Monday’s tournament opener for Oman at the Arab Cup in Doha will not be an easy one. Oman’s focus during the tournament will be to make the best use of every minute, as the team competes in the Arab Cup and likely tries to build momentum in each game while participating in multiple tournaments. Qatar is hosting the Arab Cup, which will see 16 national teams compete. Oman will be competing in a group with other national teams with strong regional backgrounds.
Oman qualified for the Arab Cup by drawing with Somalia in their qualification match and then defeating Somalia 4 goals to 1 in a penalty shootout. While the qualification process demonstrated Oman’s resilience as a team, it also underscored the delicate balance between winning and losing. Oman will be tested immediately in Group B against Saudi Arabia, which has a wealth of talent and recent successes on its roster, including players that helped the Saudi national team qualify for the World Cup and win various Continental Championships.
Oman, under Carlos Queiroz’s direction, has made significant strides in terms of tactically appearing more polished and producing more stable performances; however, the task of converting training and practice scenarios into successful performances across 90 minutes against a well-versed and highly skilled Saudi team presents a considerable difficulty in achieving this. Queiroz has asked his squad members to remain calm and composed while he continues to do his job efficiently. His players have taken this advice and collectively rely on defending as their main asset. A coherent organizational strategy for Oman will consist of developing a collective defense system and a series of counterattacks throughout the duration of the Arab Cup.
The Arab Cup is a vehicle for all member countries to develop their younger generation of potential players and improve their World Cup qualifying approach along with the tactical concepts they intend to use in a competitive situation on the world stage. For Oman, it is their chance not only to advance out of the group stage in Doha but also to continue developing young players capable of helping the Oman national team compete successfully at the next level in the restructured Asian World Cup qualifying tournament. Omani fans should closely monitor these developing players, as their performance could potentially transform Oman’s selection process for future World Cup qualifiers.
The stadiums in Doha, including the renowned Khalifa International, will serve as a polished showcase for the excitement of the Football World Cup, as well as the excitement of the Carnival of Flags, Noise, and Fast Turnaround times. A robust start will alleviate the anxieties of the Oman team, which concluded their qualification period with disappointment and may be aiming to establish a precedent for a potentially historic event in the upcoming month. If Oman loses, the team’s ability to bounce back from the defeat will be tested, providing a “real-time” evaluation of their leadership, tactics, and belief.
Regardless of how this game turns out, the first game is much more than just a game. It will provide a glimpse into what is to come for a team that is trying to combine veteran leadership with excitement coming from youth on a growing Arab football stage.
