The UAE will be missing two key players through suspension when they meet North Korea in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games today, but coach Ali Ibrahim is backing the replacements to get the job done.
The UAE will be without their midfield duo of Al Ahli’s Waled Hussain and Mohammed Surour of Sharjah when they take the pitch at the Hwaseong Stadium at 9am (UAE time) today, but the return of Waleed Ambar, who missed the 3-1 win over Vietnam on Friday after being booked twice in the 1-0 defeat to Jordan, should lessen the blow.
“Of course, we are going without those two players, but I have full faith in the capabilities of the bench,” said Ibrahim, who is confident his team will rise to the challenge and set up a clash with either Saudi Arabia or Iraq in a semi-final.
The suspended Hussain, though disappointed about missing the game, shares his coach’s optimism. “I would have loved to be out there on the pitch helping my teammates, but I know whoever comes into the team to take my place will also give his best,” he said.
“The key to our football is playing as a team. That has been the reason for our success, so the absence of a player or two will not make a difference. Our morale is really high after the win over Vietnam and the ambition now is to continue till the end.”
History will be on the UAE’s side when they meet North Korea. The Emiratis have won each of their previous Asian Games duels, both on penalties – 4-3 at the 1998 Games in Bangkok and 9-8 in Guangzhou four years ago, when Mahdi Ali’s boys then lost to Japan in the final.
The Emiratis will also be playing at the Hwaseong Stadium, which has been a happy hunting ground for them with victories there over India and Vietnam.
They played Jordan at the Goyang Stadium and lost. “The loss to Jordan after that big [5-0] win over India was a good lesson for us,” said Ahmed Shambih, the UAE goalkeeper.
“So we will not be repeating those mistakes.
“We know this match against North Korea will not be easy, but we are really hoping to return home with the gold medal.”
* With agencies
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