Bashar Abdullah of the island Net: mistakes overthrew the blue .. And Qatar or Saudi Arabia closest to the title of Gulf 24

Interviewed by Nasser Sadeq

Former Kuwaiti captain Bashar Abdullah is considered one of the most prominent stars in the history of Al-Azraq.He contributed to his country's crowning of the Gulf Cup in 1996 and 1998.He also represented many of the major Gulf clubs, Al-Rayyan of Qatar, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Al-Ain. Kuwait exit from the first round of the Gulf 24.

How do you explain the strong start of the Kuwaiti team with a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia and then retreat and exit from the first round after two consecutive defeats to Oman and Bahrain?

The strong start was only in the result and not in the performance that was marred by big mistakes.

What does the Kuwaiti team need to avoid these mistakes?

It lacks many things that are difficult to count in a minute or two, the subject needs an hour or two, the team needs strong government and periodic support and the application of professionalism, and these are simple things and it needs much larger things.

But Kuwait, which has the biggest history in the Gulf Cup, how can you not form a team to restore the glories of the golden generations of blue?

Things were different when we compared the oppression of the current generation, when we compare a team in an era where there was no professionalism in Asia and there was no significant development in football and there were no strong teams like now with the current generation that has less potential than other countries, this comparison is unfair for this generation.

As a former star and analyst at BN Sports channels currently what do you think of the Gulf 24 so far?

The tournament was technically enjoyable and we saw beautiful matches in both groups, with the exception of Yemen, the rest of the games were exciting, and the day before yesterday was the top of the excitement in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, it was volatile excitement and stress for us as Kuwaiti fans, and the remaining three games I hope to continue the excitement and goals that we saw.

Thursday's semi-final will face Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq with Bahrain, who will stand for the title of the 24th edition of the Gulf Cup?

If you ask me who will run for the final, I will say it is difficult to predict, let alone who wins the title, facing Saudi Arabia and Qatar is very difficult to expect who wins, and in the other game may be Iraq somewhat superior to Bahrain, and may be the winner of the match between Saudi Arabia and Qatar has the greatest chances ( To crown the title).

How do you explain the surge that has happened to the Iraqi team since its recent victory over Iran in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers?

Talents, the Iraqi team always has talents that may have fallen in a certain period but returned again, the team participated in two rows in the tournament, where he participated in a row in the first Qatar and then a second row Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.

Although there are many talents in the Gulf countries, but professionals are rare, what is the secret of this in your opinion?

The mentality of the Gulf player who does not have the ambition to professionalize, his ambition is to be with his family amid his family and friends and a good salary and rewards win, and professionalism is not only material but other things require changing the mentality of the Gulf player.

Do you think that the Gulf leagues can produce strong teams?

No, for a number of reasons, such as the low population density in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, (weak) patrols and the lack of professional players abroad.

But Qatar, despite its small population, won the 2019 Asian Cup?

Yes, and deservingly, but if we talk about Japan, for example, we find it in all tournaments to win the title and qualify for the World Cup always and this is the continuity, and Qatar will win the Asian Cup and may compete, but will lose continuity, because the possibilities in Japan, Australia and South Korea better than the possibilities we have.

Do you think that the Gulf teams can go beyond the first round of the World Cup?

Difficult is that the ambition of the Gulf teams is to qualify for the World Cup, but the passage to the second round is a huge step for them.

Finally, what do you think of Qatar's preparations for the 2022 World Cup?

We are talking about a country that will host the World Cup and now hosts the Club World Cup in a few days, and hosts world championships in athletics and beach games, and a country hosting all these tournaments means that the infrastructure has a great deal, I watched the stadiums of the South and Khalifa and watched the home stadium from the outside Architectural art, as well as the metro, and in a few years people will be impressed by it as I am.