Asian Cup 2015: United Arab Emirates face rivals Qatar in their opening group C encounter
THE past six clashes between United Arab Emirates and Qatar have been anything but tame. And Sunday’s clash at Canberra Stadium shouldn’t be any different.
UNITED Arab Emirates boss Mahdi Ali has refuted suggestions his nation’s opening clash against Qatar is a Gulf derby.
But the clash is expected to be one tempered by emotions as UAE faces recent Gulf Cup winners Qatar at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
The past six clashes between the neighbours have been anything but tame or lame.
Since 2007 UAE has won four times, scoring 10 goals and conceding six times, with their last meeting at the Gulf Cup in 2013 where UAE beat Qatar 3-1 in Bahrain.
“For me it’s not a derby, he (a journalist) said it’s a derby,’’ Ali said.
“For us it’s a game and we are ready for that. We have to work very hard to get what we want from this game.
“As I said, it’s our first game, it’s a key match for this Asian Cup and qualifying to the second round.
“Usually our games are pretty tough, but this is normal. You always play under pressure and at the end for us it’s a game.”
But Qatar beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Gulf Cup final last November has added fuel to the clash.
The UAE ended that tournament in third place after beating Oman - the Socceroos opponents in Group A’s second match at ANZ Stadium on Tuesday.
Qatar now has the confidence to win after claiming the Gulf Cup from an almost impossible position. The 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts qualified for the knockout rounds after recording three draws in the group stage.
Young Qatari coach, Algerian Dejamel Belmadi, 38, believes his side won’t be overwhelmed in the Group C opener.
But all eyes will be expecting the tiny nation to continue to improve.
“Of course we have confidence after this recent (Gulf Cup) success,’’ Belmadi said.
“We know that the level will be higher and for most of my players this is the first test so they have an opportunity to improve individually and as a team.
“We have some expectations after winning the Gulf Cup.”
Belmadi believes Qatar’s Asian Cup performance is a definitive building block for the nation which is aiming to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 2018.
“It’s very, very important,” he said.
“The Gulf Cup is good preparation for the Asian Cup and the Asian Cup is very good preparation for the qualification of the World Cup.
“So of course it will be very interesting to see where we are exactly.”