What is special about U23 Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals?

Qatari football has never been considered a weak football in Asia, but to reach the top of the continent, they still need breakthroughs. Qatar U23 reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship is proof of that breakthrough.

They defeated China, a country with a population 590 times larger and an area 800 times larger, the host of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, to reach the quarterfinals. Qatar is also the smallest country (area of ​​nearly 12,000 km2) and the least populous (approximately 2.5 million people) to reach the semi-finals.

Expected lineup of U23 Vietnam in the match against Qatar.

Qatar football evokes the image of an Iceland in Asia, a small country that caused a stir inEURO 2016. The two countries are different in terms of geography, customs and human physique. One country is characterized by ice and volcanoes, the other by oil and deserts. However, both countries have many similarities in the development of the king sport within the regional limits.

Qatar ranked 15th in Asia, while Iceland ranked 14th in Europe. Qatar is famous for its football academies affiliated with the world's top clubs, while Iceland focuses on national and school sports. The gap in football level between the two countries in terms of population was then almost erased.

Although not yet at the top of the continent, Qatari football is at a higher level than Vietnam. The Qatar U23 team coming to China this time is considered a young generation with great potential of the country. They are continuously trained in famous football countries in Europe. Coach Felix Sanchez, a Spaniard, also breathes into this team a Latin style, playing technical football, short passes while still maintaining the same flexibility and speed.

Coach Felix Sanchez (left) is behind the impressive play of U23 Qatar.

This generation of players is receiving key investment so that four years later they will become the pillars of the country's national team participating in the 2022 World Cup at home.

These changes make U23 Qatar different from other West Asian teams present at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship. That difference is proven by the fact that they are the only representative of West Asia to continue their journey in the tournament.

Qatar U23 have won all 4 matches so far, scoring 7 goals and conceding 3. They have the best striker in the tournament so far, Almoez Ali (5 goals). The 1m80 tall striker is only 21 years old but has scored 5 goals in 21 matches for the national team.

Ali was described by Qatari newspaper Peninsula as the “black diamond” of Qatari football. “The semi-final will be very different from all the previous matches. I hope the team will continue to achieve similar results and we will not give up until the last minute,” Ali shared.

Qatar U23 is not just Ali. In the current squad, they have many players playing in Europe. Midfielders Tarek Salman and Khalid Muneer play for Spanish third division club Atletico Astorga. Defensive midfielder Ahmed Moein plays for Spanish second division club Leonesa. Meanwhile, midfielders Assim Madibo and Akram Afif both play for Belgian league club KAS Eupen.

Coach Park Hang Seo and his players will certainly have to keep an eye on Almoez Ali. In addition, Akram Afif and Hashim Ali, who have created 9 and 7 scoring opportunities for their teammates after 4 matches, also need to be controlled.

U23 Qatar is certainly the most different West Asian opponent that U23 Vietnam has to face in this tournament. An opponent with the same championship goal as U23 Iraq but their tactical awareness and wisdom are highly appreciated.