Tomorrow, the eyes of Arab football fans will be on Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, which will host a heavyweight clash between the Qatari national team (the host) and its Tunisian counterpart, in a match where there is no room for compromise, as both sides are looking for a glimmer of hope to snatch a ticket to the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup.
This match is of paramount importance given the precarious position both teams find themselves in within the group, each having managed only a single point, placing them third and fourth respectively. This precarious situation arose after disappointing draws in the second round against Syria and Palestine (1-1 and 2-2 respectively), preceded by a surprising 1-0 defeat in the opening round against the same two teams, making this final match their only lifeline.
The qualification scenarios are complex,
and the Qatari national team enters the match with its sights set on nothing less than three points. However, its fate is no longer entirely in its own hands. Qatar needs a victory coupled with a Syrian loss to secure four points and qualify. It's worth noting that a Palestinian loss wouldn't be enough for Qatar in the event of a tie on points, as Palestine holds the advantage in head-to-head matches. This is according to the new FIFA qualification system for the 2025 edition, which prioritizes head-to-head results over goal difference, as was the case in the 2021 edition.
On the other hand, the calculations of the “Eagles of Carthage” seem completely different and equally complicated, as the Tunisian national team needs to win against the home team, provided that the Syrian national team wins its other match, because a Syrian loss will not serve Tunisia due to the superiority of the “Eagles of Qasioun” in direct confrontations.
A tense atmosphere and heated statements
pervade the Qatari camp, as Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui unleashed his fury on the refereeing technology, blaming the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the recent draw against Syria. Lopetegui stated in a press conference: “I cannot understand how the penalty decision was overturned after a VAR review… It’s either black or white, but a decision like that was completely incomprehensible.” The technology had overturned a penalty awarded to Humam Al-Amin that would have extended Qatar’s lead, before the team conceded a late equalizer.
Lopetegui was not spared from the arrows of public and media criticism, especially after his technical decisions to withdraw stars Akram Afif and Edmilson Junior in the last ten minutes, which analysts and former players considered a direct cause of the decline in performance and the acceptance of the equalizing goal.
In contrast, Tunisian national team coach Sami Trabelsi acknowledged responsibility for the dramatic draw against Palestine after leading by two goals, attributing it to "naive defensive positioning errors." Trabelsi stated, "The draw felt like a defeat, but despite that, we still have a glimmer of hope." He emphasized that taking on the role at this time was a national duty and an obligation, not a choice, stressing his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities under these difficult circumstances.
This match is a real crossroads for both teams. An early exit from the first round would be a huge shock to the Qatari fans who are hosting the match, as well as to the Tunisian fans who always rely on their team to compete for Arab and continental titles.
