Thursday’s cover: Can UAE rise to the occasion in 2018 World Cup qualifier?


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE national team make the cover of The National Sport on Thursday, September 1, 2016 ahead of Thursday night's 2018 Asian World Cup qualifier against Japan in Saitama.

Our reporter John McAuley is in Japan covering the UAE's opening match of Group B at Saitama Stadium, a match Mahdi Ali said was "simply a game for us and we'll do our best, regardless of what happened in the past," a reference to the Emirates' penalty shoot-out victory over the same opponents in last year's Asian Cup quarter-final.

McAuley also spoke to Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil, scorer of 11 goals in the second round of Asian qualifying, who said that those who wish to qualify for the World Cup “have to fight to the last breath”.

You can check out all our coverage ahead of the match by visiting our dedicated page on the UAE's road to Russia 2018.

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Results
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The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue