Asian Cup 2015: exhausted United Arab Emirates rely on ‘heart, spirit’ against Socceroos

ADMITTING their bodies will be exhausted, UAE coach Mahdi Ali hopes his player’s “heart and spirit” will lift them against the Socceroos on Tuesday.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: United Arab Emirates players celebrate after winning the penalty shoot out during the 2015 Asian Cup Quarter Final match between Japan and the United Arab Emirates at ANZ Stadium on January 23, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

ADMITTING their bodies will be exhausted after a gruelling quarterfinal win over Japan, United Arab Emirates coach Mahdi Ali hopes his player’s “heart and spirit” will lift them to face the Socceroos on Tuesday.

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Having shocked the favourites and reigning champions, the UAE turn their attention to an Asian Cup semifinal with Australia after a day less recovery than their hosts.

Ali’s side arrived in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, with the prevalence of Socceroos shirts and green and gold colouring already obvious on the waterfront by their hotel.

But the coach said his side could rise to the occasion again, inspired by their quarterfinal exploits.

“We have only two days (to prepare) and Australia, they have three, and we also have to travel,” Ali said.

“So we try to make a good recovery and prepared for the next match. We don’t have a long time. We have to do our job, to play some good football in the next match.

United Arab Emirates fans enjoy the success over Japan.

“It will be a very tough game and the stadium will be very crowded and we hope that we do the same in the next game. Winning against Japan, and the winner of the last Asian Cup, is a great thing. It will give players more confidence and more motivation for next game.

“We fought for 120 minutes for this game and thank God we won. Playing against Australia in Australia will also be a very tough game.”

Like the Socceroos the UAE lost their final group game to finish second and thus faced Japan.

But that final loss was only to a late Iranian goal, and Ali said that his players had experienced the fickleness of football in both directions.

“We played a fantastic game against Iran but we lost,” Ali said.

UAE are now set for a clash with the Socceroos.

“I told the players it’s not always that you have to play very nice football to win the game. Sometimes, you have to play with your heart, with your spirit and we worked very hard to win this game.

“Football is sometimes not fair. It was not fair for us against Iran. I think we deserve to make the semi finals.

“Winning the game was our first goal and we now have achieved our most important goal, which was to qualify to the semi-final. Since we’ve reached the semi-final, we hope we reach the final as well.”