Middle East football: Hassan Maatouk, in the Lebanon people are currently crazy about football. You have but Lebanese fans around the world, especially in Germany. What does this mean for you? Hassan Maatouk: The national team plays really well lately. Last year we have qualified us for the final round of the World Cup and now we play consistently well. This is of course also to the fans, in the stadium and in front of the TV. You support us. It is extremely important that our fans come to every game to cheer us on. They come from the South of the country. Come to the games in Beirut also many followers from there? But clear! Straight from there. Their team lost 3-0 against Australia. How do you manage to exist against the Iran? First of all: we can make it, we can win against the Iran. We have won against many good teams. Against Australia, players have stood on the square, who had never before played with the national team. For them, it was new, just tried Theo Bücker. That we have lost is not a problem. Of course, the Iran is a strong team, but we also. Our coach has seen the games of Iranians, he has studied it. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of the players and has prepared us for everything. It is much more important, however, that we need to win the game. We need the three points, otherwise it is probably already gone. We'll do everything to go with three points from the square. A year ago, they have been to Dubai. Why did you leave the Lebanese League? For me, it is very important to play football professionally. This is important for my development, my career. I want to be getting better. In the Lebanon, we simply have the problem that the leagues are not good enough. They are not professional. This must necessarily change. If you have a professional League, the players can concentrate finally only on football. Some players here have still other jobs to earn more money. And this is different in Dubai? Of course! There they have professional football, they have very good leagues and just too much money. I need a job to earn more for more money that I earn enough, Yes. I can focus only on the game and it to be better. We have talked about the fans in the Lebanon. How is it in Dubai? In the Emirates, which is different. Not many fans in the stadiums are used here. You rather watch football in front of the TV. However, many Lebanese who live in the Emirates, to see me come. This is totally cool when people come only for my sake!