Four weeks from their Gulf Cup defence, the UAE national team appear to have taken a significant step back.
Mahdi Ali’s side were expected to bound into Saudi Arabia next month and emerge with the title, a painless reiteration of their position as the region’s bright new thing.
Then, lying in wait, is a more lustrous labour. Success in Saudi is undoubtedly the objective – before last year, the UAE had been champions only once – but it always felt like a prelude to the 2015 Asian Cup, like a necessary exercise in preparations for January’s great assignment in Australia.
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Yet in the past week doubts regarding the squad’s talent, motivation and mindset have resurfaced.
Fixtures against Australia and Uzbekistan, in theory the UAE’s Asian equals, provoked a lacklustre draw and a listless defeat.
On face value, they felt like inconvenient friendlies crammed into an already hectic club season, but they were important undertakings. Tactics could be honed, momentum – developed across two hugely successful years – maintained. Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Uzbeks, a side that surrendered four points to the UAE in Asian Cup qualification, is of particular concern.
Granted, Mahdi Ali elected to change half his starting XI but, in Amer Abdulrahman, Khamis Esmail, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, the side boasted five stalwarts. Hamdan Al Kamali, previously captain, also returned to the line-up.
The UAE floundered, though, seemingly devoid of appetite and aptitude. With it, their three-year unbeaten home run ended as they succumbed to their worst result since conceding seven to Germany in June, 2009.
While the defence buckled, issues up front worry most. During qualification for the Asian Cup, the UAE were joint-highest scorers, with 18 goals from six matches. That sharpness has gradually blunted.
Against Australia and Uzbekistan, a couple of half-chances were created, but little else. In their past five matches, the UAE have scored one goal.
They can take heart from a late summer spell that offered draws against stronger opposition – Norway, Lithuania, Paraguay – but a familiar failing has reappeared.
Remember, at the most recent Asian Cup, in 2011, the UAE finished bottom of their group with no goals from three matches.
With another Asian campaign on the horizon and the Gulf Cup even sooner they must find a quick fix.
For that, they need Omar Abdulrahman and Ismail Matar fit again. They need the return of Walid Abbas, a calming presence in defence.
They need Mahdi Ali to find the best system for maximising the side’s midfield potential.
With Amer Abdulrahman finally free from injury, the UAE are well stocked in the middle: the Abdulrahmans, Esmail, Al Hammadi, Habib Fardan and the emergent Majed Hassan are contenders for a starting role.
It could require a tweaking of the system, although Khalil and Mabkhout have prospered together in the past.
It troubles that Khalil last scored for the national team in March and is only an occasional contributor at Al Ahli.
Omar Abdulrahman can be utilised further up field, although his presence in the centre alongside Amer Abdulrahman traditionally suits the latter.
A little patience is needed, too. A recent 20-match unbeaten streak illustrates the UAE’s strength and they have only two defeats in their past 27 games.
Perhaps there is some complacency? What at the outset appeared two ill-timed friendlies have instead come around at just the right time. The UAE have been given a considerable jolt.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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