{"id":12763,"date":"2012-02-23T23:32:11","date_gmt":"2012-02-24T07:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2012\/02\/23\/qatars-khalfan-qwe-love-a-challengeq\/"},"modified":"2012-02-23T23:32:11","modified_gmt":"2012-02-24T07:32:11","slug":"qatars-khalfan-qwe-love-a-challengeq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2012\/02\/23\/qatars-khalfan-qwe-love-a-challengeq\/","title":{"rendered":"Qatar’s Khalfan: “We love a challenge”"},"content":{"rendered":"

FIFA.com – TEHRAN,  Qatar are within touching distance of the fourth and final round of Asian qualifiers for the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, requiring just a single point from their February 29 encounter with Iran<\/span> in Tehran to secure the second qualifying slot from Group E.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>FIFA.com <\/b>caught up with 24-year-old star midfielder Ibrahim Khalfan to talk about Qatar<\/span>\u2019s Asian qualifying campaign and the dream of representing his country in Brazil.<\/p>\n

One point needed<\/b>
With Iran<\/span> already assured of their place in the last round, it remains to be seen whether Bahrain or Qatar<\/span> have what it takes to claim the runners-up spot and the second fourth round berth. The odds favour Qatar<\/span>, who have nine points to Bahrain\u2019s six and need only a draw to close their rivals out and go through. Be that as it may, Ibrahim Khalfan is taking nothing for granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a massive game for us,\u201d he insisted. \u201cThere\u2019s no guaranteeing that we\u2019ll qualify. Everything comes down to how we perform on the night. We know how tough Iran<\/span> can be at home so we have be ready to give it everything and not waste our chances. We\u2019re determined to do just that and we\u2019re looking forward to proving we can do the job and go through to the fourth round.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two sides have something of a history in FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Iran<\/span> have taken the spoils in three of their previous encounters versus a lone victory for Qatar<\/span>, while this year\u2019s set of qualifiers has produced a draw in their only game to date. Add to that Iran<\/span>\u2019s desire to assert their dominance over the group and enter the next round on a high and you have all the ingredients of a classic encounter.<\/p>\n

Qatar have steadily improved their performances over the course of the third round, following draws against Iran<\/span> and Bahrain with two important wins over Indonesia. Another draw with Bahrain earned them the runner\u2019s-up slot and a solid shot at reaching the next round.<\/p>\n

Former Asian Player of the Year Khalfan is quick to concur with this assessment: \u201cWe\u2019ve had an excellent run of games in the group. First of all, we\u2019re unbeaten, which always gives you a lot of self-confidence going into a game. After drawing twice we needed two wins against Indonesia to regain lost ground and we showed we had the courage to pull it off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first Indonesia game was in Jakarta,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe weather conditions made it very difficult but we proved that we could shrug them off and win regardless. On the return leg we made sure of it: four goals to nil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bahrain were quite a different proposition. \u201cThat second Bahrain game was a full-on derby,\u201d he explained, \u201cand I think a draw was a good result. It got us to where we are today. Our destiny is in our own hands now. The players are happy, basically, and we\u2019re hoping to finish the job with a win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qatar\u2019s third round performances have yielded two wins and three draws, with eight goals scored versus just three conceded. Ibrahim Khalfan\u2019s contribution of three goals makes him the side\u2019s top scorer.<\/p>\n

Big ambitions and a lot of confidence<\/b>
In the last 12 years the small Persian Gulf kingdom has reached the final round of the FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers on three occasions, but it was their campaign for France 1998 that stirs profoundly mixed emotions. Qatar<\/span> had come back into contention after looking unlikely to qualify, but in their must-win final game, an experienced Saudi Arabia proved too strong and the dream was deferred.<\/p>\n

Fans have high hopes that their side can do it this time, and given the excellent quality of Qatari football in recent times, their confidence seems far from unreasonable.<\/p>\n

For Khalfan, it is a simple equation: \u201cFirst we have to get past Iran<\/span>. If we go through then it\u2019s down to who wants it most. With a berth at the World Cup for grabs, it\u2019s won\u2019t be about form or odds any longer. We love a challenge and we\u2019re steeling ourselves for the biggest of all. Our preparations for the final round will be excellent, then we\u2019ll show everybody what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The final few months of 2011 saw Qatari football in the ascendant, with local giants Al Sadd winning Asia\u2019s premier tournament, the AFC Champions League, then proving it was no fluke by taking third place at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup.<\/p>\n

Khalfan was a vital component of the club\u2019s amazing run, and naturally enough, he is delighted. \u201cAl Sadd\u2019s achievements have been superb that\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cWinning the continental title and then playing so well at the Club World Cup showed that Qatari football can compete with the best. Now we have to make sure we benefit from these successes. The Al Sadd players are flying and we have to pass that feeling on to our team-mates in the national side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone is proud of us,\u201d he added. \u201cPerformances like that are a matter of national pride. Winning the Champions League is the kind of thing we have been dreaming about for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready for more<\/b>
In 2006, Khalfan was crowned Asia\u2019s best player, an honour that gave him the confidence he needed to pile up the titles for Al Sadd and dazzle for Qatar<\/span>. This recognition, taken together with his many on-field achievements, has had a profound effect on the player, and is something he is quick to acknowledge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so thankful for everything I\u2019ve achieved in the last few years,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cWinning the AFC Champions League with Al Sadd followed by third place at the Club World Cup really restored my morale after coming back from injury. But that aside, I\u2019m hoping to do much more with the national side in these World Cup qualifiers. If the World Cup isn\u2019t an incentive, I don\u2019t know what is, and I will do everything I can and more to take Qatar<\/span> there.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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