Veteran Matar earns surprise call-up by UAE for World Cup qualifiers
Ismail Matar was one of a number of surprise inclusions in an ext ended UAE squad for this month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Al Wahda forward, 38, was named yesterday on a 28-man list for the crucial double-header away to South Korea, on November 11, and away to Lebanon, five days later. At present, the UAE sit fourth in Group A in the final round of qualification, five points off the automatic spots for Qatar 2022.
Matar’s call-up was particularly unexpected, given the veteran star had not previously featured at all during this campaign, which is already four rounds in.
In fact, Matar has not played for the national team since the Asian Cup semi-final in January 2019, before Bert van Marwijk became manager for the first time. He has scored once in eight matches of the Adnoc Pro League this season.
Meanwhile, Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa and onloan Ittihad Kalba defender Mohanad Salem, 32 and 36 respectively, were also named in the squad.
Van Marwijk will be without defenders Shaheen Abdulrahman, Mahmoud Khamis and Khalifa Al Hammadi, and midfielders Majed Hassan and Khalfan Mubarak. All five are unavailable through injury.
The final squad will be announced following the ninth round of the league, which concludes today. The national team leaves for South Korea on Friday.
Van Marwijk’s team go into the match against the group’s second-placed side and heavyweights in need of a positive result.
Last month, they were defeated 1-0 in Dubai by frontrunners Iran before being held to a 2-2 draw by Iraq at the same Zabeel Stadium five days later.
The draw prompted a section of the UAE support at Zabeel Stadium to call for Van Marwijk to be dismissed, with speculation rife immediately afterwards that the Dutchman, in his second stint as manager, would be relieved of his duties.
The Football Association, though, moved quickly to throw their support behind him.