Masress : Al Sadd need 16 players to stop Barcelona, says Fossati

Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team ADCB launches ClimaTech Accelerator 2025 Egypt's golf chief Omar Hisham Talaat elected to Arab Golf Federation board Egypt's FRA approves first digital platform for real estate fund investments Egypt signs 15-year deal with Deutsche Bahn-El Sewedy consortium to run high-speed rail network Egypt extends Eni's oil and gas concession in Suez Gulf, Nile Delta to 2040 Egypt launches National Strategy for Rare Diseases at PHDC'25 Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Libya, Sudan at Turkey's SETA foundation UN warns of 'systematic atrocities,' deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan Egypt's Al-Sisi ratifies new criminal procedures law after parliament amends it Singapore's Destiny Energy to invest $210m in Egypt to produce 100,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually Egypt launches 3rd World Conference on Population, Health and Human Development Cowardly attacks will not weaken Pakistan's resolve to fight terrorism, says FM Egypt adds trachoma elimination to health success track record: WHO Egypt, Latvia sign healthcare MoU during PHDC'25 Egypt, India explore cooperation in high-tech pharmaceutical manufacturing, health investments Egypt, Sudan, UN convene to ramp up humanitarian aid in Sudan Egypt releases 2023 State of Environment Report Egyptians vote in 1st stage of lower house of parliament elections Grand Egyptian Museum welcomes over 12,000 visitors on seventh day Sisi meets Russian security chief to discuss Gaza ceasefire, trade, nuclear projects Egypt repatriates 36 smuggled ancient artefacts from the US Grand Egyptian Museum attracts 18k visitors on first public opening day 'Royalty on the Nile': Grand Ball of Monte-Carlo comes to Cairo VS-FILM Festival for Very Short Films Ignites El Sokhna Egypt's cultural palaces authority launches nationwide arts and culture events Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile Qatar to activate Egypt investment package with Matrouh deal in days: Cabinet Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments Al-Sisi: Cairo to host Gaza reconstruction conference in November Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19 Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform

Thank you for reporting!

This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.

Al Sadd need 16 players to stop Barcelona, says Fossati
Qatar's Al Sadd want FIFA to let them field a team of 16 players when they face European kings Barcelona in Thursday's Club World Cup semi-final in Japan

Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 14 - 12 - 2011

“I've got a plan,” Al Sadd's Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati told reporters with a twinkle in his eye.
“If they agree to my request we are allowed 15 or 16 players on the field, I think we have a chance!”
Barcelona, bidding to win their second Club World Cup in three years, are expected to overpower the Asian champions when they meet in Yokohama.
Sunday's final should feature the Spanish giants and Brazil's Santos, who face Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol in Wednesday's first semi-final in Toyota.
“Barcelona are the biggest team in the world,” sighed Al Sadd captain Abdulla Koni. “If Real Madrid can't beat Barcelona, how can we?”
Barca flew out to Japan immediately after a crucial 3-1 “Clasico' win over Real Madrid on Saturday, moving the Spanish champions above their fierce rivals to the top of La Liga.
Al Sadd beat Tunisia's Esperance 2-1 in the weekend quarter-finals to earn a crack at Barca, although their game plan appears to be damage limitation.
“We have to try our best,” said Koni. “We came here to learn. Realistically we only have a 10 percent chance of beating Barcelona. When they play us, they have to play slowly.”
Al Sadd defender Nadir Belhadj also appeared in a quandary about stopping Barca's Argentine wizard Lionel Messi.
“Messi and Barca are on another planet,” the Algerian told FIFA.com. “It's possible to guess what Messi is going to do but actually stopping him from doing it is another matter.”
Even Brazil's much-coveted striker Neymar said facing Barca in the final on Sunday would be a daunting prospect.
“I don't think there are any particular tactics you use against Barcelona,” shrugged the 19-year-old pin-up. “You just have to pray, ask for God's help and give it your best shot.”

Clic here to read the story from its source.