UAE coach Mahdi Ali will test some new faces against Uzbekistan this afternoon but insists the Whites want to finish their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a win.
Mahdi’s side go into their final Group E game with a perfect record, having won five from five games so far, but missing three of their more influential players.
Omar Abdulrahman and namesake Amer are both absent as they continue their rehibilitation from long-term injuries, while Al Wahda forward Ismail Matar was not included in the 24-man party.
Mahdi has instead taken the opportunity to add a couple of fresh faces to his squad with Sharjah pair, Mohamed Yousef and Ahmed Khamis, Al Dhafra midfielder Bandar Mohammed Al Ahbabi and Al Wasl striker Mohammed Nasser all included.
With Mohamed Abdulrahman and Salem Saleh, who each have two caps, also in Tashkent, the side that takes to the field at the Bunyodkor Stadium could boast an unfamiliar look, but Mahdi is predicting an exciting game.
“Both teams have already qualified for the Asian Cup so it gives us a chance to see some attacking football, although we want to continue our run of successful results and we want to win,” he said.
“I have called up four new players for the match and it is a big challenge for them and I hope it will be good motivation for them.
“Uzbekistan will also have some changes with some young players. The season also has not started in Uzbekistan, but both teams are ready to play.”
Although both teams have already qualified for next January’s finals tournament in Australia, and the UAE are assured of top spot in Group E, victory is still vitally important for the Whites.
The UAE are currently ranked No58 in the world and fifth in Asia by FIFA. However they are just one place below their opponents this afternoon in the world rankings, and five away from tournament hosts Australia.
A win could see the Whites climb as high as third in Asia, which would be a timely boost with the draw for the finals set to take place at the Sydney Opera House on March 26.
“In every game we play, we must have the desire to win,” Mahdi said. “Our motivation was not only to qualify, we want to be part of the semi-finals at the Asian Cup, which is an essential requirement for us, and as a result the game means we can climb the rankings before the draw for the tournament."
The Emirati coach added: “We’re working every day to get better from the previous day and here comes the incentive to win and continue our achievements.“
Much of the UAE squad have fond memories of playing in Tashkent, having secured their passage to the London Olympics with a 3-2 win over Uzbekistan here two years ago.
But Mahdi, who revealed he knows “95 per cent” of the squad that will travel to Australia next January does not think that result – or the 2-1 victory achieved in Abu Dhabi just under 12 months ago – will have any bearing on this afternoon’s game.
Meanwhile, there is added incentive for striker Ali Mabkhout, who will want to maintain his position as the leading scorer in qualifying.
The Al Jazira forward currently has six goals to his name, two more than Qatar’s Khalfan Ibrahim and Iran’s Javad Nekounam.
