Dubai: The UAE national team will gather in Al Ain on August 18 in preparation for their last two 2018 World Cup qualifiers, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Whites are currently fourth in their qualifying group, six points off a minimum required third-place finish, and play Saudi Arabia at home on August 29 and Iraq away on September 5.
Only the first and second-placed sides from two groups of six progress to next year’s World Cup in Russia from Asia, while the two third-placed sides go into a cross-continental play-off.
The UAE’s chances of qualifying, after they drew their last game 1-1 away to already-eliminated Thailand in Edgardo Bauza’s first game in charge last month, are extremely slim, especially when it comes to goal difference.
Second-placed Saudi Arabia and third-place Australia are both on 16 points, one point behind leaders Japan, six points clear of the UAE, 11 points off already eliminated Iraq, and 14 points off similarly condemned Thailand.
Japan are already guaranteed at least a play-off spot finish, while Saudi Arabia, Australia and, to a much lesser extent, the UAE, are all left vying for automatic or at least play-off qualification.
What limits the UAE’s ability to qualify is not only the fact they need to win both their remaining games, but they also have to hope at least one of either Saudi Arabia or Australia lose twice, while also having to overcome a sizeable goal difference.
Saudi have a plus-seven goal difference, Australia are on plus six, while the UAE are on minus three.
Even with such slim chances, new coach Bauza will be eager to prove his worth after opening with a disappointing draw away to Thailand last month.
Bauza is an established South American club coach who has won the Copa Libertadores twice with Ecuador’s LDU Quito in 2008 and Argentina’s San Lorenzo in 2014.
However, he is still smarting from his first experience of international management, after he was sacked by his native Argentina after just eight games in charge of La Albiceleste in April. He replaced Mahdi Ali as UAE coach in May and will now be looking to bounce back with the Whites.
Despite the fact that he’s inherited a squad who are already virtually out of World Cup contention, Bauza will still be looking to build a squad for the 2019 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in the UAE.
In the meantime, Bauza will travel to Europe to watch UAE clubs play friendlies during their summer training camps, before recalling players for UAE training on August 18. Al Ain players will be exempt as their Asian Champions League quarter-final first leg at home to Saudi’s Al Hilal will be on August 21, but they will be expected to return before the UAE-Saudi game in Al Ain on August 29.
