Omar Abdulrahman and Ali Mabkhout exiles test UAE vision plus other King's Cup talking points

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  • UAE and Slovakia camps meet at 2018 King's Cup press conference (UAE FA).

    The UAE will attempt to ignore the controversy caused by the exiles of star pair Omar Abdulrahman and Ali Mabkhout when they kick-off their 2018 King’s Cup campaign against Slovakia on Thursday.

    Here are the major talking points for the match in Thailand:

    A NEW CORONATION

    Ex-AC Milan, Juventus and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni cannot be accused of dodging major decisions.

    His personal choice to abandon 2016 AFC Player of the Year Abdulrahman and 2015 Asian Cup top scorer Mabkhout risks further poor results in the first games since they broke curfew before the Gulf Cup final loss to Oman in early January.

    Zaccheroni attempted to downplay their exclusions, saying in Bangkok on Wednesday: “There is nothing to worry about the lack of two players.”

    It will be interesting to see how long this stance holds ahead of January 2019’s Asian Cup on home soil. Especially if emerging attackers Rayan Yaslam, Jassem Yaqoub and Ahmed Al Attas don’t grasp opportunities to shine in two fixtures this week.

    UAE's Omar Abdulrahman (l) and Ali Mabkhout (2nd l) at the Gulf Cup.

    UAE’s Omar Abdulrahman (l) and Ali Mabkhout (2nd l) at the Gulf Cup.

    CAN ZACCHERONI CONVINCE?

    The UAE have been a tough watch under Zaccheroni.

    After a failed third round of World Cup 2018 qualifying under predecessors Mahdi Ali and Edgardo Bauza that saw 13 goals conceded in 10 games, he’s targeted defence as an area of improvement since his appointment in October.

    The introduction of his trademark 3-4-2-1 formation saw zero goals conceded at the Gulf Cup. But they only found the back of the net once in five miserly games in Kuwait, through Mabkhout’s opening Group A penalty against Oman.

    Captain Ali Khaseif moved to quell serious rumblings of discontent. He said: “The coach cannot be judged at the moment and a strong defence starts us in the right way.”

    BOX OFFICE WORRIES

    The King’s Cup is one of the most-important annual events on the Thai football calendar.

    Unfortunately, a serious talent drain has been witnessed in 2018.

    Rajamangala National Stadium will not rock to Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik after he was injured in Napoli’s 1-0 win against Genoa on Sunday, while the death of Arsenal superstar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s grandmother has seen him stay in Europe. This followed Abdulrahman’s and Mabkhout’s absences.

    The hosts will now embrace watching diminutive playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin. His progress has kicked up a notch on loan at J1 League’s Consadole Sapporo.

    Chanathip Songkrasin of Thailand (r) tries to evade Australia's defenders.

    Chanathip Songkrasin of Thailand (r) tries to evade Australia’s defenders in World Cup 2018 qualifying.

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