Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

In the capital of the UAE, the heat burned. The elimination of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia forced the Emiratis to win. Yet, opponent of the UAE was Qatar, its regional rival who, like the Emiratis, shocked whole Asia by eliminating South Korea.

However, as the pressure from the Emirati Government increased, with the UAE put in a must win clash, they were suffering huge pressure that to win the match by all cost. Moreover, the match against Australia exhausted many Emirati players.

To the Qatari side, thing unchanged. Their competent squad, built up since 2010s with the establishment of Aspire Academy, a project started by previous Emir Hamad Al Thani, was the biggest success in Qatari history. His son Tamim succeeded his father's project.

In front of thousand of hostile Emiratis, because of the old tensions between two as for the result of diplomatic disputes, Qatari team was eager to stun the Emiratis. Said, however the history was not on their side, they had not won the Emiratis since 2001, when the UAE lost 0-2 at home to Qatar, by then, in the 2002 World Cup qualification.

Upon the stadium, Mohammed bin Zayed, there had to be some special guests. Of course, the match had a lot of fans, but prohibition against neutral and Qatari fans was issued. Thus, supporting Qatar became a crime, even for Omanis, those neutral of UAE-Qatar conflict.

The Omanis received very few tickets, alongside Sudanese, Moroccans and Jordanians, those also neutral of the conflict. It was a good decision, though. That Emirati Prince tolerated a few of them. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo must be so lucky to have tickets.

That.

But again, not Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, thank you. There were some few girls sitting on Qatari side. But they didn't support Qatar or the UAE, they saw for good only.

They were some lucky others …

Critical!

Ohana Matsumae sat and spent times to enjoy seeing the big clash. Surprisingly, in spite of such great atmosphere, Ohana really disliked how the boos came out, anytime if the Qataris captured the ball. Said, the Emiratis tended to be under total pressure, more than the visitors, and lacked of visions to play on the stadium.

On Ohana's point, the major problem for the UAE, of course, in white jersey, was too much annoying people.

Sitting with them was Derlis González, a Paraguayan football player, wearing in his all jackass black and a sunglasses, copied after watching Ghost Rider. Derlis himself also had something to look on, because Qatar would be Paraguay's first opponent in 2019 Copa América held in Brazil.

"Well, it's 0-0. But the Emiratis will have to get up."

Derlis expected that such hostile crowd from the Emiratis would not help the team, because so far, he only saw more pressure on the heads of the Emiratis. And he wasn't that wrong anyway.

The Emiratis, also playing pressure on the ground of the Qataris, seemed not able to keep their heads cool. Instead, they played like they wanted to win by all costs. Not just say, even the Royal members of the UAE also attended. Make even sure, seven emirates.

Royal families, notably two powerful Abu Dhabi and Dubai, attended in large numbers.

Ohana received Koichi, who she had repaired the relationship and she talked to Derlis: "Are you sure?"

"You're a football fan, right?" Derlis wondered: "Or just attend for fun?"

"I take the second." Ohana smiled. By now, Derlis also stated coldly: "Then you shouldn't care on it."

It was important for Derlis González to understand why the Qataris became so powerful, even though regardless Asia is still far behind South America in general. He, like many Paraguayan and South American football lovers, despised Qatar for hosting 2022 World Cup in which he referred as a "product" of disgraced Sepp Blatter, but Paraguay is a very poor country in the region itself, so he just tried to say little on it. Also, he didn't give a fuss on the UAE-Qatar conflict, either.

It was followed by Ohana's instruction: "I just want to know on this sport, something like that."

"Fair enough." Derlis laughed: "We'll see about that."

Zaccheroni urged his students to come up, but it was no use because of a sudden respond from the Qataris, the ball landed to Khoukhi and he kicked the ball. Khalid Eisa realized the danger, but he wasn't able to use his hand fully block it, instead letting it slip through even when he had tried to deny.

There, it was 1-0 for Qatar.

Fueled by angers, Emirati fans criticized and yelled even louder. The heat increased with a number of Emirati responses, all ended up in failure. This even bolstered more angers from fans alike, in the UAE. The host played so bad, lacked visions, and no clear opportunities.

Derlis González saw this result was about to come, blaming the Emiratis for politicizing the game, so far.

"Stupid Emiratis. Like some of the dumbest Arabs ever, they often place their loyalty, a double dagger for them."

Koichi Tanemura, the friend of Ohana, perhaps a boyfriend, asked: "What's wrong with loyalty? Is this an Arab value?"

"Yes. The strongest, but also weakest, of the Arab culture." Derlis examined: "Arab social structure is pretty much tribalism, and it built their nation by how many people feel loyal to the clan, rather than united front against something."

"And how did it affect?"

"So you see, the Emiratis are unable to look beyond from the conflict. They initiate ban against anything Qatar. Myself don't like those Qataris because they rigged 2022 World Cup, and Blatter's protection for them; but that doesn't mean banning and boycotting will help." Derlis explained: "Those Emiratis have made fool themselves. Watch."

That Paraguayan guy wasn't wrong anyway. Looking on the Emiratis, there was no improvement, and the whole squad after being shocked by an early goal, played like it never conceded a goal, no clear, no direction. There was an internal problem on the Emirati side.

And here, Derlis even saw how the Qataris, with an early goal, played a very impressive Spanish-led style. Yeah, their coach was a Spaniard, and the Spaniards are known for their stylish performance. This was used by the 2010s, when Spain climbed into the world's mountain for the first time, and conquered Europe twice. Fans alike called Spain "the romantic Flamenco team" because of its unique performance.

Some national teams and clubs tried to copy Spain, but no use.

Yet, in this tournament, mighty Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea were taken down by Qatar, which frightened many predicts, the UAE, who was the host, had also been to struggle. Fighting, indeed, but nothing could make the UAE more frightening than …

… Almoez Ali.

Almoez Ali Zainalabiddin Abdullah, the Sudanese boy who was considered as one of the biggest discovery, the gem of Qatar, played a great role on shaking the Emirati defense. Ali even made through the Emiratis as well, despite jeers from Emirati fans.

From this point, Ali shot.

"2-0." Koichi and Ohana were surprised altogether: "Really?"

"This would be even worse, Emirati fans had thrown shoes to the stadium as Ali was celebrating." Derlis said: "For us, we know how they are playing. Deal with it."

"We?" Ohana went to this word after hearing: "Wait, where are you from?"

"Paraguay. Our country will play against Qatar in a bigger tournament than what you just watch." Derlis told: "It would be interesting to know how those Qataris want in Brazil."

All the knowledge from this match proved something for Derlis González: sources from Rodrigo Vargas and Jhasmani Campos were not fake. They had been warned.

"Shit … putas, I think I have to stay."

Derlis became even more serious after seeing this Qatari performance …

For Ohana and Koichi, they just got some good understanding. This was their first time ever they could attend in a football stadium and watch a match. If this continued, the Emiratis would not be able to set up again.

Alberto Zaccheroni, disappointed with his squad, asked: "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?"

Alberto was serious. A former Asian Cup champions, conquered 2011 edition with Japan, he understood that, it was not an easy road, and he needed his players to be always calm and fighting. But because of politicization and orders from the Prince, the UAE had lost nerves.

Thus, they made too much mistakes and two goals, ton of angers, he hated how the UAE politicized it. But he understood, if he lost, he would be sacked.

So, he demanded more times for those players, but the captain, Ismail Matar, told some words: "Let me try to handle them! I think we can comeback in the second half."

"How? Prove me." Alberto said: "You need to win, not a defeat. And your rival is leading 2-0."

"WE'LL TRY!" Matar responded angrily, as Alberto Zaccheroni slowly walked back to the clothing room, as only a minute left, the first half would end.

Yeah, the match ended 2-0 at the first half, and the UAE with Qatar had to leave. For the Qataris, they were on their strongest moment; for the Emiratis, they were losing.

By this point, Ohana and Koichi enjoyed to see this, they guessed that the hostility from home crowd didn't work. But fearing to suffer from these, Koichi asked Ohana to leave, which eventually Ohana did.

For good.

Derlis would remain on the seat, despite they left, to witness the whole encounter. He wanted something good for Paraguay …

But, Koichi and Ohana would have missed the end of the match, and Derlis would have to watch an unwanted scoreline …

4-0.