UAE vs Australia preview: A view from both camps

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  • The two met in the 2015 Asian Cup semi-final.

    An intriguing clash between nations who started the third and final round in the AFC process with victories on Thursday is set to take place. The Whites gained a titanic 2-1 triumph at regional heavyweights Japan thanks to forward Ahmed Khalil’s brace, while Iraq were easily beaten 2-0 in Perth.

    Despite the worth of his imminent opponents’ breakthrough success against five-time-successive tournament entrants, Socceroos supremo Ange Postecoglou had declared prior to Monday’s packed packed press conference that the hosts at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium will be “a bit fearful of us and have every right to be”.

    When quizzed about the remarks from the coach who had masterminded a one-sided 2015 Asian Cup semi-final victory the last time they met, Ali refused to get involved in a spat.

    “This is his opinion, I respect that,” the 51-year-old said. “We will see on the pitch how the UAE and Australia will play.

    “I respect his opinion. The UAE have played a long time with this group, we work for a long time to create an identity for our team and I think we have an identity.

    “We know what we need to do tomorrow and hopefully we will see that on the pitch tomorrow.

    “We respect all the teams, not only Australia. We learn form football that regardless of how strong or weak the team is, if you are not ready and not very well prepared for any game regardless of the opponent, you are not ready.”

    The Socceroos sit 17 places higher in the FIFA rankings in 57th, hold the Asian Cup and have made the last three World Cups after previously featuring in 1974.

    This disparity to the UAE – who have only reached the global tournament once before in 1990 – was on show in the continental last-four clash during January 2015, goals from defenders Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson securing easy passage to the decider.

    For Ali, he declared the continued development of his ‘Golden Generation’ would ensure Australia face a much-sterner examination this time and that his charges are destined to reach the impending tournament in Russia.

    He said: “Our first time qualifying for the World Cup was 1990 and since that date the UAE was working very hard to qualify for second time.

    “This time, we have a very good chance and a very good team and I believe the UAE deserves to qualify for the World Cup 2018.”

    The benefit of an exhaustive two-month preparation period held in Spain, Dubai and Shanghai was clear from the UAE in the Far East. But a change to the starting side is set to be forced by the injury to left-back Abdelaziz Sanqour, with Al Ahli club-mate Walid Abbas coming into the XI.

    Australia’s Middle Eastern malaise is not preying on their minds ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup 2018 qualifier in the UAE, according to Postecoglou.

    They have become a major force since gaining entry into the AFC a decade ago, making the last two global tournaments from the confederation and lifting the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil. But they have recently stuttered in this region, losing the preceding pair of matches at Jordan and Qatar.

    “We understand for any major tournament or qualification process, the challenges lies on the pitch and sometimes with the conditions,” said Postecoglou.

    “We have made sure during the last 18 months that we are ready for this whole series of games.”

    A heralded team packed full of Europe-based stars will take to the field at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. One key man who might not be present however is skipper Mile Jedinak, with the Aston Vlla midfielder suffering a knock in the last match.

    A vital figure for the Australian media in the build-up has been Al Ain superstar Omar Abdulrahman after his exploits Down Under. For Postecoglou, this focus is too narrow.

    He said: “I certainly do not think the UAE are a one-man team. They have quality throughout their team.

    “We are working together as a team to overcome their strengths, and take advantage of their weaknesses.”

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