UAE out to rattle Group D big guns

AFC – DOHA, United Arab Emirates are plotting to spring a surprise or two at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™, where they come up against some strong opposition in Group D.

They open their account on January 11 against World Cup finalists DPR Korea, followed by matches against defending champions Iraq and regional heavyweights Iran.

UAE stormed to the Asian Cup finals for the eighth time thanks to a blistering start in qualifying that included a 5-0 thrashing of Malaysia, eventually finishing top of their group ahead of Uzbekistan.

UAE coach Srecko Katanec took his side to Oman for a week-long training camp ahead of the Asian Cup, where their best performance to date has been runners-up in 1996.

In November, Katanec’s side thrashed hapless fellow Asian Cup finalists India 5-0, but results in recent warm-up matches have been mixed.

Nevertheless, UAE have seen their profile boosted by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup in December, while ageing Italian star Fabio Cannavaro now plies his trade for club side Al Ahli.

A surprise silver at the Asian Games in November in Guangzhou, China, where they lost narrowly to Japan 1-0 in the final, reinforced the impression that exciting times might be just around the corner for UAE.

Katanec has been widely applauded for his exploits with the national team.

The wily coach made his name leading his home nation Slovenia to Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup, proving he knows what it takes to steer an unfashionable national team into a major tournament.

Also pivotal to the UAE’s prospects of getting out of Group D is striker Ismail Matar.

Capable of both scoring and creating, the clever 27-year-old is regarded as the best forward in the country and almost everything good about the UAE goes through him.

Their frontline also boasts young striker Ahmed Khalil, a talent who has been tipped as good enough to eventually make it in the European game.

UAE, whose proudest ever achievement was an appearance at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, take on reigning champions Iraq on January 15 and go up against Iran four days later.