Who: Jordan vs Qatar
What: AFC Asian Cup 2023 closing
When: Saturday, February 10, 2024, 6pm (15:00 GMT)
The place: Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar
After practically a month of high-octane soccer, that includes a number of surprises and upsets, the AFC Asian Cup is about to conclude with an all-Arab closing, as hosts Qatar look to defend their title in opposition to giant-killers Jordan.
Qatar entered the event because the reigning champions, however they weren’t counted among the many outright favourites to raise the trophy owing to their poor report in opposition to higher-ranked sides within the build-up to the occasion.
However Tintin Marquez Lopez‘s facet have exceeded expectations with an all-round efficiency and by reaching the ultimate for a second straight time. Having fun with the assist of a partisan crowd, Qatar have scored in each sport on their approach to the ultimate.
“I’m very proud to be part of this squad – a month in the past nobody anticipated us to succeed in the ultimate, nobody thought we may ship these performances,” Qatar skipper Hassan Al-Haydos instructed reporters on Friday.
“Working along with the coach, technical workers and the Qatar Soccer Affiliation, we had been capable of attain this degree due to the squad’s unity.”
‘Jordan will reply to the critics’
Whereas Qatar will carry the burden of expectations, Jordan will play with nothing to lose of their maiden AFC Asian Cup closing.
The shock bundle of the event, Jordan completed third of their group and scraped by way of to the knockouts, the place they out of the blue elevated their sport to eradicate heavyweights Iraq and South Korea.
That was a triumph for his or her Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, who was closely criticised once they completed 2023 with out a win in seven video games, which included six losses.
“I’m very glad with our achievement as a result of it was a private problem,” Ammouta mentioned.
“When a group loses the coach is blamed and once they win they are saying it’s due to group morale. We put together with all facets in thoughts – bodily, psychological, tactical and psychological.
“I hope we’ll be prepared when the primary whistle blows and we’ll reply to the critics, 99 p.c of the time I don’t hearken to them since I don’t discover something helpful.”
A optimistic temper throughout the 🇯🇴 Jordan camp forward of their date with future tomorrow! #AsianCupFinal | #AsianCup2023 | #JORvQAT pic.twitter.com/rL5DIFMejt
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 9, 2024
Jordan’s gamers to look at
Mousa Al-Tamari
With three targets and an help, Al-Tamari has been Jordan’s standout performer. The one participant within the Jordanian squad who plies his commerce in Europe – with Montpellier SC in France – Al-Tamari’s direct play and dribbling pace make him a risk to any defence.
Yazan Al-Arab
Al-Arab been a colossal determine for Jordan within the coronary heart of their defence, forming a strong centre-back partnership with Abdallah Nasib. Powerfully constructed and standing at 1.86 metres (six ft three inches), Al-Arab is a towering presence in each containers.
Yazan Al-Naimat
Al-Naimat has a knack for locating house between defenders and as a rule, instances his run to perfection. Having scored within the group match in opposition to South Korea, the 24-year-old went up one other degree when he scored within the final 16 and semifinals.
We’re able to the ultimate 💪 #AsianCup2023 #الاردن_قطر pic.twitter.com/sDqfibChwc
— Mousa Al Tamari (@TamariMousa) February 9, 2024
Qatar’s gamers to look at
Akram Afif
Afif has been in distinctive type, bagging 5 targets and three assists. His tempo, ability and imaginative and prescient have created havoc for the opposition defenders all through the event.
Hasan Al-Haydos
Al-Haydos has performed the skipper’s function to perfection along with his technical prowess, distinctive imaginative and prescient and robust management qualities. The 33-year-old can rating too, as stunningly seen within the group stage match in opposition to China, with additional targets in opposition to Palestine and Uzbekistan.
Almoez Ali
Not like 2019, Ali has not been firing within the targets at this event however there isn’t any disputing the very important function he performs within the squad. The ahead’s work charge is second to none, as he’s equally adept in main assaults and falling again to defend.
Akram Afif has scored or assisted 19 of the final 29 targets for Qatar within the #AsianCup 🇶🇦
⚽️ 6
🅰️ 13— Wael Jabir (@waeljabir) February 7, 2024
Type information
Jordan started their group stage by beating Malaysia 4-0 after which held South Korea to a 2-2 draw. They misplaced 1-0 to Bahrain however managed to qualify for the following spherical, the place they knocked out Iraq 3-2 in a dramatic last-16 conflict.
The quarterfinal noticed Jordan beat Tajikistan 1-0 they usually pulled off their largest consequence within the semifinals once they beat three-time champions South Korea 2-0.
Qatar maintained a one hundred pc profitable report within the group stage, beating Lebanon, Tajikistan and China. They then edged out Palestine 2-1 within the final 16 however needed to work arduous within the quarterfinals for a 3-2 penalty shootout win in opposition to Uzbekistan.
Within the semifinals in opposition to Iran, Qatar pulled off a mighty 3-2 win.
Jordan: W W W L D
Qatar: W W W W W
QATAR 🇶🇦 is within the finals for the second time of their historical past#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/icdFoh51VO
— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) February 7, 2024
Targets galore
A whopping 128 targets have been scored throughout 50 matches at this yr’s event. Of those, finalists Jordan have scored the joint-highest (12) together with Iran and Japan. Qatar are joint second on 11 with South Korea.
Strong defences
Jordan have saved a really strong defensive report at this yr’s event, conserving 4 clear sheets of their six matches. Qatar, alternatively, have saved three clear sheets – all of these coming throughout their group stage.
Prize cash
Champions: $5 million
Runners-up: $3 million
Head-to-head report
Jordan and Qatar have performed one another 23 instances throughout aggressive and pleasant video games. They final met in a pleasant in 2018 when Jordan misplaced 2-0.
Matches: 23
Jordan received: 6
Qatar received: 12
Attracts: 5
Staff information
Qatar’s predicted beginning XI: Yazeed Abu Laila, Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab, Bara’ Marie, Ehsan Haddad, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Mohammad Abu Cannabis, Mousa Al-Tamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi, Salem Yazan Al-Naimat.
Jordan’s predicted beginning XI: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Mohammed Waad, Lucas Mendes, Almoez Ali, Tarek Salman, Jassem Gaber, Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Ali Asad, Ahmed Fathi.
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭!
Two groups will face one another at #AsianCupFinal within the quest to etch their title for eternity!#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #JORvQAT pic.twitter.com/q3EBIKUpTy
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 8, 2024
