Mohammed Fawzi tells UAE football teammates to ‘Follow your dream and get it’ ahead of World Cup qualifier

Mohammed Fawzi says he and his UAE teammates must keep their eyes forward and on the goal of qualifying for World Cup 2018, writes John McAuley.

Mohamed Fawzi, left, says he and his team still have all to play for on Tuesday against Thailand. ‘I believe we have a chance’ of reaching the World Cup, he says. Courtesy UAE FA

Mohammed Fawzi said the UAE must continue to believe in their ability to reach next summer’s World Cup as they prepare to take on Thailand in a must-win qualifier on Tuesday.

The national team, fourth in Group B in the final stage of qualification, remain just about in the hunt to make Russia 2018 and will most likely require maximum points from their final three matches if they are to book a berth at the finals for only the second time in history.

At present, the UAE sit seven points off both automatic qualification and the play-off spot in third, with Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia all locked on 16 points.

The UAE have the chance on Tuesday to close the gap to four points on the latter two teams at least when they face the group’s bottom-placed side at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

The match represents new manager Edgardo Bauza’s first competitive fixture in charge after the Argentine was installed last month as Mahdi Ali’s successor.

Right-back Fawzi, coming off the back of an impressive Arabian Gulf League campaign with UAE champions Al Jazira, is a member of the 25-man squad currently training in the Thai capital.

“We believe in football, because football is like this: if you do not believe, you will not achieve,” Fawzi said. “Football gives you good things, but it is never easy.

“When you fight, you get what you want. If your dream is far, you might not go for it. But you must follow your dream and get it.

“I believe we have a chance as we have the same quality as the other teams. Many Australia players play in England, some Japanese players play in Italy, so it is not easy. But we believe we can do it and we will never give up. We have a strong game against Thailand. I hope the players will be ready for this moment. We are looking forward, always.

“Even if we lose the three games, we look forward.”

Although the UAE are expected to win against Thailand, given the situation in the group and the fact it is Bauza’s competitive bow, there is significant pressure on the visitors to get the points.

The former Argentina national team manager is seeking to rebound from a disappointing time in his homeland, when he was dismissed in April following only eight matches.

Argentina, World Cup finalists in 2014, were fifth in South American qualification, one place outside the automatic spots.

Fawzi, though, is looking forward to developing his game under Bauza’s tutelage.

“He was in Argentina, he was with [Lionel] Messi and Messi is the best player in the world, so I’m excited to be with this coach,” he said.

“He will help me be more professional, given me more experience. I’m waiting for this moment. He will give me more options to do on the pitch, so I will be very happy.”

Fawzi, 27, was part of the UAE’s squad for the March qualifiers against Japan and Australia.

The twin 2-0 defeats, five days apart, brought to a close Mahdi Ali’s four-and-a-half year tenure with the senior national team, with the Emirati resigning immediately after the loss in Sydney.

The decision was expected, although Fawzi said he and his teammates should shoulder some of the blame for the side’s faltering form.

The former Al Ahli, Baniyas and Al Ain defender had featured for a number of the UAE’s age-group team’s that enjoyed much success with Mahdi Ali at the helm.

Asked if the change in manager was needed, Fawzi said: “I cannot speak about this situation because I’m a player. If the coach isn’t doing well, that means the players aren’t doing well on the pitch.

“Football is all about the players: even if the coach does 100 per cent, if the players don’t do well people will say it was the coach.

“But for me, I cannot speak about this situation because I am a player. I have nothing to say because captain Mahdi helped us a lot, for me since I was 13.

“He was with us, he knows everyone, he knows what we like, what we don’t like. For me, he was my father. So I have nothing to say.”

Fawzi will hope to push his way into Bauza’s thinking this week for the Thailand clash. Signed from Al Ain in September, where he had struggled for first-team opportunities, Fawzi excelled last season in a Jazira defence that conceded only 15 goals on their way to a first top-flight crown in six years.

With the UAE, he will most likely battle Ahli’s Abdulaziz Sanqour for a place in the starting line-up.

“For me, for the national team it doesn’t matter who plays,” Yet Fawzi said. “The most important thing is that the UAE win.

“If I am one of the 11 players on the pitch, for sure I will work hard to win.

“If I’m not, for sure I will pray for my brothers to win. ​

“If I’m with the national team I will be happy, if I play on the pitch I will be happy, if I don’t play I will be happy because I see my friends are playing very well. Because this is my country.

“I will help my country wherever they want.”

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