UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena has named his extended squad for the national team’s upcoming training camp in Abu Dhabi, which includes next week’s marquee friendly against Argentina.
The UAE will meet in the capital on Sunday for a week-long camp, where they face the World Cup favourites on November 16 and Kazakhstan three days later. The matches take place at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium, respectively. The Argentina friendly is sold out.
On Tuesday, Arruabarrena announced a provisional 36-man list, with Sharjah defender Shaheen Abdulrahman returning to the fold – the centre-back has been a notable absentee since last playing for the national team in February – and a number of young players also called up.
However, there was no place for Al Ain captain Bandar Al Ahbabi, or Al Wasl playmaker Omar Abdulrahman. Fabio De Lima, the Wasl forward who missed a large part of this year through injury – he was forced to sit out the World Cup 2022 playoffs in June – is once again in the squad as he continues his return to form with his club.
Some of the new faces included in Tuesday’s 36-man group include defenders Salem Sultan and Abdulsalam Mohammed, midfielders Hussein Medhi and Mohammed Abdulbasit, and forwards Ahmed Amer and Ahmed Fawzy.
The UAE, who last held a camp in Austria in September, are preparing for a busy first half to 2023. The national team begin the new year with the Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq from January 6-19, where they have been drawn in Group B alongside Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
In March and April, the UAE contest the West Asian Football Federation Championship on home soil, before the focus turns to the rescheduled Asian Cup. That tournament, confirmed last month to take place in Qatar, is expected to move from its original date next summer to the beginning of 2024.
UAE v Australia World Cup qualifier playoff - in pictures
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UAE's players after their defeat in the World Cup 2022 play-off against Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Al Rayyan on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. AFP -
UAE forward Caio Canedo marks Australia's defender Aziz Behich during their World Cup 2022 play-off. AFP -
Ajdin Hrustic, right, celebrates scoring the winner against the UAE in Al Rayyan on Tuesday. EPA -
Australia's midfielder Jackson Irvine, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opener. AFP -
Australia's Martin Boyle celebrates a goal against UAE. AP -
Caio Canedo celebrates after scoring UAE's equaliser against Australia. EPA -
UAE's forward Caio Canedo scored the equaliser on Tuesday. AFP -
Nathaniel Atkinson of Australia vies for the ball with UAE's Harib Abdallah. EPA -
Kye Rowles, right, takes on Ali Mabkhout of the UAE. EPA -
UAE's defender Khalifa Al Hammadi dribbles past Australia's Alex Wilkinson at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium on Tuesday. AFP -
UAE's goalkeeper Khalid Eisa during the World Cup 2022 play-off at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium. AFP -
UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena gives instructions. Getty
