UAE look to continue winning run in World Cup qualifiers

The UAE national team stars Ahmed Khalil and Mohammed Barghash are confident of their team’s strong performance in their upcoming match against Indonesia on Thursday.

Both teams are due to meet in the second round of the joint preliminary qualifications of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

Shabab Al Ahli’s Khalil assured that all the players are ready to continue winning momentum after UAE’s victory over Malaysia in the first round.

Asked about the preparations, Khalil said that its going according to strategies that were made during the training sessions, and the participations of the players with their teams in the domestic league has helped them in raising their performance and readiness and everyone is working very hard to serve the national team in order to get the a positive result.

Meanwhile, the Striker has called the fans to support the national team, ensuring that the players are in need for their support especially in home matches.

He said: “speaking about the importance of the match is quite obvious, this is the second match in the qualifications and winning it with a full mark will give us the best advantage in this round and will help us to move to the next round.”

Al Wahda player Barghash has also expressed his faith that the national team will be supported by fans during the match.

Barghash has promised the fans to give his best performance to make them happy and satisfied, hoping that he and along with his team-mates will deliver another win for the UAE that will make them lead group G to have an advantage over their rivals.

He assured that the current stage is very important and is considered as the real beginning of the team in qualification rounds and it requires lots of determination, focus and work with devotion to reach the goal.

On the other hand, Indonesia’s head coach Simon McMenemy has been working hard in correcting his yeam’s weaknesses ahead of their clash.

The Garudas have their backs against the wall after falling to defeats against regional rivals Malaysia and Thailand.

Indonesia desperately need a win against UAE, who opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Malaysia, which McMenemy has been working on.

“The development of the players is getting better, and this is certainly a positive note ahead of the match against the UAE.”

Having arrived in Dubai a week before their Matchday Three encounter, McMenemy has spent a lot of time drilling tactics and strategies into his players ahead of tie at the Al Maktoum Stadium.

“We are practicing with internal games, where we divide the teams into two,” said McMenemy.

Having identified his team’s weaknesses in the 3-2 defeat to Malaysia and 3-0 loss to Thailand, MeMenemy has been instilling in them the need to play according to plans.

Meanwhile, national team and Al Ain player Ahmed Barman assured that the next match against Indonesia in the joint qualifications is very important, and earning the three points is a necessity.

Barman added that the match will not be easy and it needs lots of efforts from everyone possible, in order to continue with the winning spirit that begun with the victory against Malaysia in Malaysia in the first match.

Barman explained the importance of the crowed as they play a huge role in the upcoming matches, as they give the players a huge motivational push to give their best and wind, to spread the joy amongst our fans in UAE.

Barman asked to respect the opponent and to not take the Indonesian team for granted, pointing that coming last in the group doesn’t mean they are weak or they are an easy rival, insisting on taking this match very serious as they will do their best to recover the points they lost in previous rounds.

He concluded: “The qualifications are still in the beginnings and its very early to talk about the leader of the group or who comes last, each and every team in this group still has a chance to qualify, as they all look forward to play in the finals, and competence will raise with every round. We always need to be at our best to reach the finals.”