In the early hours of February 8, 2024, the semi-finals of the Asian Cup are in full swing between hosts Qatar and Iran. Iran took the lead, but Qatar scored two goals in a row to take the lead. In the second half, Iran equalized again, but in the 82nd minute, Qatar was beaten by Ali and successfully advanced to the final, where they will compete with Jordan for the Asian Cup title.
Qatar, ranked 58th in the world and sixth in Asia, performed well as the host, winning all the group stages, beating Palestine in the 1 8 finals and Uzbekistan in the 1 4 finals on penalties, and goalkeeper Basham became the hero of the team. Iran, ranked 21st in the world and second in Asia, performed well in the group stage, defeating Syria on penalties in the 1 8 finals and Japan in the 1 4 finals to achieve a strong promotion. Although Iran have not lost to Qatar in their last six meetings, football matches are always full of uncertainty.
The excellent performances of Afif and Ali were impressive, while Iran's penalty goal also showed their consistency. The whole game is full of suspense and surprises, and this is the charm of football.
Overall, it was a great match, with the performances of the naturalised players adding a touch of brightness to the game. However, we should also reflect on whether naturalized players will be the way out for the national football team. How do we choose on the road to football?