Dalic vows no slip up as UAE look to finish on top with Qatar romp

A rampant UAE will seek to continue winning momentum in their third and final round robin match of the Gulf Cup against Qatar on Wednesday.

After beating Bahrain and Yemen in the consecutive matches, UAE have already booked their berth in the semi-final. They are on the top of their group with six points followed by Qatar who also have procured the same points with as many wins. UAE are on the top with a goal difference.

Despite being on the top of their group, UAE Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic ruled out any complacency against Qatar as they want to go into the knockout round unbeaten. He confirmed the team’s readiness for an exciting clash against Qatar.

“We are going to play a big match against the Qatari team and we want to give our best. Everyone realizes the importance of this clash, and we are seeking victory,” said Dalic.

Dalic also stressed that he will try to utilize the opportunity to give a break to the front line players and test the bench strength.

“It is not easy to play a match every three days, which is why we must make some changes and grant opportunities to new players while maintaining our style, as we know very well the importance of the Qatari team,” he added.

The UAE coach also informed that the atmosphere in the dressing room is positive and everyone wants to maintain the winning momentum against Qatar.

“The atmosphere in the squad is positive and there is great harmony among players. We have to prove that we deserve to be in the semi-finals by winning the match against a strong opponent like Qatar.”

He also stressed on the necessity of bolstering the defence. Despite beating both Yemen and Bahrain by the margins of 4-0 and 3-0 respectively, Dalic is wary of Qatar’s attack.

“We must be extra careful in the defence and at the same time we can try out different options in the attack as this match will serve as a prelude to the semi-final. We are ready for all possibilities in the semi-finals, and we want to continue working on the same approach and deliver our absolute best,” he concluded.

Ali Saleh emphasized on the UAE’s desire to achieve a positive result and bring cheer to the fans.

“We want to deliver a performance that satisfies our supporters and secure a win. We are highly focused on the match and we will do our best. We don’t want any kind of leniency as this is an opportunity for us to do the dress rehearsal for the knockout stage,” said Saleh.

Qatar’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui also stressed on the importance of the match. He highlighted the necessity of focusing on small details and playing with full commitment.

“We are focused on recovery aspects, and we want to put up our best performance against one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament. They are also a strong contender for the title.

“They have become more dangerous under the new coach because of his vast experience. We must focus on ourselves and mind the small details. Our full focus is on the match and we are not thinking about the semis.

He also dropped a hint at testing the bench strength ahead of the knockout stage. Qatar have also won both their matches and booked a spot in the semis.

“We want to give opportunities to some players, and it is important for them to get playing time ahead of the last four clashes.

Regarding Akram Afif playing in a different position on the pitch, Lopetegui said: “Akram made a number of sacrifices by playing in this role, and he is a player who is capable of scoring.

“We have created many chances. I am happy with his performance and the performance of the rest of the players, and I am not worried about his positioning in the central pitch.”

Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos, said, “There isn’t extensive preparation for the third match of the group stage. We are focusing on the fitness of the players and trying to test the players who have not got enough chances so far”

Meanwhile, in the other match of the day, Saudi Arabia will take on Iraq. Saudi are also unbeaten in the tournament and have secured a spot in the semis with two successive wins from as many matches.

Saudi defeated Kuwait 1-0 and Oman 3-0 in their previous two matches.

Serafeim Anglenas, assistant coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, affirmed that there is a strong desire to secure top spot in Group A with a victory over Iraq in the third and final game of the preliminary stages.

Anglenas informed: “Preparations for tomorrow’s match have gone well. We have some issues with injuries, so we must focus on the available players and give our best with the options we have.”

“We aim to win tomorrow’s match, and we want to finish top of the group. We need to see how we can perform in absence of top players because of the injuries. We will field the most suitable squad.

“We have some new players, and we will give them a chance to play. It is important to give these players a few minutes on the pitch, while keeping our desire to win,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the Gulf Cup Football Federation held a meeting yesterday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—on the sidelines of the Gulf Cup—chaired by Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Thani, the Federation’s President, and attended by Executive Committee members.

Mohammed Abdullah Hazzam Al Dhaheri, General Secretary of the Football Association and a member of the Gulf Cup Football Federation’s Executive Committee, participated in the meeting.

The meeting addressed the Iraqi Football Association's bid to host the 28th edition of the Gulf Cup—the only hosting bid submitted by member associations.

The Executive Committee approved the request and awarded Iraq the right to host the tournament, in accordance with the regulations, by laws, and standards adopted by the Gulf Cup Football Federation.