The National’s Sport cover for the Thursday, September 3 issue, featuring Ismail Al Hammadi, whom Ali Khaled identifies as the key player in the UAE’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Emirati national team will play Malaysia on Thursday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and Palestine on Tuesday in the West Bank. The UAE won their first match against East Timor in June 1-0, and must finish in the top two of the five-team Group A to keep their 2018 World Cup hopes alive.
Ali writes it will be underappreciated Al Ahli midfielder Al Hammadi who makes a huge difference in whether the UAE travel to Russia 2018.
“For someone whose goal won the UAE a second Gulf Cup of Nations, Ismail Al Hammadi can sometimes seem overlooked, marginalised to the edges of the national team’s recent successes.
“This could be about to change for the most in-form player in the country. After a stunning start to the 2015/16 season, the Al Ahli winger is ready to take centre stage.”
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