BRISBANE // Carlos Queiroz paid tribute to the strength of the UAE side yesterday as he prepares Iran to try to defeat them today in Brisbane.
The Iranians must beat the UAE in today’s final Group C encounter to leapfrog Mahdi Ali’s men and finish at the top of the standings, and the Portuguese coach is aware his side face a tough task.
“In my opinion, we will play against the best West Asian team,” Queiroz said. “They’ve played together for many years, since they’ve been 17.
“Some of the players can play together with their eyes closed. They know exactly where the others are, what they do and what they can expect from each other.”
Both sides are guaranteed places in the quarter-finals regardless of today’s result.
Queiroz, who is a former UAE coach, having worked with the team between 1998 and 1999, said he believed that both sides would go all-out for the victory but acknowledged he was wary of picking up injuries.
“There is no doubt that we always play for a win. Winning is the best medicine in football,” he said.
“We have 23 players and I trust all of them. Of course, we want to win, but we will not take risks, have a couple of knocks.
“There is no pressure. Sometimes you face a situation where it’s all or nothing, but this is not the case here.
“There is an opportunity for the players to express themselves and to produce something for the spectators who come here and expect to have fun.”
The former Portugal and Real Madrid coach dismissed the statistic that the UAE have failed to beat Iran in four previous Asian Cup matches.
“The past doesn’t win games and it doesn’t make teams lose,” he said.
“What can win a game is what you can do in the 90, the attitude and the inspiration that you are able to bring to the game.
“I believe watching this UAE team, and knowing my players, we have the ammunition to produce a great football match.”
Queiroz added: “For me, it’s a special, special match for three reasons. One, because we have already qualified.
“Second, because I have the honour to be sitting on one bench coaching the national team of Iran and at the same time playing, not against, but with the UAE, a team I also had the honour to coach.
“So it’s a great honour for me sharing the two national anthems of two nations that I worked with.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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