|
Abu Dhabi: Iran host the UAE in a crucial match in Azadi Stadium, Tehran, at 6:30pm UAE Time today in the Asian qualifiers of Group 5 for the 2010 World Cup.
It is an encounter between the vast experience of the Iranians and the young talent and stamina of the young UAE boys who lead the group with four points from two matches followed by Iran and Syria with two each while Kuwait has one single point.
The match is of great importance to both teams. Iran, the favourites of the group, are yet to win their first match. Losing this match will reduce their chances of reaching the second round of the qualifiers greatly.
Iran will play two of the remaining three matches, after this match, away against the UAE and Syria and will host Kuwait in the last week of the qualifiers, June 22.
Winning this particular encounter will put them in the right path to the second round.
Strategy
The UAE, on the other hand, need to avoid defeat because even winning a single point will maintain their leadership of the group and gives them a big motive for the return leg next Saturday, June 7, at Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Al Ain.
"The two teams know everything about each other. There are no secrets or surprises," Bruno Metsu, the UAE head coach, said yesterday. "We have a good and I feel confident that they will achieve a good result."
Asked about the strategy for the match, Metsu told reporters in Tehran, "Our team have been applying the same plan for two years and we are not going to change our way of play in this match."
Meanwhile, Ali Daei, the Iranian head coach, will be using a number of professionals who feature in the UAE domestic league including Alireza Vahidi, who played for Emirates club last season before joining Al Nasr, Mehrzad Madanchi, who transferred from Al Shaab to Al Nasr, Masoud Shojaei the player of Sharjah and Milad Mdavoodi of Al Ahli.
Daei said, "The game is of vital importance especially to my team because we have not won yet in two matches and because it will be held in our ground with thousands of our supporters attending."
|
