Asian Cup 2019: Alberto Zaccheroni and UAE must seize momentum in India talking points

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  • The UAE will seek to kick-start their Asian Cup campaign on Thursday when they welcome a buoyant India to Abu Dhabi.

    The pressure is on for the hosts after their 1-1 draw with unfancied Bahrain, from which 100-cap Ahmed Khalil saved the hosts’ day with an 88th-minute penalty. In contrast, Stephen Constantine’s India emphatically earned their first win at the tournament in 55 years when they battered rising Thailand 4-1.

    Here are the talking points ahead of an intriguing Group A meeting:

    WHITES REBOOT

    Talk of a managerial change swiftly enveloped the UAE camp after the weekend’s start.

    Indeed, a generously awarded spot-kick for handball was all that separated the Whites from defeat at ZSC.

    Reports in the Arabic press spread that an emergency call had been sent out to Croatia’s former Al Ain boss, Zlatko Dalic. But head coach Alberto Zaccheroni remains in situ and he insisted on Wednesday “I don’t care about such stuff” when quizzed.

    Away from this distraction, an invaluable chance to reboot the campaign – and narrative – awaits.

    Zaccheroni knows how quickly it can change. His Japan side stumbled out of the blocks with a 1-1 stalemate with Lebanon in 2011, but by tournament’s end they were champions.

    Even during 1996’s run from the UAE to the final when the event was last held on home soil, a 1-1 opening draw with – admittedly, continental giants – South Korea was recorded.

    It is now up to predator Ali Mabkhout to sink the chances that he shows no mercy with when clad in Al Jazira’s colours. Al Ain metronome Amer Abdulrahman must grasp the midfield and skipper Fares Juma exhibit inspirational leadership.

    Hope is not lost. Far from it.

    ZACCHERONI’S TACTICAL TINKERING

    Since his appointment in October 2017, Zaccheroni has struggled to stick with both a settled formation and line-up.

    These have included variations of the trademark 3-4-3 that brought the 65-year-old such joy in Serie A with Udinese and AC Milan in the 1990s, to the Middle East’s ubiquitous 4-2-3-1 and a conventional 4-3-3.

    A new shape, seemingly, came from nowhere at the weekend. The 4-4-1-1 appeared designed to make the most out of Arabian Gulf League assist-machine Khalfan Mubarak, in the absence through serious injury of heartbeat Omar Abdulrahman.

    This did not occur. The team often chose to spread the ball wide, especially to a right flank from where elite anchor man Khamis Esmail was surprisingly stationed.

    Mubarak would trudge off early in the second half, his face etched with consternation.

    A conservative outlook against the underdogs continued the frustrations about a coach of whom his charges have scored just 11 goals under in 19 games.

    India will be happy to cede possession against them on Thursday, then spring on the counter. This ‘rope-a-dope’ approach stunned Thailand.

    It is up to the UAE to set the agenda. A start for rampaging second-half substitute Mohamed Abdulrahman will be key to this.

    There can be no more reticence. Victory isn’t necessarily a must for qualification, but it is for gaining momentum.

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