Dubai: Edgardo Bauza insists his UAE side are ready to face Thailand in Bangkok from 4pm UAE time on Tuesday despite the new coach having just 12 days to prepare for this do-or-die 2018 World Cup qualifier.
The Argentinian took over last month after Mahdi Ali resigned following a 2-0 defeat away to Australia in March.
That result left The Whites four points off a play-off spot for Russia 2018 with three games remaining.
They have since gone seven points behind after Australia and Saudi Arabia played their game together on Thursday, with Australia winning 3-2 at home.
That left Bauza with an even harder task to lead the UAE to only their second World Cup since debuting in 1990.
The UAE now have to win their remaining three games away to Thailand, at home to Saudi Arabia (August 29) and away to Iraq (September 5), in the hope that one of the three teams above them, Japan, Saudi or Australia, slip up.
However, time has not been on Bauza’s side. From the point of Ali’s resignation to Bauza’s appointment, it took 44 days. It then took another 19 days before he could lead his first training session, as he was waiting for the domestic season to end before players could be released by clubs.
“I have had 12 days to prepare, when I wanted to spend a month,” said Bauza in Monday’s press conference, ahead of his first competitive game in charge. “But over the past 12 days, we worked hard all the time.”
The UAE had two days internal training together at the end of May before flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 1 where they beat Laos 4-0 in a friendly last Wednesday after which they flew to Bangkok on June 8.
“The Thai national team is the best team in south east Asia,” added Bauza.
“The Laos friendly was not just an experiment because of the fact that we will meet Thailand, but it was a trial of our team, to select the most capable and ready players. For the Thailand game, it seems to be a difficult game — however, we are ready.”
Turning things around for the UAE would help Bauza move on from a disastrous first foray in international management. Sacked after just eight games in charge of his native Argentina in April, he now feels he can do more with the UAE.
“I had a lot of experience with Argentina,” he said. “I’m still in contact with them now, because we have a good relationship. When compared to the UAE, I am confident that I can do better.”
Thailand are bottom of the group with just one point from seven games and are ranked 52 positions below the UAE. The UAE also beat the War Elephants 3-1 at home when the two sides met earlier in qualification in Abu Dhabi last October.
Despite that, their new Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac is dreaming of a first ever win in the advanced qualifying stages of a World Cup.
“We prepared ourselves for this match and we will give our best to get the right result. Because if we win, that will be a historic win — the first for a Thai team at this. The players are ready to give their best, are motivated for this and of course they are expecting great support from the fans to help us win.”
