UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu urges players to seize World Cup chance after comeback win over Syria

Romanian oversees first win as national team coach

Gaston Alvarez scored on his international debut as UAE beat Syria 3-1 in a friendly in Dubai. EPA

Cosmin Olaroiu said he has positive feelings ahead next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers in Qatar after overseeing his first win as UAE coach.

The national team came from a goal down to beat Syria 3-1 in Dubai on Thursday night. They will face Bahrain in another friendly at the same venue in Zabeel on Monday.

The two fixtures are Olaroiu’s last opportunity to run the rule over his players before they try to push for World Cup qualification for the first time since 1990.

In October, the national team face a three-team play-off in Doha which also involves Oman and Qatar. The winning team will advance to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year.

Olaroiu, who is the most successful coach in the history of the UAE club game, was only instilled for the final round of matches in the previous phase of the Asian qualifying process.

His side played out two draws then, against Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, meaning they missed automatic qualification.

Although time is short for him to mould the team in his image, he has at least managed to eke out some extra days with the players.

They had a training camp in Austria in the summer. The players also had an extra week together in the lead up to these two friendlies, when they were excused from their clubs’ cup commitments.

The fixture against Syria was disjointed. Olaroiu made multiple changes during the game, for two reasons: he wanted to have a look at as many players as possible, but also limit the risk of injury.

Having as wide a squad to choose from will be beneficial next month. The UAE will have a short, four-day turnaround between their matches against Oman then Qatar. Qatar, by contrast, have a week between their two fixtures.

“I think everyone understands the importance of the moment for the country and their careers,” Olaroiu said.

“Some of them will not get this opportunity one more time. I think the way they have trained in the camp, they have shown they are trying to do it, and they are trying their best.

“We have the hope and the focus we will do this for ourselves, for the country, and for everyone, this big achievement.

“The feeling I have is giving me a good hope. We just need to stop these silly mistakes.”

The hosts showed character to come back from a goal behind, with a crowd that was about 90 per cent in favour of their opposition.

Having dominated from the off they fell behind in the 36th minute when Mohammed Alsalkhadi ran through unopposed on a counterattack.

Although they continued to control possession, it took the UAE till the 62nd minute to level. Sasa Ivkovic, who was outstanding a centre-back on his second appearance for the national team, headed in from a corner.

They assumed the lead in lucky circumstances, when a soft penalty was awarded for a foul on Bruno De Oliveira.

Yahya Al Ghassani calmly dispatched the spot kick. Although the Shabab Al Ahli forward was only recently brought on as a substitute, he finished the game with the captain’s armband, such was the quantity of replacements.

Gaston Suarez, the Argentina-born midfielder who was debuting for his adopted country age 32, lashed in the third.

“There were good things but also a few small bad things,” Olaroiu said.

“The negative thing was that we can’t concede these kinds of goals to counterattacks when we had controlled totally the first half. Overall, it was a positive result.”

The coach was also pleased to have avoided any additional injuries. He was without two influential performers in Yahia Nader, the Al Ain midfielder, and Caio Lucas, the Sharjah striker, while Mackenzie Hunt watched from the stands.

The English-born, Dubai-raised midfielder has yet to play under Olaroiu, but is part of the wider squad and could feature against Bahrain on Monday.

“They have to treat the game as if they are playing Oman or Qatar,” Olaroiu said.

“We cannot afford to play with less intensity or think that it is a friendly game. We have to play to our potential.

“I have told them that every time they come here they have to give more than they do at their clubs. If I don’t see this, they will not come again.”