Mahdi’s UAE boys face Japan in Asian World Cup qualifier
dubai — The final Round Three of the Asian qualifying phase for the 2018 World Cup in Russia sees a resurgent UAE take on powerful Japan in the first leg, in Saitama (Japan) on Thursday — kickoff 2.35pm, UAE time.
The UAE who stunned their reputed Asian opponents via the tiebreaker route in the quarterfinal of the Asian Cup in Australia last year, have the confidence and the mechanisms required to upstage the Japanese in the away fixture.
During their training abroad just before a couple of warmup games here, coach Mahdi Ali, the Emirati coach of the national squad told the media that the UAE’s gradual but steady buildup towards the 2018 campaign has helped the side, and advised his players not to be overcome by the pressure of playing in front of a packed stadium in Saitama.
The UAE moved to this final qualifying stage from Group A of Round Two after finishing runners-up to Saudi Arabia. In the main qualifying phase this time (Round 3 — Gr B) the Whites have apart from Japan, Asian powerhouses Australia (Asian Cup winners) and Iraq, traditional arch rivals Saudi Arabia, and not to forget dark horses Thailand who can be formidable especially when playing in front of the packed stadium in Bangkok’s sultry and wet conditions. Five days after the Thursday final group opener against Japan, the UAE play Australia in Abu Dhabi. Qualifying rounds in this group stretches into 2017.
Japan’ Bosnian manager Vahid Halilhodzic has a 11-win-four-draw-two loss record in his name since he took over before the Kirin Cup in Japan last season.
Maya Yoshida, the star Japanese midfielder, told Japanese media recently that UAE though the underdogs on Thursday cannot be taken lightly and are just as strong contenders but one where high skills and technique are incorporated into a single force. He said the Blue Samurai cannot afford a repetition of the way the UAE won through the tiebreak against them in the Asian Cup Down Under last season.
Japan and Australia are favoured to win berths for the Russian showdown two seasons from now from Group B of the third round of the qualification phase in Asia. Experts predict UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to fight for the third place in the group to be eligible for a chance to progress to the play-off stage.
Also in the opening round of fixtures of Round 3 in Group B, Iraq visit Australia, and Saudi Arabia will host Thailand.
moni@khaleejtimes.com