A Dutch challenge between Marvik and Advocaat

The team hopes to reconcile the public by defeating Iraq today

Marvik gives instructions to the national team players during training.

From the source

The national football team will play an important and fateful confrontation against its Iraqi guest at 20:45 pm today, at Zabeel Stadium in Al-Wasl Club in Dubai, within the fourth round for the first group account in the decisive round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, and Al-Abyad, who is now threatened with exit from the The circle of competition for the World Cup qualification ticket in the event of any new stumbling in his journey to reconcile his fans, who were angry at the team’s recent results, stop the bleeding of points, achieve his first victory in this role and revive his chances of qualifying, after he lost seven points out of nine, as He scored only two points in a draw against Lebanon without goals and against Syria 1-1.

The team hopes to overcome the repercussions of the recent loss against the Iranian team and its loss of three important points, which would have strengthened its position in the competition.

Al-Abyad, who is equal in points with Iraq and Lebanon with two points each, is looking forward to collecting match points, raising his score to five points, and enhancing his chances in the competition again. No chance to score against the Iraqi national team.

The technical staff of the national team, led by Dutch coach Marvik, realizes that this match is of great importance for the team, the public and the Emirati sports street, which expects its players to appear in a different way from the one in the past three matches, and to show the identity and true personality that the UAE team has known throughout its football history. He reached the World Cup about 31 years ago, and is looking forward to repeating this scenario again.

Today's match will also be a challenge between the coaches of the two national teams, the Dutch, Marvik (UAE), and his compatriot Dick Advocaat (Iraq). Iran, in addition to working to strengthen the offensive aspects of the team, by including Cayo Canedo or Tigali from the start in this match.

Marvik will rely on top scorer Ali Mabkhout if he is in his day, and in his best technical, physical and moral readiness, despite his decline in the recent period, and his absence from scoring goals, except for one goal for the team so far, which he scored against the Syrian team in the second round.

It is expected that Al-Abyad will enjoy great public support in the wake of the recent decision of the Football Association to allow the age group of 12 years and above to be present in the stands, after the presence in the past was limited to the age group of 16 years and above.

The confrontations of the UAE and Iraq teams are always characterized by strength, club and fun, knowing that the two teams have faced each other in 25 official and friendly matches, the last of which was a friendly match last January, which ended in a draw without goals, which is the first match for Marvik with Al-Abyad after returning to his leadership again.

The Iraqis will not forget that the UAE team denied them the title of the 21st Gulf Cup, which was held in Bahrain in 2013, after winning them 2-1 in the final, and winning the championship title for the second time in its history.

On the other hand, the Iraqi team is looking forward to achieving a positive result and reviving its chances in the competition, after drawing two matches against South Korea and Lebanon, and losing three goals to Iran.

The Iraqi team, led by Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, includes a good group of players, and the Iraqi team is characterized by physical strength and speed of play.

The path of the two teams in the final qualifiers

UAE:

■ Play: 3 games

■ Draw: 0-0 against Lebanon.

■ Draw: 1-1 against Syria.

■ Loss: one against Iran.

Iraq:

■ Play 3 games.

■ Draw: 0-0 against South Korea.

■ Draw: 0-0 against Lebanon.

■ Lost to Iran 0-3.

direct confrontations

■ Iraq win: 8 matches.

■ Emirates win: 7 matches.

Draw: 6 matches.

Ranking of the teams in the first group

Iran: 9 points.

South Korea: 7 points.

Emirates: 2.

- Lebanon: 2.

- Iraq: 2.

- Syria: 1.

• Al-Abyad hopes to overcome the repercussions of the recent defeat against Iran.

• The team is equal in points with Iraq and Lebanon with two points.

• 7 victories achieved by the national team over its Iraqi counterpart in the history of official confrontations between them.

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