Russia 2018
Naser: We desperately want to reach Russia
(FIFA.com)
© Getty Images
Football
in the United Arab Emirates has undergone significant development in
recent years, exemplified by the Gulf nation’s victory at the 2008 AFC
U-19 Championship, or their successful qualification for the FIFA U-20
World Cup Egypt 2009 and the 2012 Olympic Football Tournament in London.
The recent successes enjoyed by the senior UAE team – coached by Mahdi Ali – that has qualified for the third and final round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stem from the formation of a tight-knit and complementary squad of internationals, who have played together for the best part of eight years.
It includes ten young players of roughly the same age, as well as an experienced goalkeeper in the shape of Majed Naser, who, like his team-mates, is keen to see his country return to the World Cup, almost three decades after Italy 1990.
Naser missed the first six matches of the qualifying campaign, but he returned for the last two, against Palestine and Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, he had helped Al Ahli land their seventh UAE Pro League title, picking up a Goalkeeper of the Year award along the way.
“My call-up from Mahdi Ali motivated me to get back to my best and give 100 per cent,” he told FIFA.com. “When the coach leaves a player out, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not any good, but it should encourage him to regain his form. That’s what happened with me.”
“We desperately want to qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “That’s a dream that all Emiratis share, not just the players.”
He continued: “My experience is complemented by the youth of regulars like Majed Hassan, Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, to name just a few. We have lots of players who can contribute to the cause, especially as there’s a real motivational factor now.”
Competing with the best
Following the draw for the final round, the Emiratis were placed in Group B, alongside Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Thailand. Naser views the pool as “challenging”, but he also believes that he and his team-mates have a chance.
“It’s a step up in quality, with top teams that are difficult to beat,” he said. “At the same time, those teams fear us as well. We have a number of talented players. At the end of the day, football is all about the effort and fighting spirit you demonstrate on the pitch. From that point of view, it’s a level playing field.”
Naser and Co exhibited their combative nature to the full at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where they advanced to the last four after a penalty shoot-out victory over Japan in the quarter-finals. Although they lost their semi-final to eventual champions Australia, they then defeated Iraq to claim a creditable third place.
As fate would have it, UAE’s next two opponents in World Cup qualifying will be Japan and Australia. “When you play in goal, you have the most difficult job in any national team, because you have to face off against the very best players,” he explained. “I’ve played against Japan and Australia before. It was tough. We made silly little mistakes which we’ll have to avoid repeating in our upcoming qualifiers.”
While the seasoned ’keeper knows what to expect from those continental giants, he is more wary when it comes to Saudi Arabia, with whom he and his compatriots already crossed swords during the second round. “Everyone knows how good Japan and Australia are, but the Saudis could pull off a few upsets. They’ve got back to their best with the help of some very talented players,” he noted.
The Al Ahli custodian is familiar with the Iraqis, whom he has faced in the past, and he believes that Thailand, who proved difficult opponents for Iraq while topping Group F in the previous round, could also spring a surprise or two.
“We know Saudi Arabia and Iraq pretty well. We followed Thailand’s results in the second round – they played well and have made huge progress. Despite their lack of experience, I can see them causing problems to every team in the group, not just to us.
“Each of our matches will be like a cup final. We’ll have to be on top form, especially when we play away from home. We’ll have to avoid defeat and try to obtain at least one point. I believe that Mahdi Ali is capable of getting this team to the World Cup.”
Despite being just six years old at the time, Naser can remember the last time that UAE, starring the legendary Adnan Al-Talyani, appeared on football’s biggest stage, at Italy 1990. “I followed the team, and I remember asking my dad how they had qualified for the tournament. I hope that I’ll be part of a new group of players that manage to make it to the World Cup. That’s a dream that we all have,” he concluded.
The recent successes enjoyed by the senior UAE team – coached by Mahdi Ali – that has qualified for the third and final round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stem from the formation of a tight-knit and complementary squad of internationals, who have played together for the best part of eight years.
It includes ten young players of roughly the same age, as well as an experienced goalkeeper in the shape of Majed Naser, who, like his team-mates, is keen to see his country return to the World Cup, almost three decades after Italy 1990.
Naser missed the first six matches of the qualifying campaign, but he returned for the last two, against Palestine and Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, he had helped Al Ahli land their seventh UAE Pro League title, picking up a Goalkeeper of the Year award along the way.
“My call-up from Mahdi Ali motivated me to get back to my best and give 100 per cent,” he told FIFA.com. “When the coach leaves a player out, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not any good, but it should encourage him to regain his form. That’s what happened with me.”
By bringing the 32-year-old shot-stopper back into the fold, Ali gave him the chance to take part in his third World Cup qualifying campaign. Naser is hopeful of improving on his first experience, when the Emiratis finished last in Group B of the qualifiers for South Africa 2010, having recorded just one point in eight matches.My experience is complemented by the youth of regulars like Majed Hassan, Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, to name just a few
“We desperately want to qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “That’s a dream that all Emiratis share, not just the players.”
He continued: “My experience is complemented by the youth of regulars like Majed Hassan, Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, to name just a few. We have lots of players who can contribute to the cause, especially as there’s a real motivational factor now.”
Competing with the best
Following the draw for the final round, the Emiratis were placed in Group B, alongside Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Thailand. Naser views the pool as “challenging”, but he also believes that he and his team-mates have a chance.
“It’s a step up in quality, with top teams that are difficult to beat,” he said. “At the same time, those teams fear us as well. We have a number of talented players. At the end of the day, football is all about the effort and fighting spirit you demonstrate on the pitch. From that point of view, it’s a level playing field.”
Naser and Co exhibited their combative nature to the full at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where they advanced to the last four after a penalty shoot-out victory over Japan in the quarter-finals. Although they lost their semi-final to eventual champions Australia, they then defeated Iraq to claim a creditable third place.
As fate would have it, UAE’s next two opponents in World Cup qualifying will be Japan and Australia. “When you play in goal, you have the most difficult job in any national team, because you have to face off against the very best players,” he explained. “I’ve played against Japan and Australia before. It was tough. We made silly little mistakes which we’ll have to avoid repeating in our upcoming qualifiers.”
While the seasoned ’keeper knows what to expect from those continental giants, he is more wary when it comes to Saudi Arabia, with whom he and his compatriots already crossed swords during the second round. “Everyone knows how good Japan and Australia are, but the Saudis could pull off a few upsets. They’ve got back to their best with the help of some very talented players,” he noted.
The Al Ahli custodian is familiar with the Iraqis, whom he has faced in the past, and he believes that Thailand, who proved difficult opponents for Iraq while topping Group F in the previous round, could also spring a surprise or two.
“We know Saudi Arabia and Iraq pretty well. We followed Thailand’s results in the second round – they played well and have made huge progress. Despite their lack of experience, I can see them causing problems to every team in the group, not just to us.
“Each of our matches will be like a cup final. We’ll have to be on top form, especially when we play away from home. We’ll have to avoid defeat and try to obtain at least one point. I believe that Mahdi Ali is capable of getting this team to the World Cup.”
Despite being just six years old at the time, Naser can remember the last time that UAE, starring the legendary Adnan Al-Talyani, appeared on football’s biggest stage, at Italy 1990. “I followed the team, and I remember asking my dad how they had qualified for the tournament. I hope that I’ll be part of a new group of players that manage to make it to the World Cup. That’s a dream that we all have,” he concluded.
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