Ranked 87th globally, the Jordanian team stunned South Korea 2-0 in the semi-finals to reach their first Asian Cup final. They are aiming to perform better than expectations and bring home the coveted trophy by defeating the hosts and reigning champion Qatar on Saturday.
Come 6 pm local time (7 pm UAE), the iconic Lusail Stadium in Doha will host the highly-anticipated final match of the tournament. Jordan head coach Hussein Ammouta called the game “very important” as it “may witness the first major title for Jordan football.”
Asian Cup: Jordan and Qatar head coaches talk plans
Speaking about the strategy, he noted that the players are preparing for the final as normal, avoiding adding any more pressure. “Qatar are defending champions and playing at home makes them formidable opponents … We aim to exceed expectations,” reported BBC.
Jordan commenced through a 4-0 victory against Malaysia, then drew 2-2 with South Korea, lost 1-0 against Bahrain, achieved a dramatic 3-2 last-16 victory over Iraq, beat Tajikistan 1-0 in the quarter-finals, before defeating the South Korean side ranked 64 places above them.
Meanwhile, Qatar defeated Lebanon, Tajikistan, China, Palestine, Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals and Iran in the semi-final to reach their current spot. The team’s head coach Marquez Lopez said: “There will always be pressure, especially against a team that has performed well.”
“We are facing a team we highly respect and I’m confident all my players are more than capable and deserving of playing in the tournament … We are determined to compete fiercely and play our best to win. Second place will not be enough – we aim to be the best in Asia.”
Jordan vs Qatar: Predicted Lineups
Jordan: Abulaila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Marei; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Abu Hasheesh; Al-Taamari, Olwan; Al-Naimat
Qatar: Barsham; Ro-Ro, Mendes, Mukhtar, Waad; Gaber, Fatehi, Al-Haydos, Ahmed; Ali, Afif
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