Saudi Arabia coach Helio dos Anjos believes his side will face their toughest test yet today when they take on Iraq in the Asian Cup final in Jakarta.
Despite overcoming the likes of South Korea, Uzbekistan and Japan on their run to the final, the Brazilian feels their Iraqi opponents have the quality and motivation to give his side a torrid time at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
"We have faced a lot of difficult teams already but we will face an Iraq team who will be very, very tough opponents because of the quality that they have and the emotion involved," said Dos Anjos at the pre-match press conference.
"A lot of people talk about the social problems that they have in Iraq but their players have a lot of good qualities and they are also very motivated for this game."
Dos Anjos also rejected the notion his side are favourites to win the Asian Cup for a record fourth time.
"It is the final and the final is always difficult," he continued. "It is only one game and there are no favourites in this type of game because the winners will be champions.
"Both teams have their chances to win. We have a dream to be champions and Iraq also have their dream so there are no favourites.
"A lot of people may be very surprised to see that Saudi Arabia and Iraq have reached the final but I think that we deserved it and if you watched all the games in the tournament involving these two teams, it is perhaps not a surprise.
"I think that we deserved to be in the final and I hope that in today's game, we will show good football."
Dos Anjos, who only took charge of the national team in March, is proud of the job that he has done with a relatively inexperienced group of players in such a short time and believes that Saudi football has a bright future.
"The transition in Saudi Arabia needs to be done and I am proud to be the one who has started this transition," said the 49-year-old, who decided to drop a number of established names after replacing compatriot Marcos Paqueta.
"However, it does not mean that this team will be representing us in the next competition we play in. The door is always open for players.
"But what has happened in this tournament shows that in the future we will have a strong, strong team."
"We have faced a lot of difficult teams already but we will face an Iraq team who will be very, very tough opponents because of the quality that they have and the emotion involved," said Dos Anjos at the pre-match press conference.
"A lot of people talk about the social problems that they have in Iraq but their players have a lot of good qualities and they are also very motivated for this game."
Dos Anjos also rejected the notion his side are favourites to win the Asian Cup for a record fourth time.
"It is the final and the final is always difficult," he continued. "It is only one game and there are no favourites in this type of game because the winners will be champions.
"Both teams have their chances to win. We have a dream to be champions and Iraq also have their dream so there are no favourites.
"A lot of people may be very surprised to see that Saudi Arabia and Iraq have reached the final but I think that we deserved it and if you watched all the games in the tournament involving these two teams, it is perhaps not a surprise.
"I think that we deserved to be in the final and I hope that in today's game, we will show good football."
Dos Anjos, who only took charge of the national team in March, is proud of the job that he has done with a relatively inexperienced group of players in such a short time and believes that Saudi football has a bright future.
"The transition in Saudi Arabia needs to be done and I am proud to be the one who has started this transition," said the 49-year-old, who decided to drop a number of established names after replacing compatriot Marcos Paqueta.
"However, it does not mean that this team will be representing us in the next competition we play in. The door is always open for players.
"But what has happened in this tournament shows that in the future we will have a strong, strong team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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