The United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by head coach Paulo Bento, lost 1-2 to Iran in the final Group C match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup held at Education City Stadium in Alaiyan, Qatar on the 24th (Korea time). UAE, which had one win and one draw in the previous two games and gained four points, achieved its first goal by reaching the round of 16 as the second place in the group, beating Palestine (goal loss 0) in goal difference (+1).
Bento, who has coached the Korean national soccer team for four years and four months since 2018 and made it to the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, took the helm of the UAE last year. Bento, senior coach Sergio Costa, coach Philippe Coelho and physical coach Pedro Pereira, who served as coaching staff for the Korean national team, were also on the UAE national team. 토토사이트 순위
“Bentuho” won its first match against Hong Kong 3-1 but drew 1-1 after being outnumbered by one person in the second match against Palestine. In the match against Palestine, Bento also strongly protested the referee’s decision and was sent off due to accumulated warnings.
In the end, Bento coached the team in the stands, not on the bench, in the match against Iran. Costa was on the bench in the UAE and gave instructions to the players.
Costa, who was on the bench in the third match against Portugal in lieu of Bento who was sent off in the second match of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said after the match, “Both the World Cup and the Asian Cup, I played with passion and utmost effort on behalf of a country. However, (Korea and UAE) are completely different teams, and the situation is different,” not giving much meaning to his experience of sitting on the bench at major competitions for two consecutive times.
“I played well against Iran, the favorite,” he said, adding, “I have to play against tricky opponents such as Korea, Japan, Qatar, and Australia to welcome the tournament.”
After the press conference, Costa, Coelho, and Pereira greeted Korean reporters at the joint coverage area with a smile. Bento had to leave the stadium earlier and could not meet with reporters.
Notably, Costa said, “I’m watching all the games in Korea. Korea will get even better,” and added, “Let’s meet in the finals,” showing his affection for Korea. On the other hand, Coach Ricardo Perez, who once coached the Busan I-Park in the K League 2 (second division) among Bento’s teams, distanced himself from the Korean reporters.