We have benefited immensely by playing tough matches in Europe: Qatar goalkeeper Hassan

QFA GASPERICH (Luxembourg) Qatar goalkeeper Youssif Hassan has that the national team has benefited immensely from playing ‘tough matches’ during the three...

QFAGASPERICH (Luxembourg)Qatar goalkeeper Youssif Hassan has that the national team has benefited immensely from playing ‘tough matches’ during the three-game series in Europe.On Tuesday, the 2019 Asian champions Qatar produced a fighting 1-1 draw against Luxembourg following two tense matches against Portugal and Serbia earlier in the week.The three matches were part of the 2022 World Cup European qualifying series. On Tuesday, Ivandro Borges Sanches (31) scored for Luxembourg while Homam Alamin equalised for Qatar (42).“Our team has benefited immensely from the experience of participating in the European qualifiers. We faced strong teams such as Serbia, Portugal and Luxembourg. Playing against was an outstanding experience,” said Hassan after the match on Tuesday.“The results are not important in such matches, and the most important thing is to gain experience from facing big teams that we shall play in the World Cup,” he added.“We could have come out better against Luxembourg, but we did not adjust to the atmosphere of the match quickly. That does not mean that we did not get a good return. We were good, especially in the second half,” he said.Regarding his absence from the national team in the last week, he concluded: “I had to step away due to injury, and I am now returning gradually, step by step.”Qatar wrapped up their European trip with a fighting 1-1 draw against Luxembourg.The two teams were playing a 2022 FIFA World Cup European qualifying match in Group A. Ivandro Borges Sanches (31) scored for Luxembourg, while Homam Alamin equalised for Qatar (42).In the 31st minute, Luxembourg opened the scoring in the battling clash. Sanches scored from close range following a neat cross provided by teammate Edvin Muratović.In a brilliant move, Qatar produced the equaliser in the 42nd minute. After a long cross from the centre, Alamin charged into the Luxembourg box from the left flank.Wiry but pacy, Alamin went past two defenders and then smartly flicked the ball to the keeper’s left from an acute angle to score Qatar’s equaliser.Seconds before the end of the first half, Akram Afif slipped into the Luxembourg box, but he was marked well just as he was about to shoot. Soon both sides walked off the pitch at the newly built Stade de Luxembourg with the scoreboard showing 1-1.In the 50th minute, Qatar”s Abdulaziz Hatim shot from outside the area, but the ball narrowly missed the Luxembourg crossbar.In the 69th minute, feared striker Almoez Ali had an open chance to score but his shot – from inside the box – slipped past Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris.Qatar played against Portugal (1-3) and Serbia (4-0) earlier in the week. Qatar are appearing in the European phase of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup to gain match practice ahead of football’s showpiece event in Qatar next year.This series of three qualifying matches was the first active participation for Qatar since the Gold Cup semi-final loss to the US early last month.Qatar is ranked 42 globally, whereas Luxembourg – coached by Luc Holtz – is ranked 96 on the FIFA computer.The Qatari squad will return to Doha on Wednesday.