The UAE will attempt on Sunday to leave the 2018 King’s Cup with reputations enhanced when they battle a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-less Gabon for third spot.
In the absence of exiled superstars Omar Abdulrahman and Ali Mabkhout in Thailand, a valiant second-half fightback against Slovakia on Thursday ended with a 2-1 loss.
Here are the talking points:
CAN KHALIL KEEP IT UP?
The UAE’s usual triple-pronged threat is missing two of its constituent parts in Bangkok.
Without Amoory and Mabkhout, 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil experienced a mixed outing against the Slovaks. After failing to score during the recent Gulf Cup, the Al Ain forward expertly found the bottom corner to spark hope at Rajamangala National Stadium.
But even then, further glaring chances – such as a last-gasp chip – would pass him by.
A combination of Khalil’s hulking frame and poor injury record has made it a challenge to play successive games at a high level. He needs to be at his best against Gabon – the UAE needs him.
مباراة منتخبنا الوطني مع الجابون ستقام يوم الأحد الساعة الواحدة والنصف ظهرا بتوقيت الإمارات وستكون منقولة عبر كافة قنواتنا الرياضية ..#منتخب_الإمارات #الإمارات_الجابون pic.twitter.com/hhkrQ5iCZM
— UAENT2019 (@uaent2019) March 24, 2018
RAYAN OF LIGHT
Positives have been in short supply for the Whites.
From the paternal Mahdi Ali’s near five-year tenure ending in open dissent last March, to Edgardo Bauza’s failure to secure World Cup 2018 qualification and the miserly opening months of Alberto Zaccheroni’s reign.
This sense of desolation has only been added to by Abdulrahman and Mabkhout’s breaking of curfew prior to January 5’s Gulf Cup final loss.
But in the second half in Bangkok, rare bright shoots broke through. Al Ain’s 23-year-old playmaker Rayan Yaslam came off the bench to produce a beautiful throughball that cut apart Slovakia’s defence for Khalil’s goal and a long-range pass that should have led to an equaliser.
If Amoory’s absence is an extended one, he’s the heir apparent.
جانب من تدريبات منتخبنا الوطني استعدادا لمواجهة منتخب الجابون ..#منتخب_الإمارات pic.twitter.com/MAMnM8Wbtb
— UAENT2019 (@uaent2019) March 24, 2018
FORGING THE WAY FORWARD
Watching the UAE take the game to Slovakia in a stretched second half was a sight to savour.
They had more attempts and possession against a nation who made Euro 2016’s round of 16 and are ranked 50 places higher by FIFA, in 29th.
Zaccheroni’s contract ties him to the UAE Football Association until the end of January 2019’s Asian Cup on home soil. But the capricious leaders of Middle Eastern football need little excuse to jettison a coach.
Another statement must be made against Gabon. The ex-AC Milan supremo cannot afford for bad feelings to fester.
