Croatian coach Petar Segert, who led Tajikistan to eliminate the national team from the Round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, stated that a lack of mental strength was a decisive factor in missing the golden opportunity to qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup. This happened due to the loss to Qatar and by complicating the task after a 1-1 draw with Iraq in the first leg of the playoff, before the return leg this evening in Basra. Segert, known for his motivational style, said in an exclusive interview with "Al Ittihad": "I watched the match. In my opinion, you must be mentally strong enough to win against opponents who are weaker and stronger than you. This is a very important process, and it is essential for the coach to be mentally strong and have the personality that allows him to teach the team from the first minute the meaning of respect and not losing focus." The coach, born in Croatia and residing in Germany for 55 years, said that "weak mental strength contributed to the poor draw against Iraq, complicating the task," but he confirmed that "all scenarios are still possible," while also pointing out that "goalkeeper Khalid Essa put in a great performance, and the decision to keep him as a starter was the right one." Segert pointed out that mental discipline is a crucial element in major national teams and said: "This is what we call in Croatia and Germany the winner's mentality. Take Croatia, for example, a small country (only 3.8 million people) that has once again qualified for the 2026 World Cup because its players develop in strong European clubs and learn from top coaches, and Germany is also a model in this regard, being a sporting powerhouse, especially in football." The Croatian coach explained that football, unlike individual sports such as athletics and tennis, is a team game that requires managing a diverse mix of players within one team, and said: "You have completely different players, and they must be brought together on one field with a deep understanding of the need to respect the opponent, no matter their size." Segert, drawing on his 41 years of experience in German stadiums, from youth to professional teams, added: "From the first moment, players must be taught to respect the opponent. When you don't respect weaker opponents, you will lose to them. When you give the same respect to the strong, defeat will be very difficult. Mental strength is the basis for winning against everyone, whether they are weak or strong." Petar Segert: • It is essential for the coach to be mentally strong and to teach the team from the first minute how not to lose focus.
