It is a well-worn cliche, often monotonous, when footballers say it is their dream to play in the World Cup finals. Of course it is often true, having grown up watching legends like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Diego Maradona lift the greatest prize in football. It also defines a player's career.
George Best is regarded as one of the greatest-ever players. But would he have been THE greatest if Northern Ireland had played on the game's biggest stage, perhaps lighting up the 1966 or 1970 tournaments, rivalling Geoff Hurst and Pele for the spotlight. The same goes for Ryan Giggs. He might have won 10 English Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues with Manchester United, but his Wales side have never played in a World Cup.
George Weah suffered similar ignominy with Liberia but he was feted for his exploits at AC Milan. It is a fate the UAE striker Ismail Matar is desperate to avoid. "I do not want to look back at my career and be someone who did not play in the World Cup," he said, his usual hushed tones getting distinctively louder. "I do not want to be like the other players who did not play in the finals even though everyone said they were great. Every player wants to play in the finals and I hope I can achieve this dream in 2010."
The desire burns strongly and will drive him on when the UAE do battle in the second stage of the Asian qualifiers, which start with a clash against North Korea tomorrow. At 25, who knows if he will get another chance. He is a winner and sets high targets for himself - some would say too high in a country who have only reached the World Cup once before, in 1990. Few in the Emirates will forget how Matar was the magician who conjured up their first Gulf Cup success last year. A dazzling display of brilliance, sealed by five goals, ensured his place in his country's sporting folklore.
But will that be enough to satisfy his craving to do as well as he possibly can? There is always talk about a move to Europe. The Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover at Manchester City could well offer him, and perhaps young players like Mohammed Al Shehhi and Ahmed Dada Mubarak, that chance. His ambition to play abroad is there, the intention is there, but taking that final step is never easy. For many talented players in the Gulf, the dream move never materialises as clubs are either worried about taking a risk on players who may not have the mentality to succeed or sometimes the player himself is happy to stay in the comfort zone.
Take Ali Karimi and Yasser al Qahtani for instance. Karimi, the mercurial Iranian midfielder, left Al Ahli in the Emirates to join Bayern Munich, but failed to mix or settle. Uli Hoeness, general manager of the German giants, said: "He has the talent yes, but that is not just enough to succeed at this level. He needs to learn the language, he needs to mix with people and show he wants to play for the club. You have to work hard in many areas."
Qahtani is Saudi Arabia's striking spearhead; their own Ismail Matar. He had a trial at Manchester City, but it was said he and his club, Al Ahli, could not agree terms. Others said the rough and tumble of English football was not to his liking and City saw that. Can Matar show his mettle and prove any different, or will he stay at Al Wahda, where he has been since he was a youngster? Will he get any better if he stays where he is, especially with the new Pro League starting?
Ali al Habsi answered these questions when he made the sacrifice when he left Oman for Norway as a teenager for a spell at Lyn Oslo. It wasn't a glamorous step but one which saw him eventually end up at Bolton in the English Premier League. He feels Matar has the skills, but wonders whether it might be too late. "Maybe he should have gone a year or two ago," says the keeper. "You have to adapt to a new style in Europe, especially in England, and change how you have trained and played before. It is not easy.
"Ismail is a very good player and everyone has seen what he can do for the UAE, but playing in Europe is tough. I don't know if it is too late for him to make the move, but he should not wait much longer." Matar has the perfect stage to showcase his talent in the World Cup qualifiers against teams like Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. There is huge expectation every time he plays, sometimes unfair, but, if he can deliver, his dream of playing in South Africa, then maybe his dream of playing in Europe may become a reality.
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
