UAE players attend a practice session.

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter
 
 
The UAE are seeking the first elusive win in the final round against Lebanon to keep their hopes of the 2022 World Cup qualification alive.

The UAE have not been able open their account in the third round after three draws and two losses in five matches so far. Despite a faltering start to the campaign, there is a lot to play for the UAE, who stormed into the third round as the group leaders.

Twelve teams were divided into two groups of six each. The top two finishers from each group will directly book their berth in the 2022 World Cup finals.

The third–placed finishers from both the groups will meet in a knockout game and the winner will advance to the continental play-offs. The best third-placed team from each continent will vie for the remaining berths.

The UAE have only three points, which they have procured with three stalemates and are lying at the fifth place in six-team group. With Iran and South Korea emerging as the clear favourites to book their berths through a direct qualification, the fight has virtually boiled down to Lebanon, Iraq and the UAE vying for a third spot.

The UAE are two places adrift of Lebanon, who have five points from as many games with one win two draws and two losses. They are behind the leaders Iran and South Korea, who have 13 and 11 points respectively. Iran have won four of their matches, drawn one and are assured of a direct qualification barring any catastrophe.

South Korea are also in their comfort zone after having opened a six-point lead against their nearest rivals after notching up three wins and being held twice.

The UAE have a bit of catching-up to do and hope for the other results to go in their favours as well to make their second appearance in the showpiece event after almost three decades.

UAE coach Bert Van Marwijk, who masterminded the Saudi Arabia’s qualification for the Russia World Cup in 2018 and drove his native The Netherlands to final of 2010 World Cup in South Africa, conceded the hopes for a direct qualification is over but they will look take an alternate route through a third-place finish.

“The Whites are looking forward to achieve their first victory in the third round of the qualifiers after a series of negative results, which has put our campaign in peril.

“Nothing less than a victory will improve our position in the group and rekindle our hopes to press for a third-place finish at least and boost our chances to qualify for the play-offs,” Van Marwijk said.

“Lebanon have shown a great improvisation and developed their game drastically which has propelled them to the third spot with a victory. We respect them as a team but we will press for a win against them to take away three points,” he stressed.

The UAE coach also predicted very tough match against Lebanon.

“We are aware of the fact that it is a very important game for us and we have to win the match and run away with all three points to stay afloat,” said Van Marwijk.

“I am expecting an intriguing and interesting clash against a very strong side. Lebanon are a very good team and they have a lot of distinguish players in their line-up. They will also look to win the match and boost their qualification hopes,” he informed.

The UAE will look to draw inspiration from their past record against Lebanon. The two teams have met 13 times and the UAE, who won on the seven occasion, had to face a defeat in only one match while rest ended in a draw.

But the UAE’s recent form is a thong on their way to realizing their dream. They spurned a good chance to take early advantage and were held by Iraq, Syria and Lebanon on the home turf.

The UAE campaign has been marred by quite a few injuries in important games at home. They will again miss the services Waleed Abbas, who faces a one-match suspension.

The UAE playmaker Ali Salmeen, who also missed a match earlier, vowed to give their best against Lebanon.

“All the players are motivated to achieve the first victory against Lebanon. Despite a series of negative results, the players are upbeat and raring to go out and perform, for our fans back home,” he stressed.

The UAE also face the hurdle of playing away. They will be playing their second game away from after two in a span of two year because of coronavirus. The outbreak of the pandemic had forced all the matches to be shifted to the UAE, which has become a safe haven for the sporting events and hosted world- class tournaments like IPL, T20 World Cup and MMA fights.