Abu Dhabi: It will be a test of fire for the UAE when they take on Iraq for a place in the final of the Gulf Cup at the Jaber International Stadium on Tuesday. The action starts at 9.30 pm.
The UAE made it to the last four with one win and two draws to finish second in Group A while Iraq topped group B with two wins and a draw.
The major worry for the UAE going into the clash is their inability to find the net. They have just managed one goal en route to the semis, and that has come in the opener against Oman through Ali Mabkhout. In the remaining two group matches, the forwards lacked the guile to get the breakthrough and this has sent alarm bells ringing ahead of the semi-finals.
Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni’s tactics have been under the radar and many feel he is too defensive. However, on the eve of the encounter, Zaccheroni reminded his critics that he has been in the profession long enough to understand the nitty-gritties of football. “I have 45 years of experience and I always look for ways to make sure that my team plays in a balanced way,” said Zaccheroni.
“We are not just a defensive side. We have a different point of view, you think that our performance is not good. I think as long as we are achieving our goals one shouldn’t bother,” said the 64-year-old, adding they achieved the goal of reaching the semis by applying his tactics.
“We reached the semis by working to a plan. We are developing as a team and in the Iraq match, our performance will be stronger,” asserted Zaccheroni, who will be hoping that his strikers Mabkhout and Esmail Al Hammadi would click in the crunch outing. Al Jazira striker Ahmed Khalil has been on the field for just little over 20 minutes in total in two matches and hasn’t been able to give that thrust to the attack coming in late. Khalil is clearly not 100 per cent and it is unlikely that he would play the entire match.
Mabkhout, speaking ahead of the match, also tried to put everyone at ease saying what matters is how the results have come so far and their efforts should not be judged by goals.
“We qualified thanks to everybody and it is not important that Ali Mabkhout contributed or no. We played well and we qualified as a team and that’s the main thing. We are on the right track and even if we get the championship without me or someone else not scoring, it is not a problem. What is more important is to win title,” said the 27-year-old Al Jazira striker.
Ace midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman ‘Amoori’ has been in a class of his own and has done the supply job with aplomb despite lacking support upfront. There were injury concerns regarding Amoori as the latter was stretchered out of the ground in the last match but the news coming from the camp is that star playmaker is good to go.
Amoori’s brother Mohammad Abdul Rahman is still recovering from fever and cold and he even missed a training session during the break.
The defence, led by Esmail Ahmad and Mohanad Salem, has certainly stood tall in all the three matches and Khalid Eisa has been rock solid under the bar. Eisa’s performance in the last group match against host Kuwait was lauded and a similar show is what the fans would be expecting.
Zaccheroni rates his opposition as a fierce competitor and a hard nut to crack. “We will be playing against a big team, whose players have the experience, skill, physical and mental strength. But I’m confident about my team. We have some elite players who are very much capable of playing in various positions and can get results,” said Zaccheroni.
Iraqi coach Basim Qasim was of the view that the contest between the sides will be action-packed. “The match will be difficult for both teams. I hope we qualify and go ahead and clinch the trophy.”
