australia
13/6 vs New Zealand

Rankings
March - 60th (down 1 from 59th)


April 2017
No international games were played in April
Ranking
April - 52nd  (up 8 from 60th)

May 2017
No international games were played in May. Qatar U20s were chosen to compete at the French Youth Invitational
Ranking
May - 52nd  (no change)


June 2017
The games in June are Asian World Cup Qualifiers and friendlies against Australia and New Zealand, being played at Brisbane Stadium (Australia) and Jassim bin Hamad Stadium (Qatar) respectively.

Australia vs Qatar
Qatar somehow managed to hold Australia scoreless for the whole match. Final score 0-0 draw. Man of the match went to Qatari Khalfan Ibrahim.

Qatar have qualified for a playoff spot after the 0-0 draw against Australia

The table positions didn't change at all so after 8 games in the Asian WCQ Japan is at the top with 22 points followed by Australia with 19 points. In 3rd is Qatar with 16 points. 4th place is Jordan with 7 points and 5th is Uzbekistan with 5 points. In last place is Palestine still with no points yet.

Qatar vs New Zealand
Qatari Sebastian Soria opened the scoring with a beautifully curled in free kick from the edge of the left side of the box. New Zealand captain Winston Reid then equalised with a header placed out of the keepers reach. Ahmad Moein Doozandeh then took his chances with a well executed finish into the back off the net in the 78th minute. Final score 2-1 to Qatar. Khalid Muftah was named player of the match.

Youth squads
U20 (French Invitational and friendlies)
2-0 neutral win against Albania  (FYI)
0-1 neutral loss against Venezuela  (FYI)
3-0 neutral win against Guyana  (FYI)
1-2 neutral loss against Denmark  (FYI)
0-1 home loss against Paraguay  (Fr.)
Qatar U20s finished 3rd in their FYI group.
U19
0-4 home loss against Romania
2-1 home win against Iran
1-2 home loss against Japan

Upcoming fixtures
1/9 vs Uzbekistan
5/9 vs Japan
6th-14th June U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Rankings
June - 52nd  (no change)