the uae challange
Team Melli is preparing for the match against UAE in Dubai beaming with confidence and sitting comfortably at the top of the table in Round three of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification rounds. Unbeaten in their opening two games following draws with Lebanon and Syria, the UAE is still a strong contender as the team under the Dutch Coach Bert van Marwijk has aspirations to challenge for a top-three place and a chance to at least make the playoffs.
Statistics and head-to-head matches with Iran, do not look encouraging for the UAE team that has never beaten Iran in an official match, However, that is for history. The reality is at present UAE can spell trouble for Team Melli and catch Skocic boys if they slip. The mental strength of Iranian players can be risky and as such Skocic and his support staff need to work continuously on that aspect.
Iran needs to win this match as the results in the next pair of matches may determine whether they are capable of challenging for a top-two finish, truly in control of the group, and cruising towards qualification to the World Cup in Qatar. With a two points cushion, it can be easily challanged by the Koreans.
UAE has some capable players that can upset any team. Ali Makhbout, their leading goal scorer has been scoring well this season for his club and already bagged 3 goals in the qualifiers. He is a threat that the Iranian defenders need to specially take care of. Well built and a capable header of the ball, he is particularly dangerous inside the box scoring from half chances.
After Years of resisting giving citizenship to foreign footballers, the UAE federation finally succumbed and this team has a couple that has been playing for them for some time, namely the Argentine Sebastián Lucas Tagliabúe (36 years) and the Brazilian born Caio Canedo Corrêa (31 years).
Both these players have been less than impressive so far, however, Caio has been playing from start in several matches while van Marwijk has used Tagliabúe mainly as a substitute. In the back, UAE defense has been quite solid and Team Melli needs to exert pressure and use the wingers to break up the solid defense. Their goalkeeper can be urnebale coming out often for crosses.
Summary of Matches Iran vs. UAE
| H / A / N | Matches | W | D | L | Goals | + / – |
| H | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 – 0 | +4 |
| A | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 – 4 | +9 |
| N | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 – 0 | +7 |
| Total | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 24 – 4 | +20 |
All Matches
| Date | Comp. | H / A / N | Final score | Stadium | Attendance |
| 19.01.2015 | Asian Cup / Group ‘C’ | H | 1 – 0 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 11394 |
| 19.01.2011 | Asian Cup / Group D | N | 3 – 0 | Qater FC Stadium – Doha | 5012 |
| 10.06.2009 | World Cup Qualifier | H | 1 – 0 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 50000 |
| 19.11.2008 | World Cup Qualifier | A | 1 – 1 | Al Maktoum Stadium , Dubai | 12000 |
| 07.06.2008 | World Cup Qualifier | A | 1 – 0 | Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Stadium – Al Ain | 8000 |
| 02.06.2008 | World Cup Qualifier | H | 0 – 0 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 40000 |
| 12.01.2007 | Friendly | A | 2 – 0 | Al Nehayan Stadium , Abu Dhabi | 9000 |
| 08.08.2006 | Friendly | H | 1 – 0 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 4000 |
| 31.10.2001 | World Cup Qualifier | A | 3 – 0 | Al Nehyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 18000 |
| 25.10.2001 | World Cup Qualifier | H | 1 – 0 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 55000 |
| 02.09.1997 | Friendly | A | 1 – 3 | Shaikh Zayed Stadium , Abu Dhabi | 15000 |
| 01.11.1992 | Asian Cup / Group A | N | 0 – 0 | Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima | 25000 |
| 08.12.1988 | Asian Cup / Group 1 | N | 1 – 0 | Qatar FC Stadium , Doha | 4000 |
| 01.12.1984 | Asian Cup / Group B | N | 3 – 0 | National Stadium, Singapore | 8000 |
| 07.09.1980 | Friendly | A | 3 – 0 | Al Nehayan Stadium , Abu Dhabi | 10000 |
| 05.09.1980 | Friendly | A | 2 – 0 | Al Ain Stadium – Al Ain | 8000 |