London, June 6 (BUS): For Australia, it’s one last chance to secure a place in the World Cup for the fifth time in a row. For the United Arab Emirates, it is an opportunity to bring one match closer to their debut in the World Cup since its inception in 1990.
There will be no second chances when Al Suquerwain and the United Arab Emirates meet Tuesday in a play-off on the right to face Peru six days later in another play-off with a place alongside France, Denmark and Tunisia in Group D at the World Cup at stake. .
The two teams finished third in their group in the Asian qualifiers, pitting them against a fifth-place finisher from South America.
After collecting the most points from the first three matches in the third round of Asian qualifiers – extending their winning streak to 11 matches – Australia won just one of the next seven matches to finish behind Saudi Arabia and Japan in the group.
This meant another World Cup playoff. But unlike last time, when Australia beat Syria and then Honduras at home and away in the continental and intercontinental qualifiers, the two matches will be winners get it all.
Australia prepared for a 2-1 win over Jordan in a friendly match last week, their second victory only in eight matches.
With Scottish champions Celtic star Tom Rogic withdrawing for personal reasons and limiting match time to former Premier League players Aaron Mooy and Matt Ryan, preparations have not been perfect.
For the UAE team, proximity to home is the motivation. The United Arab Emirates have called up the 2016 Asian Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman to the team. The veteran playmaker, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, will once again return to Ali Mabkhout.
The 31-year-old Mabkhout has scored 81 goals internationally, more than the Australian team combined, most recently in a 1-1 draw with Gambia on May 29.
He scored the goal that gave the UAE a 1-0 victory when the teams won the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals, to remove the defending champion Australia from the tournament.
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