Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui and captain Hassan Al Haydos (right) during a press conference yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar and the UAE renew their eagerly-awaited football rivalry tonight when they meet in their final Group B match of the Arabian Gulf Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, with the group leadership at stake.
The match kicks off at 8:30pm, with both teams already assured of places in the semi-finals.
The UAE currently lead the group on goal difference after beating Yemen 4-0 and Bahrain 3-0, while Qatar have defeated Bahrain 2-0 and Yemen 1-0.
Bahrain and Yemen, meanwhile, are out of semi-final contention and will meet simultaneously in the other Group B match.
The Qatar-UAE fixture is traditionally one of the most eagerly-awaited encounters in Gulf football, with their most recent meeting adding another chapter to the rivalry.
Qatar defeated the UAE in a decisive World Cup qualifier in Doha last October to secure qualification for the World Cup through the traditional qualifying route for the first time.
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui expects another demanding contest but said his side’s focus remains on its own performance.
“Our current focus is on recovery and energy restoration, given the short preparation time. We want to deliver our best performance,” Lopetegui said.
“In my view, we are up against the UAE, one of the best teams in the tournament, led by a great coach. Tomorrow’s match will be against an opponent who is one of the top contenders to win the title, based on the level they have shown in the first two matches.”
Lopetegui said Qatar must be ready to cope with the limited preparation time.
“We have to give our best and try to control the course of the match. We have had limited time to prepare, so we need a high level of readiness from all the players,” he said.
Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos said the two victories have given the team confidence ahead of the match.
“After two wins in our first two matches, we have great momentum and team morale is high. Preparation time is short in tournaments like this, but we want to show our best and give a strong performance,” said the veteran forward.
“The preparations for our third match in the group stage have gone well. Now our focus is on performing as required and achieving a result that satisfies our ambitions.”
UAE coach Zlatko Dalic said he could rotate his squad after two demanding matches.
“We have some fatigue, but we will strive for victory. When you play a match every three days it is difficult, so I will give the opportunity to a number of players who did not participate much in the first two matches,” Dalic said.
“The Gulf Cup is a major tournament, and everyone is looking forward to winning its title. Before any match, we do not need motivation because the players realise the importance of the tournament and the need to win all matches.”
The semi-finals are scheduled for October 3, with the final set for October 6.
