Iran’s Victory Was Fair, UAE Coach Costa Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The UAE football team’s assistant coach Sergio Costa says it was a fair victory for Iran after his team lost 2-1 in Group C of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
In the absence of suspended head coach Paulo Bento, who was sent-off in the previous match against Palestine, it was a familiar experience for his assistant Costa, who had found himself in the exact same position 14 months ago during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“It was a difficult match and a fair victory for Iran. We didn’t play well even though we accomplished our game plan. There was a moment where the game could have changed when we missed the penalty and conceded immediately after, but we tried to compete against one of the best teams in the tournament, and at the end we got the qualification ticket.
“I think this competition proved that there are no easier teams and no easier groups. All the teams are competing very well. Some surprises are happening in all groups which means there is development, which is good for Asian football,” Costa added.
