On January 29, Beijing time, in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, Tajikistan played against the United Arab Emirates.
Before the game, I expected the UAE to beat Tajikistan without any surprise.
But it had an accident, a real accident.
In the first half, Tajikistan took the lead thanks to Yurabayev's assist for Hanonov's header.
Unexpectedly, I didn't expect that the oil tycoon UAE would lag behind Tajikistan.
And they trailed by a full hour, and it was not until second-half stoppage time that the UAE drew Tajikistan with Saleh's assist for Hamadi.
I thought that the UAE, which would not die, would have a blessing, but I thought too much.
Both teams failed to achieve anything in extra-time and could only go to penalties.
In the penalty shootout, Kanedo, the second player in the UAE, missed a point, while all five players from Tajikistan hit it.
In the end, Tajikistan defeated the United Arab Emirates 6-4 and reached the quarterfinals of their first Asian Cup.
Speaking of which, I feel that the national football team has something to say, and Jankovic also has something to say.
The national football team will definitely say: What team did I draw in the group stage? Tajikistan, able to draw Tajikistan in the United Arab Emirates. What are you not satisfied with?
Besides, if Tajikistan can draw with the UAE, then we will definitely be able to draw with the UAE, so our strength is the same as the UAE.
So we didn't make it to the quarter-finals, but we won like the quarter-finals.
Jankovic also had something to say: What kind of players am I bringing? What kind of players is the UAE? Asian teams like the UAE can be forced to draw by Tajikistan, and we can draw with Tajikistan, which shows that our strength is on par with the UAE.
Besides, I only conceded one goal in three games, and I created so many chances to beat Tajikistan, Lebanon, and even the defending champion Qatar, what else do you want from me?
I'm a football coach, not a magician, and I can't make the men's soccer team better.
As far as my performance and results are concerned, you are still not satisfied, and you still want to replace me?
Is it really better than me to find another one?
Can you play like me, which is not the quarterfinals and is like the quarterfinals?
Finally, I congratulate Tajikistan on being able to reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, but I still want to say to the national football team, change the coach quickly, find a coach who is familiar with domestic players, and don't covet any big names, big names are not necessarily good.
Of course, you can't find a often defeated general like Jankovic who lost from the national youth to the national team.
Anyway, I wish the national football team can stand out and enter the top 18.
I suddenly found that in this Asian Cup, the national football team ranked 18th, and it was still within the threshold of the top 18 in the Asian region of the World Preliminaries.
Don't say anything, I wish them can face it bravely, work hard, play with spirit, bring a little comfort to the fans, and add a little less blockage!