UAE v Japan diary: Typhoon passed, Tokyo now bracing for football storm

John McAuley files from Tokyo, where he is preparing to cover Thursday's all-important World Cup qualifying clash between hosts Japan and UAE.

The UAE national football team train ahead of their match against Japan. Photo Courtesy: Hicham Tikniouine / UAE FA

TOKYO // Tokyo braced itself for the ominously named Typhoon Lionrock on Tuesday, but in the end it never came, instead drifting north of the country and back off towards Russia.

That seemed especially apt given the UAE national team prepared to hit the Japanese capital too, the first stop of this extended journey they hope will eventually reach the same final destination in June 2018.

Weather forecasters had dominated the local news, predicting 120-mph gusts as the typhoon, already past its peak power, made landfall through the afternoon, bringing with it torrential rain and an all-too-familiar feeling. This was to be the third tropical storm to buffet Japan in the past nine days.

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As it was, Tokyo carried on as usual for the most part, this turbulent and tempting metropolis still buzzing with everyday life. There was hum of anticipation for the impending 2018 World Cup qualifying clash between Japan and the UAE, which takes place in nearby Saitama on Thursday.

The hosts have arrived, their collection of European-based stars finally here, so children donned Japan scarves, while a local eatery close to the Tokyo Dome, home of the country’s great sporting passion, baseball, advertised tables for those unfortunate enough not to own a ticket.

In a city of 13.5 million inhabitants, plenty will miss out. Football fans were informed as much early in the day by the Japanese Football Association, who used social media to declare the match, staged at the 63,700-capacity Saitama Stadium 2002, a sell-out.

The UAE will no doubt play their part. A technical fault with their plane delayed their arrival from Shanghai, where they spent 12 days training, but they still took to the pitch at the Japanese Sports Council to blow off any cobwebs. The evening consisted of running and stretching - ball-work was minimal - in full view of the ever-eager Japanese press.

The Emiratis appeared somewhat subdued, but it was more intense focus than big-game tension.

They will hope to bring their own storm when the road to Russia resumes in two days’ time.

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