UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni speaks during Friday's news conference. AFP
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni speaks during Friday's news conference. AFP

Alberto Zaccheroni bullish on UAE's 2019 Asian Cup prospects despite Ismail Ahmed injury worry



Ismail Ahmed is a late fitness worry for the UAE as they prepare to kick off the 2019 Asian Cup against Bahrain on Saturday night at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

The Al Ain captain is suffering from a calf problem and while he trained with the rest of the squad on Thursday, his participation in the opening Group A clash, which starts at 8pm after an opening ceremony, is in doubt according to manager Alberto Zaccheroni.

The Italian told a news conference on Friday: "He has been undergoing treatment with the team physician and joined the team training for the first time on Thursday.

“We will have another look at him tonight in our final training session and then take a decision on him. Otherwise, we have the full squad ready for the action against Bahrain.”

Despite a troubled build-up which saw the side lose their influential midfielder Omar Abdulrahman to a knee injury, Zaccheroni believes his team are well set up for their bid to win the competition for the first time after finishing third in Australia in 2015.

____________

Read more

UAE's Asian Cup strategy must be to take one step at a time

In pictures: UAE players training ahead of the continental showpiece in Abu Dhabi

Lowdown: Groups, teams, tickets and all you need to know about the tournament

In pictures: Look back on the last time the Emirates host the Asian Cup in 1996

____________

They were runners-up at the Gulf Cup 12 months ago, their most recent competitive action, and the 65 year old said: "Since then, the Asian Cup hosted by the UAE has been our main objective and we are all waiting for to achieve an outstanding performance.

“The preparation has gone very well. We have had camps both in the UAE and abroad, and have received all the support that we can possibly get from the management.

“Of course, we have had some injury problems to some key players but we are not going to take that as an excuse for poor performances in this championship.”

Zaccheroni led Japan to the Asian Cup title in 2011 but he believes a lot has changed in the footballing landscape on the continent since then.

“The performance of the teams has changed a lot since the last time I managed a team in the Asian Cup,” said the Italian.

“Watching the Asian teams in the 2018 World Cup I can see a lot of improvement in them and many of those teams are in the Asian Games. My guess is, the winner will win on small details.

“As a coach as I said before, I started working with UAE was one year ago. we didn’t play big games but we played in the Gulf Cup and reached the final.

“The team has improved and there is a big change compared to the last time the UAE took part in the Asian Cup.”

Brief scoreline:

Wolves 3

Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2

Arsenal 1

Papastathopoulos 80'

Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

Teams

India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami

South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

GP3 race, 12:30pm

Formula 1 final practice, 2pm

Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm

Formula 2 race, 6:40pm

Performance: Sam Smith

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia