AFC
Doha: Head coach Hussein Ammouta believes he has to get his tactics right for Jordan’s AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ semi-final against Korea Republic at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday.
Having already surpassed their previous best by reaching the semi-finals of the continental showpiece, Ammouta is determined Jordan’s journey will only end after lifting the title for the first time despite the awesome challenge awaiting them.
“It's going to be a very challenging match for both teams. It will be tough for us as we will be missing two key players. This match will be more difficult than the ones we had in the group stage. But we are placing plenty of emphasis on our preparation,” said the 54-year-old Ammouta.
“Everyone in this competition is mentally prepared, and that's why we have to focus on improving the tactical aspects of our game. We need to make improvements when playing at this stage of the tournament and the tactical aspects should be well covered.
“Making tactical decisions involves avoiding or pressuring strong teams and ensuring that every player gets what they deserve. Each team needs thorough preparation, both mentally and physically, to endure playing for 120 minutes.”
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Jordan will be without the services of Ali Olwan and Salem Al Ajalin, but Ammouta is confident he has enough quality in his squad to compensate for the absence of the suspended players.
“We will certainly miss the players who can’t play in the semi-final. They were part of the core players in the Jordan team but we have players who can step into these roles. We will need to make some sacrifices and the players know that they are required to make big decisions when they step onto the field."
"Mousa Al Tamari will be ready. He is a key player and we rely on him. However, it's not just Musa's effort that we need, we require contributions from everyone. These are professional players and they can recover mentally within 48 hours.
“I hope we will maintain high focus and concentration on small details that can lead to significant changes. We count on the support of our fans to win this game against Korea Republic.”
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This will be Korea Republic's fifth AFC Asian Cup semi-final in seven editions and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes his players have what it takes to reach the final.
“We are very excited for this semi-final match, a huge compliment to Jordan. We emerged from the same group, which only highlights our strong team dynamics. However, our hunger for success drives us to go further. We are fit, optimistic and eagerly looking forward to advancing all the way to the final. The mood within the team is very positive,” said Klinsmann.
“The team needs to stay relaxed, focus on the upcoming challenge and eliminate distractions that are not important right now. I believe this group of players are experienced and our goal is to reach the final and we are entering the match against a very strong Jordan team fully prepared to play 120 minutes and even face a penalty shootout if needed.”
Korea Republic had to fight their way back to win in four of their five matches at Qatar 2023 but Klinsmann believes that his team has matured throughout the tournament.
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“The expectations and pressure at the beginning are always challenging for every nation but as things progress, you build confidence, and now, being in the last-four, it boosts that confidence. Similar to how Argentina overcame their defeat against Saudi Arabia in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener, they faced pressure in their subsequent game against Mexico.
“Once you get the first couple of games out of the way and the confidence builds after navigating through all the challenging matches, having the whole nation behind you becomes a positive factor. A team needs plenty of mental strength to play in a tournament and you have to be prepared for the marathon. Now, we just have to finish strong and secure that gold."
“Jordan has very special players who can turn the match around. We need to prevent them from scoring and stay on top of our game, playing to our strengths. We have faced them in the group stage and the key is to score one more than the opponent.”
Korea Republic’s bid for second final in three editions, however, will have to be attained without Kim Min-jae, with the Bayern Munich centre-back suspended for the semi-final.
Jordan v Korea Republic
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan)
Kick-off: 18:00 (UTC+3)