UAE coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena (left) and Australia coach Graham Arnold during pre-match press conferences, yesterday.
Doha: UAE head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena and his Australian counterpart Graham Arnold have declared their respective sides fully ready for today’s showdown in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar Playoff at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
The two teams are battling for the right to face Peru in six days’ time, having finished third in their respective groups in the earlier round, with the UAE collecting 12 points to finish behind IR Iran and Korea Republic who advanced directly to Qatar 2022 from Group A while the Socceroos’ 15 points put them a point ahead of Oman and behind qualified duo Saudi Arabia and Japan in Group B.
Having appeared at the FIFA World Cup once, back in 1990, this is the closest the UAE have come to qualifying since then, with their previous qualifiers’ campaign in 2018 seeing them finish fourth in the group despite collecting one more point than this term.
The Road to Russia was more successful for the Socceroos, who denied the Emiratis third place, finishing six points ahead of them and advancing to the playoff against Syria, before edging them out 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a Tim Cahill brace in Sydney, having drawn 1-1 in the first leg in Kuala Lumpur.
Then managed by current Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, Australia downed Honduras in the Inter-Confederation Playoff 3-1 thanks to a Mile Jedinak hat-trick to reach Russia 2018. It was the sixth time the Socceroos competed in a FIFA World Cup Playoff in their history, losing to Scotland (1986), Argentina (1994) and Uruguay (2002) and beating Uruguay (2006). Head coach Arnold believes this experience will play to his side’s advantage.
“Australia are used to doing it the hard way,” said the 58-year-old Arnold.
“It’s an experience that we are used to. We have analysed, looked at the UAE and we know their strengths and weaknesses, so we know what to expect. We know what the game is all about, but it is also a great opportunity for the boys to show what they have.
“The advantage is that we have a strong group of players. Physically we are ready for this game. My job today and tomorrow is to keep the boys relaxed. We spent a lot of time on the training pitch and the boys have strong belief. There is a great atmosphere and spirit in the group. Physically and mentally, we are in a great place, and I think that will help us through.”
The two encounters between the UAE and Australia in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers in 2018 were the first between them in qualifiers, and the Socceroos walked away with the three points on both occasions; Cahill’s second-half finish being the difference in Abu Dhabi while Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie scored either side of the break in the return fixture in Sydney to complete Australia’s double.
And while the Whites have yet to register a win or score a goal against their Tuesday opponents in the AFC Asian Qualifiers, the last game between the two side actually ended in the UAE’s favour, with Ali Mabkhout taking advantage of a Milos Degenek error to send his nation into the semi-finals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on home soil at the expense of Australia. For Arruabarrena, the UAE’s hopes of replicating that triumph hang on the players’ ability to play smart, rather than strong.
“Australia have an advantage in aerial ability, but we are also capable,” said the Argentine.
“They have quality players and so do we. They are a strong team, but we have intelligent players who are able to deal with any physical disadvantages.
“We have been working together for a while, so we want to focus on our strengths and take advantage of Australia’s weaknesses. Talk is easy of course, but it is the effort and focus of players on the pitch that will make the difference.”
