the uae challange

Team Melli is preparing for the match against UAE in Dubai beaming with confidence and sitting comfortably at the top of the table in Round three of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification rounds. Unbeaten in their opening two games following draws with Lebanon and Syria, the UAE is still a strong contender as the team under the Dutch Coach Bert van Marwijk has aspirations to challenge for a top-three place and a chance to at least make the playoffs.

Statistics and head-to-head matches with Iran, do not look encouraging for the UAE team that has never beaten Iran in an official match, However, that is for history. The reality is at present UAE can spell trouble for Team Melli and catch Skocic boys if they slip. The mental strength of Iranian players can be risky and as such Skocic and his support staff need to work continuously on that aspect.

Ali Mabkhout - UAE Striker

Iran needs to win this match as the results in the next pair of matches may determine whether they are capable of challenging for a top-two finish, truly in control of the group, and cruising towards qualification to the World Cup in Qatar. With a two points cushion, it can be easily challanged by the Koreans.

UAE has some capable players that can upset any team. Ali Makhbout, their leading goal scorer has been scoring well this season for his club and already bagged 3 goals in the qualifiers. He is a threat that the Iranian defenders need to specially take care of. Well built and a capable header of the ball, he is particularly dangerous inside the box scoring from half chances. 

 

After Years of resisting giving citizenship to foreign footballers, the UAE federation finally succumbed and this team has a couple that has been playing for them for some time, namely the Argentine Sebastián Lucas Tagliabúe (36 years) and the Brazilian born Caio Canedo Corrêa (31 years). 

Both these players have been less than impressive so far, however, Caio has been playing from start in several matches while van Marwijk has used Tagliabúe mainly as a substitute. In the back, UAE defense has been quite solid and Team Melli needs to exert pressure and use the wingers to break up the solid defense. Their goalkeeper can be urnebale coming out often for crosses.

Summary of Matches Iran vs. UAE

H / A / NMatchesWDLGoals+ / –
H54104 – 0+4
A751113 – 4+9
N43107 – 0+7
Total16123124 – 4+20

All Matches

DateComp.H / A / NFinal scoreStadiumAttendance
19.01.2015Asian Cup / Group ‘C’H1 – 0Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane11394
19.01.2011Asian Cup / Group DN3 – 0Qater FC Stadium – Doha5012
10.06.2009World Cup QualifierH1 – 0Azadi Stadium, Tehran50000
19.11.2008World Cup QualifierA1 – 1Al Maktoum Stadium , Dubai12000
07.06.2008World Cup QualifierA1 – 0Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Stadium – Al Ain8000
02.06.2008World Cup QualifierH0 – 0Azadi Stadium, Tehran40000
12.01.2007FriendlyA2 – 0Al Nehayan Stadium , Abu Dhabi9000
08.08.2006FriendlyH1 – 0Azadi Stadium, Tehran4000
31.10.2001World Cup QualifierA3 – 0Al Nehyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi18000
25.10.2001World Cup QualifierH1 – 0Azadi Stadium, Tehran55000
02.09.1997Friendly  A1 – 3Shaikh Zayed Stadium , Abu Dhabi15000
01.11.1992Asian Cup / Group AN0 – 0Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima25000
08.12.1988Asian Cup / Group 1N1 – 0Qatar FC Stadium , Doha4000
01.12.1984Asian Cup / Group BN3 – 0National Stadium, Singapore8000
07.09.1980FriendlyA3 – 0Al Nehayan Stadium , Abu Dhabi10000
05.09.1980FriendlyA2 – 0Al Ain Stadium – Al Ain8000