MUSCAT: The Oman beach soccer team captain Khalid al Oraimi expressed confidence that Oman will reach the knockout phase at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2024 which is scheduled to take place in UAE from February 15 to 25, 2024.
Al Oraimi added in his remarks to an interview published at Fifa.com website: ”Oman will make positive results in the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup. We are confident of reaching the knockout phase in UAE 2024.”
Oman team, coached by the long serving head coach Talib Hilal, will begin their actual technical preparations for the major assignment this week at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
It will be the first presence for the Sultanate of Oman beach soccer team since their last appearance in August as the team took part in the second CIS Games in Belarus. Oman beach soccer team had ended their campaign in the fourth place after they had suffered a 7-3 defeat against Russia in the third and fourth play-off.
The Sultanate’s team had began their campaign strongly as they had defeated Uzbekistan 13-1 in the opener before they had received a 6-3 defeat against Egypt in the following match. In the concluding group game, Oman beat world champions Russia 7-4 to secure slot in the semifinals. Oman met hosts Belarus in the semis to lose it 4-0.
Responding to an inquiry on how did he get into beach soccer, Al Oraimi said that he got into beach soccer in 2012 when there was a tournament arranged for local teams. “I signed up to one of the teams and ended up winning the title, and I’ve been part of the Oman national team ever since.”
Oman will play in Group D against heavyweights Brazil (record five-time champions), Portugal (champions of 2015 and 2019) and Mexico teams.
The national team striker clarified that he has played a lot of matches against Iran and Japan. “They are two of the best sides not only in Asia but the entire world. They absolutely deserve to be ranked among the best because of their ability and their devotion to beach soccer, so I would have them fourth and fifth in the world,” he said.
Al Oraimi commented on Oman’s group at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup as a tough group. “Going up against Brazil, Portugal and Mexico, but we have played those teams before, and nothing is impossible in this game. We are really confident we can make it to the knockout phase. Everyone in the group is going to find the matches really tough, but we hope to qualify for the quarterfinals,” he added.
In the last question of the interview, Al Oraimi named Portugal’s Be Martins as the best player in the world right now.
Oman will commence their campaign with a tough encounter against the world champions Brazil on February 16. The match will start at 21:00 (Oman time). In the following match, Oman players will take on Mexico on February 16 at 15:30. In the concluding match of the group stage, Oman will face former champions Portugal on February 20 and the match will kick off at 17:00.
The first two toppers from each group will move to quarterfinals which will be scheduled on February 22 while semifinals will take place on February 24. The third and fourth play-off and the final are scheduled for February 25.
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