One of the most significant movements in the latest edition of FIFA ranking, released on Thursday, is Qatar without a doubt. The powerful Asian champion climbed 16 impressive places to be ranked 42nd in the world, the courtesy shown impressively in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021.
This is the highest rating Qatar, equaling the sign they set in 1993 in the first FIFA ranking edition. And this is all more important for Qatar, given that this will come with a homeworld cup just a little more than a year. Maroon peaked at a good time in front of their first World Cup campaign, judging from the show and now rank.
They set the tongue to shake with a great campaign in the 2019 Asian Cup, where they passed people like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea and had to win over Japan in the final. Now, with their 2021 gold cup campaign, they have presented a reminder that Maroon will not go to the 2022 World Cup as only the host but they are there on achievement.
A group of baseball players playing soccer matches: Qatar; 2021 Gold Cup © provided by the purpose of Qatar; 2021 Gold Cup
Qatar was invited to be the visitors to the Gold Cup 2021, the North American continental competition. And people Felix Sanchez BAZ fully utilizes the stage to showcase their skills outside their continent, reach the semifinals. And they lost in place in the final only narrow, the 86th minute goal by Gyasi Zardes helped the US sneak into the final. And Hassan al-Haydos missed a penalty in the match too. Qatar can very well have won the tie on another day. They have 18 shots on goal which contradicts 6 by the US.
They played a football brand that was open, fast, and attacked who saw them scored twice as high as nine goals in the group stage, extorting seven points with victory over Grenada (4-0) and Honduras (2-0) and A 3-3 draw against Panama. El Salvador’s challenge was in the quarter-finals 3-2 before they faced the winner finally the US. And the 10th rank team in the world (20 during the Qatar match) had to dig very deeply to find the way past Qatar.
It also marks the end of the 12-game unbeaten by the Asian team. It should also be noted that Qatar is the only side that completes the second round of an invincible Asian World Cup qualifier. Interestingly, Qatar played Croatia friendly before the Gold Cup. Even though Croatia only showed players planted at home, Men Felix Sanches Baz won a victory.
Almoez Ali Qatar; 2021 Gold Cup © provided by the aim of Almoez Ali from Qatar; 2021 Gold Cup
And if running to the semifinals is a cake for Qatar’s efforts, the sugar layer on the cake is that Almoez Ali, the 24-year-old star striker, is the TopScorer tournament with four goals with his name. Also impressive is people like Akram Afif and captain al-Haydos.
Qatar’s brilliant performance in foreign conditions defines their ability in many ways, especially after their Copa America campaign in 2019. Once again playing as a visiting team, Qatar ended without victory in the group stage. However, most importantly, they are very competitive, holding Paraguay before suffering lean losses for the Continental giants in Colombia and Argentina.
Of course, Qatar’s opposition has a Gold Cup may not be the strongest in the world, of course not the expected level in the World Cup next year. But the competitiveness and style of the Qatar football play promised a good time.
In the Gold Cup, Qatar looked at a glance about what they expected in the World Cup – a team that worked hard, was not afraid to give up ownership and wait for their chances and teams that move through their attacking equipment at once, at speed. Of course, no one expects a supernatural show but the increase in Qatar in the soccer echelon makes competitive show guarantees.
