Bittersweet Ismail Matar backs UAE to qualify for World Cup 2018

The veteran striker's happiness for the UAE’s performance in the Asian Cup was mixed with just a tinge of personal regret.

Ismail Matar is happy with the success of the new Emirati crop of players. Courtesy UAE FA

ABU DHABI // Ismail Matar’s happiness for the UAE’s performance in the Asian Cup was mixed with just a tinge of personal regret.

The veteran striker did not make it to Australia after he picked up an injury in December that ruled him out.

Had he not been injured, he would likely have made the squad regardless of his advancing years and slowing progress.

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The goalscoring form of both Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil means he would probably not have started. But given the reserve strikers Salem Saleh and Saeed Al Kathiri were unproven at the level, Matar would probably have been called on to contribute at some stage.

As it stands, he missed physically being around his “family”, but was in touch with them through the tournament.

“Sure, I felt a little sad,” Matar said. “For me, I loved to be with this squad as we are even more than a family. I’ve always enjoyed being with them.

“This is part of life, you get injured. I am getting well now and this is important for me but I am very happy for my friends.

“I was in touch with them throughout the tournament. Before each game we talked and discussed games, how we can play, how we see things and I shared my experiences with them.”

The UAE’s third-place finish was their best at the tournament since 1996 when, playing at home, they lost in the final to Saudi Arabia. Since then and until this year, they have missed qualifying for one tournament and lost in the first round of the other three.

Matar was understandably pleased with a semi-final run.

“For me, a fan, not as a player, I am proud of the result. I am really happy because these are my players, my friends, doing really well, like Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil.

“They are not just playing, but enjoying playing and showing people the quality they have.

“Ali Mabkhout got the best goalscorer in this tournament, for the first time in the history of this ­country.

”Matar said that the UAE needed to take advantage of the togetherness of this team and aim higher. Later this year begins the qualification process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and reaching that for the first time since 1990, Matar said, should be the next logical target.

“We should aim for that and I think we can reach that right now,” he said. “The Asian Cup is too far away in 2019 and we have won the Gulf Cup before. “To gain qualification for the World Cup, after so many years, that would be a very big dream for us.”

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