Dubai: The UAE national coach has promised "more freedom in attack" as his team prepares for their clash in Group B of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against South Korea tomorrow.
"Of course we respect our opponents as they are the group leaders, but that does not mean we will not keep trying and experimenting with our style of play. For sure, we will have more freedom in attack so that we do not commit the same mistakes we did in Seoul last month," UAE coach Dr Abdullah Misfir told Gulf News prior to a training session at Al Ahli Club on Tuesday.
The UAE has had a disastrous campaign for qualifying for the 2014 Fifa World Cup so far after opening with a 3-2 loss at home against Kuwait. This was followed by a humiliating 3-1 loss in Beirut against Lebanon, which necessitated the sacking of Srecko Katanec as coach.
The UAE put up a much better performance away to South Korea at the Suwon World Cup Stadium that resulted in a 2-1 loss to the Koreans on October 11, which practically put an end to the UAE's qualification aspirations.
However, Dr Misfir insisted that the team is far from finished in the competition with another six points to play for. "We will be up against the best team from Asia. And just as this match is important for us, it is equally important for South Korea as well. And both will be fighting for three points, although for different reasons — Korea to keep their leadership and we to ensure we are still in the group," Dr Misfir said.
South Korea lead Group B with seven points while Kuwait — who have drawn with South Korea and Lebanon while beating the UAE — are in second place, followed by Lebanon with four points and the UAE at the bottom of the group with no points.
"We have everything going into this match [against Korea], but now we need a bit of luck," Dr Misfir said.
"We had a very good match in Seoul, and we should have made use of the chances that came our way. Hopefully we will not make the same mistakes this time as we are going in for some tactical changes that will see much more freedom in attack," he added without giving any details.
"It would suffice to say that we have made some changes in our general plan and style of play and this I believe will make us more effective up front," he said.
Tomorrow, Kuwait host Lebanon at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, while the UAE face South Korea in Dubai. UAE will travel to Kuwait for the final while Korea go to Beirut to face Lebanon on November 15.
