Ahead of the UAE’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, John McAuley provides his scouting report on the opposition and the match-ups that could prove decisive.
Background
Ranked 113th in the world by Fifa, Iraq are seeking to qualify for a second World Cup having reached the finals in 1986. They began the final stage of qualification with three successive defeats, but lost only narrowly to Saudi Arabia and Japan. Both were 2-1 defeats, both arrived late. Iraq rebounded last month by beating Thailand 4-0.
Star player — Ali Adnan
The acclaimed left-back is the only member of the squad plying his trade in a major European league. Adnan, 22, signed for Udinese in July last year, becoming the first Iraqi to play in Italy’s Serie A. The 2013 Asian young player of the year, he is excellent going forward, even sometimes referred to as “Asia’s Gareth Bale”. Can be deployed higher on the left flank, too, and is dangerous from dead-balls.
More from UAE v Iraq:
• Mahdi Ali: 'Everybody is motivated' to get back on track
• Omar Abdulrahman: Braced for big week for club and country
• Walid Abbas: UAE's World Cup qualifier against Iraq 'like a final'
• Radhi Shenaishil: Iraq manager warns UAE about side's toughness
Key men
• Mohannad Abdulraheem — His four goals against Thailand prove his talent and earned the striker a move to Dubai’s Al Nasr. Was Asia’s young player of the year in 2012.
• Alaa Abdulzahra — The skilful Al Zawraa forward can play as an attacking midfielder or second striker, and is one of the most experienced mainstays of the squad. Captains the team.
Manager — Radhi Shenaishil
The former Iraq international defender is in his third stint in charge of the national team and last year guided Iraq to fourth place at the Asian Cup. He left immediately after, but returned in April.
Form (last six competitive matches)
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Head-to-head v UAE
Iraq and the UAE most recently met at last year’s Asian Cup in the play-off for third place. The UAE triumphed 3-2 to seal bronze, but their most famous victory was undoubtedly the 2013 Gulf Cup final when they clinched the title in extra-time. In their past six encounters, the UAE have won three and drawn one.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Ahmed Khalil v Ahmed Ibrahim
The UAE striker knows his rival well since the Iraqi centre-back is an Arabian Gulf League regular. Khalil can match the robust defender physically, while he showed in glimpses against Bahrain last week that he is coming back to full fitness after visibly struggling in Saudi last month. One of the UAE’s principal goalscorers.
Tariq Ahmed v Brwa Nouri
Finally granted his place in midfield last month, Ahmed was one of the few positives from the Saudi match. The industrious midfielder is constantly on the move, forever hassling and harrying opponents. Should Iraq start Nouri as their deep-lying playmaker, Ahmed will be charged with shackling him and thus disrupting the visitors’ flow.
Ismail Ahmed v Mohannad Abdulraheem
The Al Ain centre-back sat out most of last week’s training with a minor injury concern, but has been passed fit in time to come up against Iraq. Ahmed must continue his fine form of this past year if he is to keep Abdulraheem in check, who scored all four goals in last month’s win against Thailand.
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