MUSCAT : Queiroz will guide Oman through the crucial fourth round of the AFC qualifiers in October, where the team has been placed in Group A, alongside Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The former Real Madrid coach and assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United brings with him a wealth of international experience, having managed national teams including Portugal, South Africa, Colombia, and Iran.

Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad Al Mukhaini praised the appointment, stating: “There is no disagreement about the distinguished resume of coach Carlos Queiroz. He is a big name in the world of coaching, and possesses extensive and diverse experience with international teams. From this perspective, I see signing him as an important step for the national team, provided that this step is supported by hard work and sufficient time for the coach to implement his technical ideas.”

However, Al Mukhaini also expressed some reservations about the programme Queiroz is expected to implement, noting that despite leading Iran to two World Cup appearances, expectations must be grounded in Oman’s unique footballing landscape.

He added that the time remaining before the qualifiers is sufficient for any serious coach to build a comprehensive technical team, especially given Queiroz’s solid track record and extensive experience in the qualifiers. “This is an additional strength, especially since he knows the teams we will face in the group and has previously worked in these environments,” he added.

He explained that there are real challenges, most notably raising the technical and physical level of the players, something that is currently not sufficiently available in local competitions or in the clubs’ training programmes. Furthermore, the players’ response to the coach’s ideas must be swift, as time cannot tolerate delay.

Former Oman international Fawzi Bashir also welcomed the move, highlighting Queiroz’s understanding of Gulf football culture and his leadership qualities. “The name Carlos Queiroz is well known. He is a great coach with a long and successful experience in leading teams to the World Cup finals, such as the Iranian national team. He is also no stranger to the region, having worked with Gulf clubs and national teams, and this is an important positive factor, especially since we will be playing the play-off against teams from the same environment, which gives him an advantage in knowing the nature of the Gulf player and how to deal with him,” he stated.

Bashir added that success would require a unified effort from the coaching staff, administrative team, media, fans, and above all, the players. “I believe that his selection was a successful decision by the Oman Football Association, especially since the journey to qualify for the World Cup requires a great deal of integrated work from everyone, whether from the technical, administrative, or media staff, as well as from the fans. The greatest burden will also be on the players, and they undoubtedly realise the extent of the responsibility, and they will be up to the task – God willing,” he added.

Sports journalist Walid bin Zaher Al-Abri said the decision to bring Queiroz on board followed a concerning dip in performance. “The national team did not perform at the required level, technically and physically, against middle-ranking teams in Asia, and suffered a 3-0 defeat to Kyrgyzstan, a result that has not happened in the qualifiers since our loss to Qatar in 2001, despite facing major teams such as Iran, South Korea, and Japan,” he explained.

He praised Queiroz’s extensive experience, noting his leadership of national teams across four continents and his 36-match run in World Cup qualifiers with Iran. “Although his recent experiences with Colombia and Qatar were not complete, he reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, losing on penalties. He also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup on penalties,” he noted.

He explained that Queiroz is capable of bringing about a technical shift in the national team, but significant challenges await him, most notably getting to know the players, especially given that the league is suspended and the Omani national team’s environment is different from that of previous national teams he has coached.

He noted that the Omani league is relatively backward, and the average age of the national team is high, which are challenges Queiroz must address. He also noted that Queiroz’s defensive style may not suit Omani players, but play-off matches are won, not played. He expressed hope that the Central Asian Championship would help shape the starting lineup ahead of the matches against Qatar and the UAE.

National coach Nasser bin Mohammed Al Hajri said: “The change was inevitable, even though the move carried some risk, especially given that our team’s qualification for the play-offs was not convincing from a technical standpoint. We faced great difficulty until the final moments of our last match against Palestine, and qualification was only decided by a penalty kick in stoppage time.”

Explaining further, he pointed out that the most important question at this stage is: “Is Queiroz the most suitable? In my opinion, yes. He possesses sufficient technical experience and has previously led major teams to the World Cup finals. He also has a good understanding of the nature of the game in the Gulf region, which gives him an advantage, especially since our upcoming play-off matches will be against Qatar and the UAE.”

He explained that Queiroz’s biggest challenge currently is his lack of familiarity with the players, especially since the league is currently on hiatus, which could make it difficult for him to directly evaluate them. However, the presence of national assistant coach Hamad Al Azani, who has extensive experience and a thorough knowledge of the players, will be a key factor in facilitating Queiroz’s task of selecting the most appropriate lineup during this sensitive phase.

Oman’s campaign in the fourth round of the qualifiers will begin against Qatar on October 8 at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. The second match, also at the same venue, will be against the UAE.

This will be preceded by a training camp in Turkey, scheduled to start on August 20 and continue until the national team participates in the Central Asian Football Federation Championship, which will be the final preparation stage before the Asian play-offs.

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