The UAE will look to build on the positives from last week’s revitalising 1-1 draw with Honduras when they face Venezuela on Tuesday.
A superb curled shot, after an outstanding team move, from Al Hilal superstar Omar Abdulrahman saw the 2019 Asian Cup hosts battle back and avoid a fifth defeat from seven matches.
They will look to continue this upwards trend when they meet La Vinotinto – ranked 32 by FIFA, 45 places above their Middle Eastern-opponents – at Barcelona’s Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
ALBERTO’S FORWARD THINKING
Alberto Zaccheroni’s mixed year in charge of the Whites could have been described by one word – “miserly”.
His 13 matches before this international break had featured seven goals – of which three had come last month against minnows Laos. October’s planned step-up in class was met with trepidation, a feeling which deepened when star forwards Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil were sent home on Wednesday with minor injuries.
The Whites faithful, however, needn’t have worried. A switch to a 4-3-3 formation produced a lively performance against higher-ranked Honduras.
It will be intriguing to see which direction Zaccheroni now goes against Venezuela. Will he resort to type and shut up shop, or go for the jugular?
📰 عودة مبخوت وخليل ومحمد أحمد إلى الدولة وضم أحمد ربيع ..
— UAE NT (@uaent2019) October 13, 2018
الأبيض يستعد لمواجهة فنزويلا "الثلاثاء" في ختام معسكر برشلونة
التفاصيل 👇https://t.co/0Awp5uDT41#منتخب_الإمارات pic.twitter.com/WE90cdS4gH
PLANS COULD GO SOUTH
Venezuela did not make World Cup 2018. Neither did the UAE.
There, however, is where the comparisons end.
Ex-goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel’s squad is littered with players from the globe’s major competitions. Skipper Tomas Rincon ploughs away in midfield for Torino, right-back Roberto Rosales is on loan at Espanyol, forward Adalberto Penaranda is within the Watford system and playmaker Romulo Otero boasts local knowledge through his employment at Saudi Arabia’s Al Wehda.
Despite this stellar cast and lofty FIFA ranking, they’ve lost three out of their four preceding matches. They’ll be determined to end this run.
ANOTHER BLACKOUT?
UAE football fans switching on their televisions last Thursday were in for a shock.
A big hole in the domestic schedule existed where there should have been UAE v Honduras. As of Monday, there was no update on the UAE Football Association’s Twitter account about whether this situation has changed for Venezuela.
This blackout hurts both Whites fans and the development of a mollycoddled team.
The scrutiny and pressure as Asian Cup hosts will be a multitudes more than that provided by a low-key friendly on foreign soil.
If they can’t be trusted to handle that, there is genuine reason to worry ahead of January’s tournament.
