Minnows dream of date with Liverpool at Club World Cup

Fresh from securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool’s involvement in the Club World Cup does not begin until next week, but the fight for the right to face Jurgen Klopp’s men in Qatar starts on Wednesday.Competing as champions of the host country, Qatar’s Al-Sadd – coached by Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez – entertain minnows Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia in the tournament’s opening game at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.The winner of that game will advance to a tie against Mexico’s Monterrey, the CONCACAF Champions League winners, on Saturday. Whoever emerges from that match will then be able to look forward to a plum semi-final against Liverpool on December 18.While Al-Sadd have a world famous coach and some notable players – former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi and the Algeria striker Baghdad Bounedjah – the story of Hienghene Sport is a remarkable one.The amateur side from the French overseas territory are in Qatar, and dreaming of taking on Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and company, after winning Oceania’s Champions League in May.“We have taken a route to get here, and even if it was at Oceania level, football is a worldwide game and we are allowed… Read full this story

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