Qatar Team Resume Training Ahead of Gulf Cup

Doha, January 01 (QNA) - Qatar's national football team are set to resume training on Wednesday as they prepare for the 21st Gulf Cup, which kicks off in Bahrain next Saturday. The Maroon will train at Aspire Academy on the back of today's rest after players underwent medical and physical tests. The full squad trained yesterday, with players divided into three groups by manager Paulo Autuori, who praised the high spirit and enthusiasm of players. Autuori will announce the 23-strong traveling squad after tomorrow's training session. The Qatari team will have a final training on Thursday morning before traveling to Manama at 6.00 p.m. of the same day. Considered as the region's football showpiece, The biennial Gulf Cup will be organized by Bahrain from January 5 to 18. The Maroon were pitted against Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, whom they face on the tournament's opening day. They lost 2-0 to Egypt last Friday in a friendly, which was the team's main test ahead of the eagerly anticipated tournament. (QNA)