UAE

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: United Arab Emirates

Road to Qatar

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoyed a straightforward passage to the 2011 Asian Cup, topping their group of three teams. A 5-0 away win over Malaysia, thanks in no small part to a Mohamed Omer hat-trick, gave them the perfect start to qualification. A home defeat against Uzbekistan on match day two was cancelled out with further wins over Malaysia and the Uzbeks.

Fixtures

Group D

UAE v North Korea; 11 January 2011, Qatar SC Stadium, Doha

UAE v Iraq; 15 January 2011, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Rayyan

UAE v Iran; 19 January 2011, Qatar SC Stadium, Doha

Analysis

UAE have an attack-minded side that could pose difficulties to their much-fancied Group D opponents, North Korea and Iran.

Ismail Mater is the side's stand out performer and playing either just behind a front two, or partnering striker Ahmed Khalil, he could cause tournament defences problems.

Powerful midfielder Subait Khater is one of the Middle East's most well-known players, having made nearly 100 appearances for the United Arab Emirates since 2000. He is another vital component in the UAE's forward-thinking midfield.

Current UAE Football League Champions Al-Wahda could have as many as six representatives in Srecko Katanec's side, with Adel Al Hosani, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Al Shehhi, Ismail Matar and Saeed Al Kathiri all named in the provisional squad for the Asian Cup.

Key player: Ismail Mater

Ismail Mater is commonly known as the 'golden boy' of UAE football. The playmaker has enjoyed a glittering career, winning the Best Player Award at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships, despite the UAE only reaching the quarter finals of the competition.

He was a key member of the UAE team which won the 2007 Gulf Cup. He scored five goals in as many games, picking up both top goal scorer and best player awards from the competition in the process.

Much will be expected of the 27-year-old, as UAE look to improve on recent showings at the Asian Cup.

One to watch: Ahmed Khalil

Al-Ahli forward Ahmed Khalil has the potential to be one of the big stars of the 2011 Asian Cup.

Aged only 19, the gifted player has already made over ten appearances for the national side and has gained comparisons with Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o, such is his pace and trickery.

The striker won the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards during the AFC U-19 Championships in 2007 and subsequently had a trial at Chelsea.

A big performance in this tournament could see the player signed by a top European club.

Coach: Srecko Katanec

Katanec is a former Yugoslavian and Slovenian international, who prior to being appointed UAE boss in 2009, managed Slovenia, Olympiacos and Macedonia.

Since his first coaching appointment, as Slovenian U21 manager alongside Drago Kostajnsek in 1996, Katanec has enjoyed great success. He led the full Slovenian national side to qualification for Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.

In 2006, he was cited as a strong contender for the then-vacant national team coach position with Croatia but was overlooked. He went on to manage Macedonia for three years before taking up his current role with the UAE.

Known as a strong disciplinarian, Katanec has reportedly fallen out with a number of players during his managerial career including Slovenia's Zlakto Zahovic and Macedonia's Goran Pandev.

Record

1956-1976; Did not enter, 1980; Round 1, 1984; Round 1, 1988; Round 1, 1992; Fourth Place, 2000; Did not Qualify, 2004; Round 1, 2007; Round 1, 2011; Qualified

Soccerphile says

Overcoming group favourites North Korea, Iraq and Iran will be a difficult task for UAE. In qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they finished bottom of a group containing both teams, securing just one point from eight games. They at least managed a draw with Iran, giving them hope going in to this competition.

Reaching the knock-out stages would be a massive achievement for the UAE but elimination at the earliest stage of the tournament looks likely.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Majed Naser (Al Wasl), Obaid Al Tawlia (Al-Ahli), 22. Housani Ali Khaseif Humaid Khaseif
Defenders: Khalid Sebil Lashkari (Al-Jazira), Mohamed Ahmed (Al Shabab Al Arabi), Fares Juma Al Saadi (Al Ain), Hamdan Al Kamali (Al Wahda), Walid Abbas (Al Shabab Al Arabi), Yousef Jaber (Al-Ahli), Abdulla Al Bloushi (Al-Jazira), Abdulaziz Hussain (Al Shabab Al Arabi), Mahmoud Khamees (Al-Wahda)
Midfielders: Subait Khater (Al-Jazira), Amer Abdulrahman (Baniyas), Ali Al-Wehaibi (Al Ain), Theyab Awana (Baniyas), Ismail Al Hammadi (Al-Ahli), Ismail Al Hammadi (Al-Ahli)
Forwards: Mohamed Al Shehhi (Al Wahda), Ismaeil Matar (Al Wahda), Ahmed Khalil (Al-Ahli), Saeed Al Kathiri (Al Wahda), Ahmed Jumaa Mubarak (Al-Jazira)

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

Our partner site QatarVisitor.com based in Doha carries all the necessary details on attending the event including travel, visa and hotel information.

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