The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 has been doing its magic since the first match. The highly impressive group stage matches led way to the crucial knockout stages. The Football fever has taken over the whole nation since the very first match where the host country UAE took on Bahrain.

As the competition gets tougher and the number of remaining teams falls, the spirits are rising to an all-time high as UAE will take on Kyrgyzstan tonight at 9 pm at Zayed Sports City Stadium. Both the teams will try to put forth their best game to make it to the quarterfinals. UAE head coach Alberto Zaccheroni is in full hopes that his lads will rain or shine, win over Kyrgyzstan tonight as they are in no less a mission than win the title at home.

Ahead of the match, Zaccheroni was heard saying We are looking at each game as a final. There is no way we can compensate for any mistakes. I have full faith in my players. I have seen so much focus and willpower in them after we qualified to Round of 16. I am lucky to have such young and talented players. We have a good balance in the team. We attack with intensity and defend too. We dont put 10 players in the defense like others team do.

After his many experiments with his team formation in the previous matches, the Italian is confident that he has finally found the right combination that will take them to the winning title. However, on a few fronts, he wishes for better performance and coordination. He further noted that they need to be better than this and pick up the pace in matches to come. He also wants his boys to attack more and be quick with their counter-attacks.

With just a few tickets more to be sold, the much-anticipated match tonight at 9 pm in Zayed Sports City Stadium is expected to witness a fully-packed audience with probably louder chants and cheers for the home country UAE. At times the many expatriates in the UAE also join the UAE fans army despite their own team competing for the cup.

It is their inexplicable love for their foster country that rises up in the air as they sing along with UAE National Anthem. So, lets cross our fingers and watch as a confident UAE takes on a not-so-easily-giving-up Kyrgyzstan. Will Zaccheronis lads ease their way into the quarterfinals or will Alexander Krestinins boys let out a surprise?