Tag: qatar

Preview: Jordan vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 final | AFC Asian Cup News

Who: Jordan vs Qatar
What: AFC Asian Cup 2023 final
When: Saturday, February 10, 2024, 6pm (15:00 GMT)
Where: Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar

After nearly a month of high-octane football, featuring several surprises and upsets, the AFC Asian Cup is set to conclude with an all-Arab final, as hosts Qatar look to defend their title against giant-killers Jordan.

Qatar entered the tournament as the reigning champions, but they were not counted among the outright favourites to lift the trophy owing to their poor record against higher-ranked sides in the build-up to the event.

But Tintin Marquez Lopez‘s side have exceeded expectations with an all-round performance and by reaching the final for a second straight time. Enjoying the support of a partisan crowd, Qatar have scored in every game on their way to the final.

“I’m very proud to be a part of this squad – a month ago no one expected us to reach the final, no one thought we could deliver these performances,” Qatar skipper Hassan Al-Haydos told reporters on Friday.

“Working together with the coach, technical staff and the Qatar Football Association, we were able to reach this level because of the squad’s unity.”

[Al Jazeera]

‘Jordan will respond to the critics’

While Qatar will carry the weight of expectations, Jordan will play with nothing to lose in their maiden AFC Asian Cup final.

The surprise package of the tournament, Jordan finished third in their group and scraped through to the knockouts, where they suddenly elevated their game to eliminate heavyweights Iraq and South Korea.

That was a triumph for their Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, who was heavily criticised when they finished 2023 without a win in seven games, which included six losses.

“I’m very satisfied with our achievement because it was a personal challenge,” Ammouta said.

“When a team loses the coach is blamed and when they win they say it’s because of team morale. We prepare with all aspects in mind – physical, mental, tactical and psychological.

“I hope we’ll be ready when the first whistle blows and we’ll respond to the critics, 99 percent of the time I don’t listen to them since I don’t find anything useful.”

Jordan’s players to watch

Mousa Al-Tamari
With three goals and an assist, Al-Tamari has been Jordan’s standout performer. The only player in the Jordanian squad who plies his trade in Europe – with Montpellier SC in France – Al-Tamari’s direct play and dribbling speed make him a threat to any defence.

Yazan Al-Arab
Al-Arab been a colossal figure for Jordan in the heart of their defence, forming a solid centre-back partnership with Abdallah Nasib. Powerfully built and standing at 1.86 metres (six feet three inches), Al-Arab is a towering presence in both boxes.

Yazan Al-Naimat
Al-Naimat has a knack for finding space between defenders and more often than not, times his run to perfection. Having scored in the group match against South Korea, the 24-year-old went up another level when he scored in the last 16 and semifinals.

Qatar’s players to watch

Akram Afif
Afif has been in exceptional form, bagging five goals and three assists. His pace, skill and vision have created havoc for the opposition defenders throughout the tournament.

Hasan Al-Haydos
Al-Haydos has played the skipper’s role to perfection with his technical prowess, exceptional vision and strong leadership qualities. The 33-year-old can score too, as stunningly seen in the group stage match against China, with further goals against Palestine and Uzbekistan.

Almoez Ali
Unlike 2019, Ali has not been firing in the goals at this tournament but there is no disputing the vital role he plays in the squad. The forward’s work rate is second to none, as he is equally adept in leading attacks and falling back to defend.

Form guide

Jordan began their group stage by beating Malaysia 4-0 and then held South Korea to a 2-2 draw. They lost 1-0 to Bahrain but managed to qualify for the next round, where they knocked out Iraq 3-2 in a dramatic last-16 clash.

The quarterfinal saw Jordan beat Tajikistan 1-0 and they pulled off their biggest result in the semifinals when they beat three-time champions South Korea 2-0.

Qatar maintained a 100 percent winning record in the group stage, beating Lebanon, Tajikistan and China. They then edged out Palestine 2-1 in the last 16 but had to work hard in the quarterfinals for a 3-2 penalty shootout win against Uzbekistan.

In the semifinals against Iran, Qatar pulled off a mighty 3-2 win.

Jordan: W W W L D
Qatar: W W W W W

Goals galore

A whopping 128 goals have been scored across 50 matches at this year’s tournament. Of these, finalists Jordan have scored the joint-highest (12) along with Iran and Japan. Qatar are joint second on 11 with South Korea.

Solid defences

Jordan have kept a very solid defensive record at this year’s tournament, keeping four clean sheets in their six matches. Qatar, on the other hand, have kept three clean sheets – all of those coming during their group stage.

Prize money

Champions: $5 million
Runners-up: $3 million

Head-to-head record

Jordan and Qatar have played each other 23 times across competitive and friendly games. They last met in a friendly in 2018 when Jordan lost 2-0.

Matches: 23
Jordan won: 6
Qatar won: 12
Draws: 5

Team news

Qatar’s predicted starting XI: Yazeed Abu Laila, Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab, Bara’ Marie, Ehsan Haddad, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Mohammad Abu Hashish, Mousa Al-Tamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi, Salem Yazan Al-Naimat.

Jordan’s predicted starting XI: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Mohammed Waad, Lucas Mendes, Almoez Ali, Tarek Salman, Jassem Gaber, Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Ali Asad, Ahmed Fathi.



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Qatar edge Iran 3-2 in dramatic Asian Cup 2023 semifinal | AFC Asian Cup News

Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar – Qatar’s dream of winning a second successive Asian title, and doing it in front of their home crowd, has reached its final destination after the hosts fought their way past Asian giants Iran in the second semifinal of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.

Qatar came back from conceding a goal in the fourth minute to finish the game 3-2 on top in a closely-contested game of end-to-end action and high drama at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Wednesday.

It was the end of the road for Iran’s golden generation of footballers, who had brushed aside tournament favourites Japan in the quarterfinal and had overcome a spirited Syrian side in a penalty shootout in their first knockout game.

Their fans, thousands of whom had turned up to every Iran game and backed their team all the way through the action with relentless chanting and clapping, were left wondering how much longer they would have to wait for a fourth Asian title.

The worst nightmare

Qatar came into the match on the back of their first real test in the tournament, when they were taken all the way to a penalty shootout by Uzbekistan, and the prospect of facing the continent’s second-best side Iran was a cause of concern for their fans ahead of kickoff.

The hosts’ newly appointed coach Marquez Lopez had also termed the semifinal his team’s “toughest test yet” after going undefeated in the tournament so far.

Their worst nightmare turned into a reality when Iran’s out-of-form striker Sardar Azmoun struck the back of the net with an overhead kick in the first few minutes.

 

The roaring start drove Iran’s confidence and pushed Qatar to look for an equaliser. As a result, the game swung from one end of the pitch to the other, and Qatar finally levelled in the 17th minute with a scrappy finish from Jassem Gaber.

The fans of the al-Annabi – the Maroons – breathed a collective sigh of relief and finally found their voice.

The first half was edging towards its end with a 1-1 scoreline until Qatar’s favourite footballing son, Akram Afif, produced a moment of magic to put the home side in the lead and set off wild celebrations in the stands.

He shot from the edge of Iran’s box and saw the ball land in the far-right corner for one of the goals of the tournament.

Iran fans watched on in stunned silence for a few minutes before resuming their cheering duties.

When the game resumed, both teams surged forward in search of more goals, and Iran had their attempts rewarded with a penalty after a VAR check on an Iran corner. Team Melli’s captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh stepped up and coolly slotted home to bring his team to level.

The 2019 hero finds his feet again

Both teams drove the game from one end to the other and the crowd rode along on a wave of emotions.

Lopez, who was furious at his defenders for letting Iran run in with several chances, was given a yellow card. Meanwhile, Iran’s coach Amir Ghalenoei was much calmer as he watched Qatar launch attack after attack.

The fans were on their feet as the chances kept coming for both sides in the last 20 minutes.

In the end, it was Qatar’s hero from their 2019 title-winning run Almoez Ali who found the ball at his feet in front of an open goal and struck the decisive goal.

The local crowd swung their scarves and swayed to Qatar’s unofficial football anthem “Shoomilah Shoomilah” as they came within touching distance of the final.

Iran, being the tough opponents they are, did not relent but somehow could not find a way past the Qatari goal.

The referee added 13 minutes of stoppage time, much to the bemusement of Qatar, but Iran still failed to break even.

In the end, as the referee’s full-time whistle blew, the men in white collapsed on the pitch with broken hearts and tired bodies.

Those in maroon ran up to their fans to join in the celebrations.

Ghalenoei cut a distraught figure in the Iranian technical area.

Later, in his post-match press conference, he told reporters they should blame him alone for the heartbreaking loss as his players had “given their all”.

“Today was one of the worst days of my life,” he went on to add.

“But now, our work begins on building a team for the 2026 World Cup,” he said before trudging off.

Qatar’s hero and player of the match, Afif, admitted the game wasn’t an easy one to be part of but was thankful for the win. He said the best was “yet to come” from his team, who find themselves in an enviable position of having a chance to win an Asian Cup title at home.

Their fellow Arab nation and one of the success stories of this Asian Cup, Jordan, stand in their way.

Marquez, who has turned the Maroons’ fortunes around in the space of a few weeks, said his team will celebrate tonight but get back to work on Thursday in a bid to retain their title.

As for the al-Annabi’s fans, they beeped their cars out of the stadium and all the way up to Souq Waqif in the heart of the capital with “Shoomilah Shoomilah” on full blast.



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Photos: Qatar reach AFC Asian Cup final with 3-2 victory against Iran | Football

From the first minute of a breathless match, Qatar and Iran went directly at each other when in possession and they delivered a treat to watch.

Iran opened the scoring in the third minute with Sardar Azmoun producing a brilliant overhead kick, leaving the Qatari goalkeeper and the defence as spectators.

Jassam Gaber got the equaliser on 17 minutes and Akram Afif gave Qatar a 2-1 lead minutes before half time, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Iran’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh drew Iran level with a penalty after Qatar’s Ahmed Fathy was penalised for a handball.

Local hero Almoez Ali restored Qatar’s lead on 82 minutes, setting up a breathless finale as Iran threw everything they had at Qatar.

Iran struck the post and won a multitude of corners – with the goalkeeper sent forward in a desperate search for an equaliser – but Qatar held on to secure their passage to the final where they will meet Jordan.

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Qatar says Hamas response to truce proposal ‘generally positive’ | Israel War on Gaza News

Mediator Qatar says Hamas has given a “generally positive” response to a proposed truce deal with Israel, as the Palestinian group reiterated its demand for an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

During a press conference on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani described Hamas’s reaction to the proposal as “generally positive”, without providing more details.

Blinken said Hamas’s response to the proposal brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States has been shared with Israeli officials.

Blinken is on a lightning tour of the Middle East, and said that he would discuss the response with Israel’s officials when he visits the country on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in Doha on Tuesday, Blinken said the deal is “essential”.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done. But we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it,” he said.

Hamas said in a statement that its leaders had reviewed the “comprehensive ceasefire deal … with a positive spirit”, including details on securing relief and shelter, reconstruction, the lifting of a 17-year-old crippling siege, and the completion of the “prisoner exchange” process.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha, Qatar [Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters]

Qatar has been working with the US and Egypt to broker a truce that would involve an extended halt in fighting and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

PM Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani said there are a number of challenges that mediators are facing throughout the talks, and that events on the ground in Gaza affect the course of the negotiations.

“We are hoping to see it yielding and yielding very soon,” he said.

Earlier, Blinken met Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The proposed deal was drawn up more than a week ago by US and Israeli spy chiefs at a meeting with Egyptian and Qatari officials.

Hamas has said previously that any deal must bring about a definitive end to the war. Israel has said it will not halt the war permanently until Hamas is destroyed.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas’s response to the deal is being studied by all parties involved in the mediation process.

“Hamas’s reply has been conveyed by the Qatari mediator to the Mossad. Its details are being thoroughly evaluated by the officials involved in the negotiations,” a statement from Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad, said on Tuesday, per the office of the prime minister.

A 40-day truce?

Sources close to the talks have said the truce would last at least 40 days, during which fighters would free civilians among the remaining hostages they hold. Further phases would follow, to hand over soldiers and the corpses of hostages, in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The only truce so far, in November, was initially agreed for just four days and extended to last a week. At the time, Hamas released 110 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Most of the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million population is displaced, facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and shelter, with the majority of Gaza now in ruins following nearly four months of Israeli bombardment.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters killed 1,139 people and took around 150 hostages in southern Israel on October 7, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on official Israeli figures.

At least 27,585 people have been confirmed killed in Israel’s military campaign, with thousands more feared buried under rubble, according to Palestinian health authorities in Gaza.

More than 66,000 others have been wounded, according to Palestinian authorities.

In his remarks, Blinken outlined the US’s vision for the region, emphasising Israeli integration. He mentioned continuing US efforts to promote normalisation deals that critics say sideline Palestinians and do little to address the political problems at the root of the conflict.

His visit comes amid statements from Israel that it plans to expand its ground attacks in Gaza, particularly in the southern governorate of Rafah that is crammed with internally displaced Palestinians.

Rafah, on the Egyptian border, is where more than half of Gaza’s population have sought refuge and are now living in increasingly miserable conditions.

United Nations humanitarian monitors said Tuesday that Israeli evacuation orders now cover two-thirds of Gaza’s territory, driving thousands more people every day towards the border areas.

Egypt has warned that an Israeli deployment along the border would threaten the peace treaty the two countries signed more than four decades ago. Egypt fears an expansion of combat to the Rafah area could push terrified Palestinian civilians across the border, a scenario Egypt has said it is determined to prevent.

Blinken, who met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo earlier on Tuesday, has said repeatedly that Palestinians must not be forced out of Gaza.

Many have criticised the US and the secretary of state himself for not taking a tougher tone with Israeli officials, even as they have publicly contradicted US positions on the future of Palestine and on military action and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara, said the both Blinken and Biden have been “a leading party in the conflict”.

“They are the ones who’ve backed Israel’s aggression, financially and militarily, and diplomatically,” Bishara said.

The Biden administration must “change its tone” and “impose its will on the Netanyahu government”, he added.



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Blinken believes ‘an agreement is possible’ with Hamas | Israel War on Gaza

NewsFeed

“We continue to believe that an agreement is possible.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells reporters he’ll discuss the response from Hamas to a proposed deal with Israel tomorrow. The deal was presented to Hamas following talks between Egypt, the US and Qatar.

Published On 6 Feb 2024

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Jordan defeats South Korea in historic match in AFC Asian Cup semifinals | Football

Jordan have reached their first Asian Cup final after defeating South Korea 2-0.

Jordan’s Yazan al-Naimat opened the score 53 minutes into the game, lifting the ball over the keeper.

Mousa Al-Tamari doubled the advantage with an incredible individual effort.

South Korea dominated possession in the end, but it was not enough.

Even with one of the star players on the global stage in attack, Son Heung-min, they were unable to breach the Jordan goal.

Prior to the tournament, Jordan had never made the semifinals. They’ve only twice reached the quarterfinals before this edition. Now, they have knocked out one of the favourites.

Jordan fans were dancing their way out of the stands and onto the streets outside the stadium chanting “La la la la la laaa, Asia al Jordan”.

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World Aquatics Championships in Qatar | In Pictures

The World Aquatics Championships in Doha features the highest number of athletes and countries in the event’s history, swimming’s governing body World Aquatics said.

The event, which started on Friday, hosts more than 2,600 athletes from 201 countries competing across 75 medal events in six aquatic sports, with qualification spots for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris up for grabs.

“We are humbled that more athletes and more countries than ever before have opted to compete in these championships,” said Khaleel Al Jabir, the event’s director general.

The championships continue until February 18 in different venues around the Qatari capital.

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Qatar wins against Uzbekistan in heated Asian Cup quarterfinal | Football News

After a heated quarterfinal match, it came down to penalties.

Qatar’s goalkeeper Barsham had three saves, pushing his team into the semifinals of the Asian Cup.

Uzbekistan striker Odildzhon Hamrobekov says his team could not have given any more.

“We came to the pitch to win but a penalty [shootout] is always won by the team who have more luck,” he told the official broadcast.

“Everything was perfect at the Asian Cup – all the organisation – so I would like to thank them.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all the support given by the fans.”

There will be relief and joy in the Qatari camp after keeping their dream of a home title win alive.

There will also be some celebrations before the team and its fans begin preparations for Wednesday’s semifinal against a strong Iran side at Al Thumama Stadium.

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Iran beat Japan 2-1 for a place in AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal | AFC Asian Cup News

Education City Stadium, Qatar – Iran, backed by their thousands of vociferous supporters, have knocked out favourites Japan and earned a spot in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a famous 2-1 win.

In a match billed as an early final of the tournament – given both teams’ history in the competition, their FIFA rankings and strong squads – Iran turned the tables on the four-time champions on a cool Saturday afternoon at Education City Stadium in Qatar.

In a tournament that is now well-known for its late drama, Iran’s captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh delivered one of the most famous goals in his country’s Asian Cup history with a heart-in-mouths stoppage-time penalty that booked Team Melli a place in the second semifinal on Wednesday.

The opening minutes of the game saw Japan make several bursts towards Iran’s goal but failed to convert their chances, much to the delight of the large Iranian contingent positioned behind it.

Hidemasa Morita changed that with his goal in the 28th minute and the small groups of Japanese fans scattered around the stadium finally made their presence felt. However, it did little to deter Team Melli’s supporters, who took up their synchronised clapping and chanting by a few more notches.

Japan fans celebrate their team’s goal [Showkat Shafi/ Al Jazeera]

The team, one of the oldest squads at the tournament, pulled up their socks after half-time and began a back-and-forth contest with the Samurai Blue as they sought an equaliser.

Perhaps they were out to impress their coach, Amir Ghalenoei, who had slammed the team for missing several chances to score against Syria in their round-of-16 match on Thursday.

“I’m not really happy with the performance of a few players but I’m very happy with the discipline we showed,” Ghalenoei had said.

Iran’s first goal finally came 10 minutes into the second half as Mohammed Mohebi slotted Sardar Azmoun’s through pass into the Japanese goal and sent their fans into a frenzy. Their unwavering support had finally paid off.

Iran fans celebrate the equalising goal [Showkat Shafi/ Al Jazeera]

More than two-thirds of the spectators were either dressed in Iran’s colours or carrying Iranian flags. Some, like Wafai Salar, had travelled from across the Arabian Gulf to back their team.

He came to Doha 10 days ago from the western Lorestan province to back his team in the latter stages of the tournament.

“We must not doubt our team,” Salar told Al Jazeera before the match.

The belief was reiterated by 72-year-old super fan Mohamed Mirza, who said the team did not feel the absence of their star striker Mehdi Taremi, who missed out on account of his two yellow cards in the game against Syria.

“We have 24 Taremis in the squad,” he shouted after the match.

“I have been living in Qatar for decades and have seen three Asian Cups here, so now the team owe me a trophy,” Mirza said before resuming his chants for Iran.

Indeed, Ghalenoei’s team showed they were up for the challenge against heavy favourites Japan by defending their goal and following it up with runs into the Japanese half. One of these, late into stoppage time, resulted in Iran winning a penalty.

The late drama was too much for some fans, who turned their backs to the pitch before the penalty was taken by Jahanbakhsh. Once the ball was deposited in the top left corner, pandemonium broke out in the stands and on the pitch. Iran’s substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate and their fans jumped out of their seats.

Iran’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh celebrates after winning the match [Aijaz Rahi/AP]

Three minutes later, the referee’s full-time whistle confirmed Japan’s dismissal. The Japanese fans seated behind their goal held their heads in their hands and shed tears of agony and disbelief.

Across the aisle, nine-year-old Iran fan Ario was crying, as well. The dramatic last-minute penalty was too much to take for the young supporter.

“I was so nervous before the penalty was taken, I peeled the skin off my fingers,” he told Al Jazeera as tears fell down his cheek.

Ario, a Canadian Iranian citizen, has never been to the country of his parents’ birth but would one day like to play for Team Melli.

“I get so excited every time I see them play, so I want to be like them one day,” he said.

Iran football team fan Ario at Education City Stadium [Hafsa Adil/Al Jazeera]

Ghalenoei’s men will give Ario and the millions of Iran fans the world over another chance to ride the wave of emotions when they take on the winner of the Qatar vs Uzbekistan quarterfinal in four days’ time.

For old-timers like Mirza, it may even be a case of third-time lucky if the three-time champions walk away with the trophy on February 10.

[Al Jazeera]

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South Korea pull off heist to beat Australia 2-1 in Asian Cup 2023 | AFC Asian Cup News

The Taegeuk Warriors stage another late comeback to beat the Socceroos and keep their Asian Cup title hopes alive.

Al Wakrah, Qatar – South Korea have made it a habit of leaving it until the dying moments of stoppage time to make a comeback in their knockout games and progress to the next round at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar.

They pulled off another heist to break Australian hearts and produce a stunning 2-1 comeback win in the quarterfinal at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday night.

It prompted Jurgen Klinsmann, the Koreans’ German coach, to joke that perhaps his team should start all matches with a 0-1 score.

“It’s not great to wait 120 minutes for a result, so maybe if we start a goal down we can get [a win] earlier,” Klinsmann told bemused reporters after the match.

It took South Korea 96 minutes to find a goal – scored by Hee-Chan Hwang from the penalty spot – that kept them alive in the tournament and another 15 to give their talismanic captain Heung-Min Son a chance to score a scintillating winner and stun Australia.

The Socceroos took the lead in the 42nd minute as Craig Goodwin latched onto a loose ball in front of the Korean goal to break the deadlock in a tight first half.

Once in the lead, the Australians put up a strong defensive display to keep the Taegeuk Warriors at bay deep into the second half.

As the night wore on, the temperature in Al Wakrah dropped to a chilly 14 degrees Celsius but the action on the field heated up as South Korea began attacking the Australian goal. It was similar to their late assault against Saudi Arabia that eventually produced an equaliser and gave them a win in a penalty shootout.

This time, the penalty came in the sixth minute of added time and brought them level. Once into extra time, the Koreans were controlling the game and Australia were barely able to keep up.

When South Korea won a free-kick on the edge of the Australian box in the 103rd minute, Son bent it into the corner to complete another stunning comeback.

The crowd, who had been chanting his name all night long, went into a wild celebration of relief, joy and disbelief.

Many of these fans arrived in Doha after a 10-hour overnight flight from Seoul and said it was too much to take for a second game in a row.

“They [the team] need to stop doing this to us now,” Kim Hyeseong, a South Korean fan, told Al Jazeera moments after the win was sealed.

“They pull off miracles because they never give up,” he said.

Klinsmann said he is aware of the expectations his team faces from the fans in the stadium and those back home.

“Sometimes the pressure blocks the players [mentally] in the beginning – but when we go down, we know we can only go forward from there,” the former World Cup winner said.

For fans like Leo Chan, it is more a case of having belief in the team. But he said they say make it hard for themselves and their supporters.

“I was about to leave the stadium moments before the penalty was awarded, but now I’m staying all the way until the final because these players are miracle-makers and will win it [the championship].”

(Al Jazeera)

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