ABU DHABI // The UAE coach Bruno Metsu will put his men to the test in the first of the two official friendlies after the team's training camp in Europe. They take on Algeria tonight in the lead up to the Asia Zone 2010 World Cup qualifying final round and then face a French professional select team on Friday before heading to home on Aug 25.
Four days later they play Bahrain in the final warm up at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium. The UAE are drawn in pool B of qualifying and will play North Korea in the opener on Sept 6 followed by the clash with Saudi Arabia four days later, both in Abu Dhabi. South Korea and Iran are the two other teams in a group from which the top two earn automatic qualification for the finals in South Africa. Team manager Abdulla Hassan Abdulla believes the UAE's preparation has gone well and the friendly with Algeria will be an excellent measure of what they have achieved in the camp.
Abdulla said: "We can't take anything for granted but we definitely feel the team is ready for the final push to South Africa." "Overall we have done well and that's why we are where we are right now. Preparations have been spot on and the players will go into the qualifying matches fully recharged." Abdulla also felt Metsu's two-year stint as the national coach and his previous job with Al Ain have come in handy in understanding the UAE players and the management. He was confident Metsu could handle any pressure and the timing of the competition which falls on the first week of the holy month of Ramadan, where players will observe fast from dawn to dusk.
"It is not new for the UAE players," said Abdulla. "They have played during the fasting months and they can easily adapt. Metsu too has a good idea and he is so friendly with the players. So it's no problems." Abdulla said it was hard to single out any player as being outstanding but felt those on top of their game like Ismail Matar, Abdulraheem Jumaa, Subait Khater, Helal Saeed and young Mohammed al Shehhi have shown superb form and consistency during the camp.
"Ismail is our key player but he need to be supported and that's where the midfield in the likes of Abdulraheem, Subait and Helal come in play. They complement each other and are the backbone of the team." Abdulla said his team should be aiming to take maximum points from the first two qualifying matches and added: "We must make full use of playing the first two games at home. It is necessary to go into these games with the right frame of mind. We need to achieve good results from these two friendlies to keep the moral of the players high."
@Email:apassela@thenational.ae
