AL AIN // Srecko Katanec seems to be gradually turning the UAE's fortunes around. Sunday night's win over the Czech Republic - a 3-2 penalty shoot-out triumph after a goalless draw - was the best performance so far in the four games under the Slovenian coach. The result earned the team a place in tomorrow's final against Iraq in the four-team UAE International Cup at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Qattara, Al Ain.
Katanec's youthful side held the taller and speedier Czechs, semi-finalists at Euro 2004, in regulation time and showed more composure to score in three of four spot-kicks in the shoot-out courtesy of Yousef Jaber, Hamdan al Kamali and Amer Abdulrahman. The UAE goalkeeper Majed Naser made two excellent saves after David Rozehnal, the Czech captain and Hamburg defender, sent the first penalty wide.
Katanec's team have now gone four games unbeaten, a stark contrast to their form before his arrival when they lost all but one of their eight final World Cup qualifying games under Bruno Metsu and then Dominque Bathenay. The Slovenian again went with youth, with only three senior squad members in his line-up - midfielder Subait Khater, 29, who returned after a year's ban from international duty, defender Mohammed Qasim, 28, and Naser, 25.
"The young players have got personality on the pitch," said Katanec. "It is important. This is the right attitude to have when you have to play at the top level. It is not easy to play against taller and stronger players and the 0-0 score at full time was a good result. "Firstly, I was very pleased how they played all 90 minutes. The organisation on the pitch was good. The attackers and defenders supported each other by maintaining the compact formation. We have had very little time to train together and under these circumstances I am satisfied with the progress."
Meanwhile, Iraq, who beat Azerbaijan 1-0 on Sunday, could face action from Fifa after their Olympic committee dissolved the Iraqi FA because of alleged financial irregularities and the delaying of internal elections. Fifa says any government involvement could lead to the suspension of Iraq's teams, but says it is waiting for more information before taking action. @Email:apassela@thenational.ae
