Athletes said that six main technical reasons dashed the national football team’s dream of winning the Arabian Gulf Cup title for the third time in its history, and caused its early farewell from the group stage of the 26th edition currently being held in Kuwait, after it tied with its Omani counterpart 1-1, the day before yesterday. Although he was ahead with the goal of Yahya Al-Ghassani, thus repeating the scenario of exit from the “Gulf 25” in Iraq.
They told Emirates Al-Youm: “The reasons are the fatal defensive errors, the most recent of which was the one made by Yahya Nader, which caused the Omani team to score an equalizer, in addition to the offensive problems that accompanied the team’s performance in the tournament, and the player Fabio Lima missing a decisive penalty kick at the fatal time ( 90 + 6), in addition to the inability of Portuguese coach Paulo Bento to find technical solutions, in addition to the absence of desire and passion among the players, and the failure to make the required use of the elements that obtained Emirati citizenship. finally”.
They explained: “The team needed some technical details from coach Pinto, but he seemed unable to do so, as the team did not learn from the defensive mistakes that are still repeated from one match to another, without the technical area finding a solution.”
Not learning from mistakes
National coach Abdul Majeed Al-Nimr confirmed that the team did not learn from the repeated mistakes that occurred in the recent period, pointing out that “it should have avoided taking risks and played for the content, especially since the result of the match was heading in its favor, because it was ahead through Yahya Al-Ghassani’s goal in the first half.” Stressing that “the team always has a problem in the defense line, and it also lacks in general a lack of focus.”
Regarding what the team needed to win in the Oman match, Al-Nemr said: “The team imposed its style in the match before conceding a goal due to a defensive error by Yahya Nader, and the penalty kick that Lima missed could have changed the course of things in the match again in favor of the team.” “I believe that the missed penalty kick needed the player to focus, especially since he is considered one of the best players in the country currently.”
He added: “The Gulf tournaments have a special character. The team was not bad, but was technically better than some of the participating teams, but it lacked technical details.”
Regarding whether what happened to the national team would negatively affect its chances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he said: “I hope it does not affect the morale of the players during the next stage, because (Al-Abyad) is doing well in the qualifiers, and the technical staff and players are supposed to benefit from the Gulf Championship and consider it an opportunity.” To correct mistakes and prepare the team for the remaining matches.”
Lack of fighting spirit
For his part, former international player and technical analyst Salem Gohar said that the national team coach did not read the match well, because the national team did not maintain its lead in the match.
He explained: “The team was ahead in the match, so there was no reason for it to play with three or four attackers. It had to increase the number in the midfield and rely on rebounds in order to maintain its lead in the match, since victory would have qualified it to advance.”
Johar pointed out that “there were individual defensive errors that shattered the team’s dream in the tournament, and the player Yahya Nader could have blocked the ball from which the Omani team scored the equalizer.”
He concluded: “Coach Pinto did not settle on one squad during the three matches that the team played, in addition to the lack of fighting spirit among the players and mental focus.”
Reality, numbers and results
In turn, the director of the first team at Al-Jazira Al-Hamra Club, Adel Al-Amiri, said: “The reality, numbers, and results prove that the team did not benefit from the elements that recently obtained Emirati citizenship, especially at the level of the Gulf Championship.”
He added: “There are players who recently obtained Emirati citizenship, and they play with their teams locally, but they were not included in the national team, because they did not complete the legal period in this regard.” Adel Al Ameri stressed that “the current reality that UAE football is going through makes the team coach’s options limited, and not many.”
The team in “Gulf 26”
Draw with Qatar 1-1
Loss to Kuwait 1-2
Draw with Oman 1-1
Exit from the group stage
. The team’s defensive mistakes are repeated without a solution from Portuguese coach Pinto.
. Gulf participation is an opportunity to correct mistakes and prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers.
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