Tajikistan players during a training session ahead of the last 16 match against UAE.
Doha, Qatar: Tajikistan will be looking to continue their unforgettable journey at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, but blocking their path to the quarter-finals is a confident UAE side.
The Petar Segrt-coached men take on the Emiratis at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on the opening day of the knockout round, looking to continue their fairytale run.
Ranked 106th in the world and making their debut appearance at Asia’s premier tournament, Tajikistan stunned all by holding China before defeating Lebanon in the group stage.
Their opponents, UAE are no strangers to the tournament as well as the knockouts, having even reached the semi-finals in the last two Asian Cups. Despite the mammoth task ahead, Segrt is adamant that his team is not going to be satisfied by the Round of 16 appearance.
“The group stage was a very sensational success for Tajikistan, but now we want more. I cannot go and talk to the players and say we are now happy; let us go home. We will look for our chances,” a determined Segrt said during a pre-match press conference, yesterday.
UAE players during training yesterday.
Today’s encounter will be Tajikistan’s third meeting with UAE, while the West Asian side holds an unbeaten record in their last two matchups. However, their most recent encounter ended in a goalless draw in March last year, a fact which may have helped boost Segrt’s confidence.
Tajikistan will miss the services of several players due to injuries, while key midfielder Amadoni Kamolov still serving a suspension after being sent off during the clash against Qatar.
However, the 57-year-old coach kept calm and said he must find new solutions.
“We will look how much petrol we have in our tank, how much energy we have for this game,” said a smiling Segrt, who shook hands with all those who were present at the press conference yesterday as a token of gratitude.
“We will try to give United Arab Emirates a very good fight. We believe in us.”
His opposite number Paulo Bento stressed the importance of not underestimating Tajikistan, labeling it a “big mistake.”
UAE advanced as group runners-up, defeating Hong Kong, drawing with Palestine, and losing to Iran.
UAE are on a mission to go a step further than they did in 2015 and 2019, and Bento, who served a one-match suspension after receiving a red card against Palestine, said: “We don’t have space to make mistakes because we don’t have that possibility as we had in the group stage,” he said.
“I’m sure that our players are going to show the right attitude and the wish to keep doing well and go to the quarter-finals.”
If they succeed, UAE will make their third consecutive Asian Cup quarter-final, while a loss would create history, making Tajikistan the first team since Japan in 1992 to win their maiden knockout stage match.
