Verbeek putting Oman on the map
GULF CUP OF NATIONS PREVIEW Dutchman brings style and flair as he seeks Gulf Cup win against Bahrain
loss, gave them the confidence to go forward and get the victories over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
“We all know the Emirates as probably the strongest and the best team,” he said.
“It gave us a lot of confidence. Even though we lost, we were, I think especially in the second half, the much better team. So that gave (us) confidence and then we played Kuwait in a fantastic atmosphere. We were in control there and scored from a penalty and defended very well.
“The last game was do-or-die. We were very good in the second half and scored two very good goals. So, overall the first game was the most important, as always in the tournament, and even if we lost it gave us the confidence and that’s what we proved in the next two games.”
Even more so than the results, which Verbeek stressed were vital at what he calls the “World Cup for the Middle East,” the way Oman have played in their three games has been the most pleasing aspect for the Dutchman.
“For me it is the way we play, and of course you play for the result because you’re playing in a tournament,” Verbeek explained. “But if I see what we did this year in the AFC (Asian) Cup qualification, the way we train, the way we like to play, that’s what I saw in this tournament. As a coach that’s what it’s all about. I try to bring a strategy to the way we like to play and I see it, not for the 90 minutes because that’s impossible. We’re just Oman, we’re not France or Germany.
“But most of the games I see things that we’ve trained on and want to achieve. So as a coach that’s what I am looking for and if we play that way then we also get results, then everyone is happy because in the end most people just look for the results.”
Looking ahead to today’s semifinal against Bahrain, Verbeek said he cared little who Oman faced as they look to make their first Gulf Cup final since they won the tournament on home soil back in 2009.
“We are quite aware of the qualities (of Bahrain),” Verbeek said. “But we have to look at ourselves and try to play the way we did the last three games and try to be successful. There’s not much difference between all the teams in the Gulf Cup as you can see from the results.”
Even with a semifinal to prepare for, Verbeek was in a reflective mood, looking back on 2017, his first year in charge of Oman, which thanks to progression to the last four will go down as a successful one for both him and the country.
“I’ve always wanted to work at least once in the Middle East,” he said. “I’ve played a lot of games with South Korea and Australia in the Middle East and I was always interested to find out how it is working over here. (They) love football, they want to be better players, they work very hard. So as a coach it’s good, and I have to be fair, Oman is a beautiful country.
“So living in Oman is not a problem. On the contrary we enjoy every day living in a beautiful place like Muscat. Altogether, the quality of life and the football part is fantastic. We have had a great year.”
Having ended 2017 on a high, Verbeek and all of Oman will be hoping 2018 starts off on the same foot.