Coming so soon after their June pomp, the UAE arrive at the final stage of qualification for the next World Cup full of optimism.
Bert van Marwijk’s men came through their early summer assignment, negotiating commendably a fraught four-games-in-13-days errand, even if it did play out in its entirety in Dubai. To their credit, they withstood the stresses and the strains of expectation, the need for an almost-flawless run, to turn around their campaign.
The UAE gleaned maximum points, attacked with fervour and defended, for the most part, expertly. A distinct pattern of play emerged, clear to see and pleasing on the eye. In the end, they progressed to the third and final round for Qatar 2022 as group winners.
And so to another lengthy labour on the road to what the national team hope will be a second appearance at a global finals. Drawn in Group A alongside Iran, South Korea, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, the UAE have 10 matches to secure a top-two slot that guarantees a World Cup place. Third could be enough, although it sets about a series of play-offs to clinch a berth at next year’s tournament. At present, it appears the most plausible route.
Whatever transpires, the next six months are certain to test Van Marwijk’s improving side. For it should not be underestimated: this phase marks a significant step up in challenge.
In Iran, the UAE take on the side ranked, until relatively recently, often as Asia’s No 1. They are perennial World Cup participants, boasting some of the finest talent on the continent, particularly in attack. The appointment as manager of Dragan Skocic, a resident in the country for some time and thus cognisant of the footballing culture and the requirement to qualify, seems astute.
South Korea, meanwhile, constitute the other obvious favourite for a direct spot, even if the regular World Cup entrants have yet to truly translate to the national team Son Heung-min’s form with Tottenham Hotspur. Manager Paulo Bento, too, has not convinced fully.
The task, then, to usurp one of those two countries is far from straightforward. For the UAE, they will have to improve greatly their away form: in Round 2, they were fortunate to triumph in Malaysia before losing in Thailand and Vietnam, although they did deserve more from Hanoi.
Some solace, though, can be taken from the fact that the UAE were at the beginning of Van Marwijk’s tenure and therefore in a period of decided transition. The progress since, taking place amid the pandemic, has been marked. Still, sterner tests await.
At this stage in World Cup 2018 qualification, the UAE failed to build on an historic opening victory in Japan, afterwards losing away to Saudi Arabia, Australia and Iraq. They drew with Thailand in Bangkok.
It should help, now, that three of their opening four fixtures will be staged in Dubai, at the same Zabeel Stadium that provided the setting for their summer success. The only jaunt from home, which follows Lebanon on Thursday and comes against Syria next week, falls at a neutral venue in Jordan.
Blatantly, the UAE must make the most of a favourable start. Maximum points are required against Lebanon – the lowest-ranked team in the group, still they held South Korea to a draw in Round 2 - and a positive result achieved in Amman. Then come Iran and Iraq in October, five days apart.
Van Marwijk’s input, of course, will be pivotal. Crucially, the Dutchman knows what it takes: in 2018, he guided Saudi Arabia memorably to automatic qualification, at Australia’s initial expense.
Admittedly, the Asian football landscape has changed, distorted further by the uncertainty of the pandemic. As Van Marwijk highlighted this week, at this stage and with the World Cup coming into view, “nothing will be easy. Never”.
A burst from the blocks would make that quest feel altogether more attainable. The UAE are buoyant and full of belief, energised by their June spree, still fresh in the mind. Yet refocus is undoubtedly required.
Reaching World Cup 2022, seemingly close but in truth far from now, demands substantially greater effort.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
BABYLON
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
New schools in Dubai
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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How to help or find other cats to adopt
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
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Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Racecard
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
