Jeddah:King Abdullah Sports City Stadium: Qatar's national football team coach, Julen Lopetegui, expressed his disappointment following a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat to Saudi Arabia after a goalless draw through regular and extra time in the Arabian Gulf Cup semifinals.

According to Qatar News Agency, Lopetegui commented at the post-match press conference about the challenging nature of the match against a strong Saudi side supported by a large home crowd. He outlined his decision to alter the starting lineup in an effort to adopt the best tactical strategy.

Lopetegui explained that although the team was set up defensively, they still managed to create scoring opportunities. He mentioned that an attacking strategy was considered, but the team's fatigue and the opponent's defensive play made it difficult to break the deadlock before the match went to penalties.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's head coach, Georgios Donis, expressed his delight at reaching the final and lauded his players' performance. He acknowledged the difficulty of the match against Qatar and the complexities in creating scoring chances. Donis also noted that despite creating opportunities, Saudi Arabia struggled to convert them, which he described as a usual aspect of football.

He highlighted the physical challenges posed by the tournament's demanding schedule and the pressures of penalty situations and officiating decisions, emphasizing that the team's focus is now on preparing for the final.