The Qatar national team defender, 27-year-old footballer Tariq Salmon shared his thoughts ahead of the match against Uzbekistan, which is part of the 10th round of the World Cup qualifying stage.
"The last game against Iran was very difficult and significant for us. This match was the first serious test under our new coach. Although we did not achieve our goal of qualifying directly for the World Cup, we still have opportunities. Now we will fight in the play-off stage and we will try not to miss this chance at any cost," he said.
The footballer also touched on the unique aspects of the upcoming game against Uzbekistan:
"Undoubtedly, the game against Uzbekistan will not be easy. They are celebrating their first-ever qualification for the World Cup in their history and are still in a festive mood. Naturally, they do not want to lose in front of their fans. This situation also applies to us, as we are the only team that has defeated a powerful opponent like Iran in our group. Similarly, the same can be said about Uzbekistan, as we are also the only national team that has beaten them in the group. These results show that the Qatar national team is a very strong and serious opponent."
Salmon emphasized that they are well-prepared for the game, adding:
"God willing, we are fully prepared for the upcoming clash. Our coach does not want us to lose this match, and we also have high confidence in ourselves. We will leave the field with a result that will please our fans."
It should be noted that the match between Uzbekistan and Qatar, which is part of the 10th round of the World Cup qualifying stage, will take place on June 10 at the "Bunyodkor" stadium in Tashkent. While the Uzbekistan national team has already secured a World Cup spot ahead of schedule, the Qatar team will once again test their strength to participate in the play-off stage of the qualifying round. This match is significant for both national teams and has generated great interest among fans.
