WATCH LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the FIFA Arab Cup semi-finals and finals on SBS and SBS On Demand from December 16.
Only four teams remain in the FIFA Arab Cup and two games stand between them and the title.
Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar and Algeria have wowed with their play at the tournament so far, with each team offering something different for the fans going into these crunch knockout matches.
North African rivals Tunisia and Egypt will go head to head in semi-final one, while hosts Qatar will take on Algeria in semi-final two.
SBS will broadcast all the action from the FIFA Arab Cup semi-finals LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS and SBS on Demand, with coverage beginning at 1:30am (AEDT) on Thursday, December 16.
Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t miss a moment.
Traditional rivals
When Egypt and Tunisia go head to head in semi-final one of the FIFA Arab Cup, it will be the 34th time the North African neighbours have faced off.
Tunisia has the upper hand with 14 wins, while Egypt has won 11 times. They have drawn eight times.
The two sides have a history of facing each other in big matches including seven games in qualifying for either the World Cup or African Nations Cup.
An added factor is that Tunisia’s star players Ali Maaloul, Seifeddine Jaziri, Ferjani Sassi and Hamza Mathlouthi all play their club football in Egypt.
Sassi was one of Egyptian club Zamalek’s most prominent players last year before his move to Al Duhail in Qatar.
The game promises to see a renewed mini-battle between Sassi and Egypt’s Al-Ahly midfielder Amro Elsoulia.
Champions clash
Reigning AFC champions Qatar will take on African champions Algeria in the second semi-final of the Arab Cup.
The hosts, for their part, are the only last-four side to have won all four of their games so far.
They were too strong for Bahrain, Oman and Iraq in the group stage, before seeing off UAE in the quarter-finals.
Qatar, who also went unbeaten during their Asian Cup triumph, has had the most potent attack at the Arab Cup, finding the net 11 times so far, compared to 10 for Egypt, nine for Algeria and eight for Tunisia.
Interestingly, the most recent encounter between Qatar and Algeria was a friendly that Qatar won 1-0.
The Algerian Djamel Belmadi was then the coach of Qatar, while Christian Gourcuff was at the helm of Les Fennecs.
Mejbri’s time to shine
Manchester United and Tunisian rising star Hanibal Mejbri has been one of the breakout players of the tournament and the 18-year-old will be determined to show he can take his game to a new level.
The teenage sensation has been compared to a young Paul Pogba, with some even saying the French-born Mejbri is the superstar midfielder’s heir apparent at Old Trafford.
Mejbri has played in every Tunisia game of the tournament so far and has delivered plenty of highlight moments.
This included his brilliant assist in Tunisia’s win against the United Arab Emirates during the group stage, in which Mejbri was also named man of the match.
If Tunisia is to reach the final, don’t be surprised if it was another big performance from Mejbri that helped them get there.
Home ground advantage
Qatar will be determined to make the most of their vocal home support as tournament hosts when they take on Algeria in the second semi-final on Thursday (AEDT).
The Maroon remain the only team with a perfect record of four wins from four games and they will be determined to make it five from five against Algeria.
Ahead of their first appearance at a World Cup next year when they host the tournament, Qatar have travelled the world taking part in a number of continental tournaments such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Copa America and UEFA World Cup qualifying to prepare for their biggest test.
It is this experience that could give them an upper hand against North African powerhouse Algeria.
History is on Qatar’s side coming into this game with the side reaching the final of the Arab Cup in 1998, which was also the last time the Gulf nation hosted the tournament.
Familiar Foes
Algeria will hope some local knowledge can help get them over the line in Thursday’s FIFA Arab Cup semi-final against Qatar.
Five of the Fennec’s squad play for Qatari club sides and know Qatar’s players and stadiums well.
Star forwards Yacine Brahimi (Al Rayyan), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al-Sadd) and Youcef Belaili (Qatar SC), all play their club football in Qatar and have been in top form so far this tournament.
Brahimi and Bounedjah are joint top scorers for Algeria at the Arab Cup finding the back of the net twice, while also providing an assist each.
This is the first time Algeria has reached the semi-finals of the Arab Cup and the Fennecs will be determined to keep their historic run alive.
2021 FIFA Arab Cup on SBS and SBS On Demand - LIVE schedule
Arab Cup semi-finals
Thursday, December 16
Semi-final 1
Tunisia v Egypt
1:30am (AEDT) – 4:00am (AEDT)
Semi-final 2
Qatar v Algeria
5:30am (AEDT) – 8:00am (AEDT)
Arab Cup final
Sunday, December 19
TBC v TBC
1:30am (AEDT) – 4:30 am (AEDT)
