Late strikes from Arash Afshin and Mohammad Nori and a Walid Abbas own goal at Qatar Sports Club Stadium ensured that the Iranians finish top of Group D with three wins from three and certainly look strong contenders for a fourth continental title.

But they must overcome a difficult quarter-final clash with South Korea on Saturday, with the East Asians having also been impressive so far in Doha.

Ghotbi is well acquainted with the Taeguk Warriors, having spent five years working with them - first as a match analyst and then as assistant coach - but firmly believes his Iran side have the quality to beat the East Asians and go all the way to the final.

"A lot of times coaches are facing a team from their country of birth, or we are seeing many, many times where a coach like myself comes up against a team who they worked with," said the 46-year-old. "But my feeling is that Iran must win. It is my job to win as head coach of Iran.

"No matter who we play against or whatever selection we use, the Iranian players have enough quality individually to reach our goals.

"I believe we can hold this trophy over our heads on January 29, regardless whether it is Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan or Iraq that we have to face. I have had this belief since day one."

The UAE had gone into the game needing three points to have a chance of joining Iran in progressing to the last eight.

Though they enjoyed plenty of possession they were once again unable to make the most of their chances, a problem that coach Srecko Katanec felt proved their undoing throughout the tournament.

"Football is like this," he said. "In the first game we had a number of shots on goal, but didn't score, then in the second game we had 17 shots, hit the post and everything but didn't score.

"Sometimes football can be really strange, but sometimes it is good because of this."