Dubai: The UAE senior national football team start their domestic training camp in Dubai Friday ahead of their return match against South Korea in the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup on Friday, November 11.
The UAE, led by local head coach Dr. Abdulla Misfir, has almost lost all hope of reaching the final stage of the qualifiers as they have lost their first three matches in a group that also features Kuwait and Lebanon.
South Korea leads with seven points, followed by Kuwait with five and Lebanon on four.
Honour
"We have no real hope of featuring in the finals of the World Cup but we will do our best to honour our country and its game," Misfir told Gulf News.
Misfir was appointed after the UAE FA sacked Slovenian Srecko Katanec after the team lost 3-1 to Lebanon and led them against South Korea in Seoul last month, when they played their best match in the qualifiers but went down 2-1.
"We have to be at our best to achieve a positive result against the Koreans, who are one of the best and strongest teams in Asia. I have great confidence in the fighting spirits of my players and their determination not to lose at home," Misfir added.
The team will train at the Al Ahli club's Rashid Stadium, the venue of the match, while the South Koreans are expected to arrive in Dubai today, Friday to start their preparations for the match.
Debutants
Misfir has added debutants Abdulla Qasim, the wingback of Al Jazira, and Eissa Obaid, the striker of Al Shabab, to his squad after their brilliant performances for their club teams in the etisalat Pro League this season.
The full list of players includes: Majed Nasir, Al Wasl. Khalid Eissa, Abdulla Mousa, Khalid Sabeel, Subait Khater, Abdulla Qasim and Jumaa Abdulla from Al Jazira. Yousuf Al Zaabi, Ahmad Khalil, Amer Mubarak and Esmail Al Hammadi, from Al Ahli. Frais Jumaa, Ali Al Waheebi and Abdul Aziz Fayez, from Al Ain.
Hamdan Al Kamali, Basheer Saeed, Eissa Ahmad, Khalid Jalal, Mohammad Al Shehhi and Esmail Matar, from Al Wahda. Waleed Abbass, Mohammad Ahmad and Eissa Obaid from Al Shabab. Yuouf Jaber and Mohammad Fawzi from Bani Yas and Ali Abbass from Al Nasr. (Yasir Abbasher)
Source: http://gulfnews.com