The UAE await a stern friendly test against shock 2019 Gulf Cup champions Bahrain, a task complicated by their perplexing previous victory.
New boss Jorge Luis Pinto’s first win for the Whites was handed to him against Tajikistan on Thursday by Al Wasl forward Ali Saleh’s nerveless low finish in the 94th minute. This, however, followed the unfancied visitors – ranked 48 places lower by FIFA in 122nd – charging into an unsettling early 2-0 lead at Zabeel Stadium, before being pegged back by Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout’s national-record extending 64th and 65th strikes.
Preparations for next year’s long-awaited World Cup 2022 qualifying resumption continue on Monday (18:00) versus Bahrainis who’ve lost only twice in their last 17 fixtures. Here is the rundown:
WHAT’S ON THE LINE?
A fifth regime in three years has been entrusted to resuscitate dreams of returning to the global stage for the first time since Italia ’90.
Disruption and confusion caused by coronavirus has hampered Pinto after July’s hiring.
But last month’s official opener for the 67-year-old Colombian – who, memorably, led minnows Costa Rica to 2014’s quarter-finals from a ‘group of death’ – ended in limp 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan. Worrisome repeat was avoided in Dubai thanks to Mabkhout’s continuing heroics, though this was a disconcerting display leaving as many questions as answers.
The UAE must be in top gear next March when the lengthy AFC process restarts. There is almost zero margin for error from fourth in the five-team Group G – albeit with a game in hand.
Only the eight pool winners and four-best runners-up will advance into the third-and-final round. A trying quartet of second-round matches remain at home to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, plus away at Indonesia.
With no other official FIFA international windows open until then, although gaps could be opened in the domestic calendar, an enlightening run-out versus Bahrain is essential.
PINTO’S SELECTION PROBLEMS
The Tajikistan tape did not provide a salve for the UAE’s oft-criticised defence.
Recalled right-back Abdulaziz Haikal barrelled into Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club team-mate Yousif Jaber at a corner to gift Davron Ergashev his headed 10th-minute opener. Al Nasr left-back Mahmoud Khamis then vacated a cavernous space, allowing Iskandar Dzhalilov to cross into Komron Tursunov for the second.
The decision to park starting centre-backs against Uzbekistan in Mohammed Marzooq and Fares Juma, replacing them with a blend of old and new in Jazira’s Khalifa Al Hammadi and Jaber, did not produce the desired calming effect. Pinto must decide whether to give the fresh pairing more opportunity to settle in versus superior opposition, or hand a belated second cap to Sharjah warrior Shaheen Abdulrahman.
Majed Surour, meanwhile, has been a lock for the King throughout their 100-per-cent start to 2020/21 and his physicality should stiffen up the midfield pivot favoured by Pinto’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Expect either Wasl’s Ali Salmeen or Jazira’s Abdullah Ramadan to make way.
Further forward, the flanks appear locked by Al Ain’s Bandar Al Ahbabi and Wasl’s Fabio De Lima. The same applies to Pride of Abu Dhabi icon Mabkhout.
These attackers are, highly, competitive among Asia’s elite.
Only experimentation will witness naturalised Al Nasr centre forward Sebastian Tagliabue given more minutes, if passed fit, or wingers Khalil Ibrahim of Al Wahda and Sharjah’s Khalid Bawazir.
But the playmaker spot has not been settled. Al Ain’s Caio Canedo delivered a 100-per-cent pass completion rate and four attempts versus the Tajikis, with Jazira’s Khalfan Mubarak coming off the substitutes’ bench.
There would be little surprise if these roles were reversed on Tuesday. This duo have gained prominence with 2016 AFC Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman injured and timeless Al Wahda icon Ismail Matar ignored.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BUOYANT BAHRAIN
UAE’s woeful group stage at the Gulf Cup was the final indignity in Bert van Marwijk’s dreadfully disappointing 260-day reign.
Inspirational Bahrain boss Helio Sousa, however, experimented with a different XI in each match at the tournament, yet still stunned favourites Saudi Arabia during December 2019’s final.
This followed August’s West Asian Football Federation Championship triumph. Bahrain are also well positioned in WC2022 qualifying.
Such successes have swelled talk about a nation poised to match their exploits in the 2004 and 2010 cycles, where they went one game away from making the tournament.
Sousa’s men may come into the contest finer tuned, as well. They’ve already chalked up a pair of wins this month – 1-0 against Tajikistan and 3-1 versus Lebanon.
The latter fixture at Dubai Police Club Stadium witnessed a 1-0 half-time deficit turned around via efforts from Sayed Hashim Isa, Kamil Al Aswad and Mohamed Marhoon.
