#360diary: Saudi & Qatar set for Gulf Cup finale

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  • The man that could make the difference: Saudi player Nasser al-Shamrani (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Bahrain in the Gulf Cup.

    The winning of hearts and minds has not been high on the list of priorities for tetchy Qatar coach Djamel Belmadi at the Gulf Cup.

    The Frenchman has taken the fight on the pitch to the media centres of Riyadh. A pitch battle has been taking place between himself and the written press, both parties exasperated by the other's behaviour.

    -Gulf Cup final preview: A nation expects Saudi Arabia to deliver#360view: Saudi's greatest asset could prove their Gulf Cup undoing

    Anger grew again on Tuesday, the ex-Manchester City and Southampton midfielder again declining to show for his press conference to preview tonight's final against hosts Saudi Arabia.

    Green Falcons boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro has been relentlessly hammered about every call during the past fortnight. But the affable Spaniard greets each thinly-disguised jibe with mannered reflection.

    No such humility for the choleric Belmadi.

    The mutual loathing reached its zenith following Sunday's 3-1 semi-final victory against Oman. A face like thunder greeted the media, the Maroons boss twisting his body to avoid even making proper eye contact.

    "We have agreed that we always have a different opinion about the game, of course you are a journalist I am a technician, for sure we don’t have the same vision of football if you talk only about the goals," he said.

    Quite the opening gambit, and it didn't get any less painful from there.

    "You cannot analyse the game only by the score. 'They play good, they play bad'.

    "So, from the beginning of the tournament you [the media] are making this kind of analysis, so to be honest that’s why I don’t want to answer.

    "If you want to analyse things more technically I am open. If you want to just say its good or bad its your opinion and you cant write what you want like.

    "The first question was whether we won because Oman played badly. What can you do with that?

    "The people that come here, they haven’t the attention. They have something in their mind, they are not here to really work."

    Talk of revolt filled the press conference room at the King Fahd International Stadium following Belmadi's exit.

    His no-show on Tuesday thrust assistant coach Serge Romano into the firing line. A much more approachable and engaging man, tensions were quickly smoothed.

    The Maroons have endured a joyless ride to the final. Three Group A draws, two containing no goals, saw a target placed upon Belmadi.

    Managers understandably get annoyed by lines of questioning that focus on every decision they make. But this is what you sign up for.

    Like it or loathe it, media management is key for a coach's long-term survival hopes. What is clear is that if Qatar have a poor Asian Cup campaign in January, Belmadi will receive little support from the national media.

    Coverage can influence decision makers' minds, press campaigns leading to quicker removals.

    And why should the Qatari media desire to back this unnecessarily confrontational and condescending man?

    Saudi Arabia

    Star man: Nawaf Al Abid
    The Al Hilal forward floats across the pitch, providing pace and trickery where ever he goes. Scored one of the goals of the tournament during the 1-0 win against Yemen, when cracking in from 25 yards. A repeat display will see the King Fahd International Stadium erupt.

    4-2-3-1: Abdullah; Al Mowalad, Os. Hawsawi, Om. Hawsawi, Al Zoari; Rashid, Kariri; Al Dawsari, Al Jassim, Al Abid; Al Shamrani

    Qatar 

    Star man: Ismaeel Mohammad
    Direct, pacy and skilful, the Lekhwiya wide man will look to take advantage of the space left by Saudi Arabia's adventurous full-backs. Was superb in the semi-final victory against Oman, striking the post in the build-up to Ali Assadalla's first strike.

    4-2-3-1: Burhan; Musa, Majid, Ali, Hassan; El Sayed, Boudiaf; Mohammad, Assadalla, Khalid; Abdulla

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