BANGKOK, THAILAND // Hamdan Al Kamali insists the UAE’s chances of reaching next summer’s World Cup are over and that they must now switch attention instead to other tournaments.
The national team, playing their first competitive match under new manager Edgardo Bauza, were held to a disappointing draw in their qualifier with Thailand on Tuesday night, when they required an injury-time goal from Ali Mabkhout to salvage a point.
The result leaves the UAE on the brink of waving goodbye to Russia 2018, with the side fourth in Group B in the final stage of qualification, six points off a play-off spot with two matches remaining.
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Although the UAE retain faint hope of qualifying – they must defeat Saudi Arabia and Iraq this year and hope for a huge swing in goal difference – Al Kamali believes their quest for the country’s second World Cup appearances has ended.
The experienced Al Wahda defender, who played the entire match against Thailand because Ismail Ahmed was absent through injury, said the UAE should look ahead now to this year’s Gulf Cup of Nations or the 2019 Asian Cup on home soil.
“It is a bad result for us,” Al Kamali said. “And it is not just this game. When we started qualification for the second round, we missed many chances, on our home pitch and outside.
“Before this game, we saw [last week’s] Australia and Saudi Arabia 2-2 result and so we needed to take this chance if we were to qualify. But now there is no chance for us.
“Now, we forget this game and we focus on the next step. Maybe this has to be the Gulf Cup or the Asian Cup.”
Al Kamali said the UAE’s greatest failing has been in attack. Against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium, the visitors had two good opportunities to take the lead in the first 20 minutes, but Mabkhout twice failed to find the target.
Thailand scored with 21 minutes remaining through Mongkol Tossakrai, with the UAE looking increasingly weary as the match wore on. It was left to Mabkhout to rescue a point in the 93rd minute.
“All the people say the national team’s defence is very bad and the strikers are very good,” Al Kamali said. “Now, they change everything.
“There were a lot of chances that we didn’t score. If you do not take your chances, surely the other team will score against us.”
For Bauza, his UAE debut end ultimately in disappointment, although the Argentine had not spent a lot of time with his new team in the build up.
Given Al Ahli and Al Ain’s Asian Champions League commitments, the former Argentina national team manager was deprived of a large chunk of the squad until May 31.
Al Kamali lamented the limited preparation period but paid tribute to Bauza and the new management for their efforts.
“I want to say thank you to the managers and the coaches,” he said. “Two weeks is not a good time for Bauza to work with the players. It is also at the end of the season and the players are tired.
“This is no excuse, but we think about the next step now – we hope we can do it.”
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