Heat on Qatar, China ahead of World Cup clash

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 are 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." "If we knew about the air conditioning before the game, maybe we would have stayed in China rather than gone to Dubai," joked Frenchman Perrin. His captain Zheng Zhi diplomatically said air-conditioning would be good for both sides but confirmed the Chinese had only just been informed. "This is the first time I will play in a match with air-conditioning. The information is a little bit late but it's good news," he told reporters. Qatar's coach Jose Daniel Carreno said the cooling technology was a "positive thing for both teams". "The players will be much more energetic, I think it will be helpful to both teams, not one at the expense of the other," he added. 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. - 'Very important match' - Qatar and China are vying for the top spot in Group C, with the winners assured automatic progression to the next stage of qualification. Whoever comes second in the group, which also contains Maldives and Bhutan, may qualify as one of the four best losers from eight groups. Twelve teams will progress to a final group stage, where four sides will ultimately qualify for Russia. Fresh from a 3-2 win in Hong Kong and a record 15-0 thrashing of Bhutan, the Uruguayan Carreno said victory on Thursday would not guarantee Qatar a first-place finish, even though it would put them five points ahead of China with four games to play. "This is going to be a very important match but there are other remaining matches and we will need to do our best," he said. Perrin, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Wednesday, said his team could still qualify even if they lose in Qatar. "I think these are the two best teams in the group and we are playing for first position but second can also give us qualification."