Saudi favourites in Gulf Cup final, but Bahrain fear no one

Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia are traditional powerhouses, three-time Gulf Cup champions, and at 67 they are ranked 33 played above their final opponents Bahrain whom they have beaten 2-0 in the group phase, but when they meet again in the final at Al Duhail Stadium on Sunday all these stats and equations count for nothing.

It becomes just a football match where the better team on the day, the team that shows more heart and scores more goals, wins.

Helio Sousa and his Bahrain side have been the underdogs throughout the tournament, but they have shown remarkable resilience, notably against Kuwait in the final group game and Iraq in the semifinal, to make a historic final and they fear no one.

“We are focusing on ourselves,” said Sousa at the pre-match press conference.

“By entering the final, we have bettered ourselves. But this is not enough. We go for every match to win it. We must feel to be able to that in every game. We are working for that.

"We can’t be happier than being in the final of Gulf Cup. It’s our best performance. But we want to win it," said Sousa.

Bahrain had nothing to lose and their carefree attitude had contributed a lot in some of their victories but now that they are within touching distance with the biggest victory in the history of the nation, there are chances of pressure creeping in.

But Sousa said there is always pressure and they love it.

“The is the biggest chapter for us. There is pressure, but this is the best pressure that can happen to us. 

"We just have a semi semi-professional championships in Bahrain. But we are winning against the best teams of Asia.

“The players are doing an amazing job. This is the pressure we want. To be here playing the fifth game. Against a top team,” said Sousa, who was all praise for the training facilities provided by Qatar.

“We had great training conditions in Qatar, and we are  overwhelmed.”

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard is on the verge of making a bit of history himself as he is eyeing his first title in Asia, having conquered Africa twice, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2013 and Ivory coast two years later.

Renard took charge of the green Falcons only in July and a victory at the prestigious Gulf Cup would be an ideal start for him.

“We are very pleased to have qualified for the final. I think we deserved it. So we need to concentrate very hard. This is the most important match,” said Renard on Saturday.

“The players are very motivated and their level is getting better in each match. We want to be the champions,” said Renard.

Saudi Arabia had to defend for long periods of the match as they protected a one-goal lead against Asian champions Qatar in the final, but Renard said they would look to play the offensive game as much as they can.

“I think against Bahrain and Oman we played good offensive football.

 The game against Qatar was completely different. When we are in a tournament we need to have a strategy.

“We love to play Offensive football but is not possible all the time.

“Our captain was out. So it was difficult. We played with our heart. We played for the flag of our nation,” said Renard.

 “We have a strong team. And in the final, we need to play with humility. Since 2003 Saudia did not win this competition so the players want to make history. So we just want to be ourselves. It will be completely different from the game we played against Bahrain in the group stage and we are ready."

The final will be played at Al Duhail Stadium from 7 pm.