Preparations for Qatar’s crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier with China were bizarrely overshadowed by the issue of air-conditioning on Wednesday, just 24 hours before kick-off.
Hosts Qatar will cool pitch temperatures to around 24 degrees Celsius (75 Fahrenheit) on Thursday for the crunch match in AFC’s Group C.
Currently Qatar is top of the group with a 100 per cent record from their three games.
China sit second, also unbeaten, but have seven points from three games following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Hong Kong.
Temperatures in Doha are predicted to reach approximately 35 degrees Celsius for Thursday’s early evening kick-off.
But bemused visitors China, who have spent time in Dubai to acclimatize for the game, were only informed of the use of air conditioning on Wednesday evening.
Asked in a press conference on Wednesday when they were told about the use of cooling technology, China’s coach Alain Perrin looked at his watch and said: “About 20 minutes ago.”
His captain Zheng Zhi diplomatically said air-conditioning would be good for both sides but confirmed the Chinese had only just been informed.
Qatar’s coach Jose Daniel Carreno said the cooling technology was a “positive thing for both teams”.
Heat, Qatar and World Cups are never far from controversy.
The tiny Gulf state is hosting the World Cup finals in 2022 and has had to switch the tournament from its traditional June-July dates to November and December that year because of concerns over its fierce desert climate.
Preparations for Qatar’s crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier with China were bizarrely overshadowed by the issue of air-conditioning on Wednesday, just 24 hours before kick-off.
