The team played the “match of a lifetime” against Iraq… but everything collapsed

The Romanian coach of the Emirates national football team, Olario Cosmin, said that he is working under great pressure in the wake of the loss that the national team suffered to Iraq yesterday, by two goals to one, in the second leg in the Asian playoff in the qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup. The dream of qualifying for the World Cup has been shattered, describing this match as the best match that the national team played, but everything collapsed and that there were some events that turned everything around. He stressed that he does not want to find justifications for what happened, stressing at the same time that He found all the support necessary to lead the team.

Cosmin, who began sadly, said in statements to the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, “I tried to make a change in the national team, but there are things and reasons that I cannot talk about in this match.”

In response to a question about whether the first team will participate in the Arab Cup scheduled to be held in Doha next month, Cosmin said, “I do not know, and someone asked me if we would play with the U-23 team.”

Cosmin came back again and said: “For me, I prefer that we play in the Arab Cup with the first team.”

Cosmin indicated that he feels for the first time that all parties, whether the Football Association, the media, the public, and the entire system, stood and supported the team in order to qualify for the World Cup.

The national team coach stressed that he came with an open heart to work with the UAE national team, stressing that they can provide more, but this matter requires having a fighting spirit on the field.

He continued, “It would have been possible for us to control this match and all the team’s previous matches had it not been for the fatal mistakes, including the mistake that occurred in the Iraq match, from which Iraq scored the second goal from a penalty kick, which was the reason for the team’s exit from qualifying for the World Cup.”

The national team coach stressed that this is the first time that the national team has played better than in other matches.

Regarding the ongoing changes in the national team’s lineup, Cosmin confirmed that he is making a change in the lineup because he needs to play in different ways, noting that there are players who are unable to play two consecutive matches.

Cosmin praised the team’s players, stressing that they could qualify for the World Cup with him or another coach.