Omar Abdulrahman of the UAE, left, is going to be a key figure for his team against Iraq this week. Tom Dulat / Getty Images
Omar Abdulrahman of the UAE, left, is going to be a key figure for his team against Iraq this week. Tom Dulat / Getty Images

There is no ‘I’ in team for Omar Abdulrahman ahead of big week for UAE and Al Ain



First test On Tuesday, the UAE attempt to get their 2018 World Cup campaign up and running again when they host Iraq in Abu Dhabi. Currently fourth in Group B after last month's 3-0 defeat in Saudi Arabia, they need a win at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium to retain hopes at the halfway stage of finishing in the top two automatic qualifying spots for the Russia event.

Second test Abdulrahman captains Al Ain four days later at South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, in the first leg of the Champions League final. The Garden City club, champions in 2003, remain the only UAE side to have won the continental crown, but have not participated in the final since 2005. The second leg takes place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on November 26.

Serving his country "Of course, our target and our ambition is to get to the World Cup, and we had a really strong start with the win over Japan," Abdulrahman said. "It's a good chance, although it's still a difficult chance, too. But nothing is impossible. If we continue to work hard, we can qualify. There is no secret, no magic formula. There is team unity and a team cooperation, and with the work of our coaching staff and the effort of the players, God willing, we will get to the World Cup."

Also from John McAuley: Walid Abbas labels Iraq game 'a final'

Asian player of year "I don't think of being the best player, all I'm thinking of now is going to the final and doing well with the national team," said Abdulrahman, who was last week confirmed on a three-man shortlist for the award. "The Asian Champions League means far more to me than being Asia's best player. I hope to be No 1 with the whole team. If I win the best player and we lose the championship, it doesn't mean anything – we've lost everything. It only matters if you win the final. So I hope to win both."

Moving to Europe in future "Of course, I dream of that, but at the moment I have a specific target with Al Ain," Abdulrahman said. "Once I achieve that, only then can I think about playing in a professional league. Europe is always an ambition, but like I said, only after achieving my ambitions with my club. If the chance to turn professional is still there at that point, then it's something I would consider."

jmcauley@thenational.ae

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph 
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Match info

Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)

MATCH INFO

Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')

Newcastle United 0

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

AGL AWARDS

Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb

Age: 57

From: Kalba

Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge

Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.