Tashkent Khalid Esmail, the first Emirati to score in the World Cup finals, believes the current generation has what it takes to get the UAE back into the biggest competition in football.
Esmail believes the Olympic dream has brought fresh hope after the disappointment of the failed 2014 World Cup qualification bid under Srecko Katanec, where the UAE lost all but one of their six group games.
But he urges the UAE FA not to rest on their laurels should the team qualify for London 2012.
It was 22 years ago that the UAE qualified for their one and only World Cup finals, Italia 90, and Esmail shot to fame after scoring against eventual champions West Germany.
Esmail says the current crop of players in the Olympic team has made him stand up and take notice.
Having won the 2006 Under-17 Gulf Cup, the 2008 Under-19 Asian Cup, the 2010 Under-23 Gulf Cup, and silver at the 2010 Asian Games, whilst also reaching the quarter-finals of the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, qualification for Russia in 2018 could well be a realistic proposition.
Esmail said: "When we qualified to the World Cup finals for the first time in our history it was our dream to play at Italia 90. But it's still the same dream today even after all these years.
"We should plan ahead now because the chance is easier nowadays. Before it used to be just two Asian teams qualifying but now it can be four or five. Our chances of qualification should have increased. In the past it was a real challenge and an accomplishment but now its not like before — it's easier.
Forward planning
"After Italia 90 they say this is the golden team and I hope we win against Uzbekistan. I feel good confidence for this team. But we should look beyond the Olympics. We must plan ahead.
"I hope the UAE FA makes a strategic plan with this team for the future. But I don't feel the UAE FA has somebody to guide them.
"Inshallah I think with the right strategic plan for the future we can build a UAE team in two or three years that is capable of taking the country to the World Cup.
"I think this under-23 team now needs to be going for the World Cup not only the Olympics. I think they have a good future."
