A few pointers to aspects of the second semi-final in Newcastle where the game will be won or lost.
Stop Tim Cahill
Sounds simple, but will be one of the biggest factors of who emerges victorious. The midfielder, 35, has built a career on clever movement and fantastic aerial ability. Mohanad Salem, who dealt with everything Japan threw at him, will be tasked with keeping Cahill in check, with Mohammed Ahmed next to him doing the sweeping up.
Slow down their wingers
Massimo Luongo, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie are capable of some wonderful play down the wings, and not just to get the ball onto Cahill’s head. Abdulaziz Haikal had a poor game against Japan and the responsibility of stemming the Australian wide attacks will fall on Abdulaziz Sanqour and the returning Walid Abbas. They will need to be at the top of their game.
A tactical master plan
The longer the tournament has gone on, the more tactical, often defensive, Mahdi Ali has become. There will be some tired legs in Newcastle and the players must again play smart to avoid running out of steam against a team that can run all day. Perhaps the order of the day is a repeat of the performance against Iran, when the team sat back in the early stages before, led by Omar Abdulrahman, slowly taking control of the match.
Substitutions
Against Iran, Mahdi Ali made no substitutions; against Japan two before the hour mark and all three by the 75th minute. Today the fatigue factor will likely require the UAE to make tactical changes, so the timings will be crucial. Mahdi Ali must look to find the right balance.
Improved hold-up play
Against Japan the front players, despite Ali Mabkhout’s excellent goal, had poor games in the opposition half. While Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil worked as tirelessly for the cause as everyone else, their hold-up play, which is needed to relieve pressure off an overworked defence, was almost non-existent in the second half as the team faced waved after wave of Japanese attacks. Greater possession and more composure on the ball will be needed against Australia.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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