Doha: Coach Abdullah Misfir has confirmed the United Arab Emirates will be without a host of first team players for today’s AFC U23 Championship quarter-final with defending champions Iraq at Grand Hamad Stadium.
Midfield trio Ahmed Barman, Salim Ali and Saif Rashid were all forced off in the first half of Wednesday’s thrilling 3-2 win over Vietnam due to injury as the UAE secured top spot in Group D after Jordan were held to a goal-less draw by Australia.
And with fellow midfielder Abdalla Ghanim suspended, Misfir must rethink his plans as the UAE seek to remain on course for the 2016 Olympic Games having made a successful debut four years ago in London.
Unlike Misfir, counterpart Shahad Abdulghani has confirmed Iraq have a full group available having rotated the squad for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Korea having already secured qualification with a game to spare.
Today’s winner will progress to a semi-final meeting with Japan, with the top three finishers also qualifying for the Olympic Games later this year in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Jordanian coach Jamal Ahmad will dispense with the tactics that saw his team advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Championship when they take on Korea Republic for a place in the semi-finals today.
Korea, who are aiming to maintain their impressive run of appearing at the last seven Olympic Games intact, qualified for the quarter-finals at the top of Group C after winning their opening games against Uzbekistan and Yemen before being held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq.
The nation won the bronze medal in London four years ago.
The Peninsula
Doha: Coach Abdullah Misfir has confirmed the United Arab Emirates will be without a host of first team players for today’s AFC U23 Championship quarter-final with defending champions Iraq at Grand Hamad Stadium.
Midfield trio Ahmed Barman, Salim Ali and Saif Rashid were all forced off in the first half of Wednesday’s thrilling 3-2 win over Vietnam due to injury as the UAE secured top spot in Group D after Jordan were held to a goal-less draw by Australia.
And with fellow midfielder Abdalla Ghanim suspended, Misfir must rethink his plans as the UAE seek to remain on course for the 2016 Olympic Games having made a successful debut four years ago in London.
Unlike Misfir, counterpart Shahad Abdulghani has confirmed Iraq have a full group available having rotated the squad for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Korea having already secured qualification with a game to spare.
Today’s winner will progress to a semi-final meeting with Japan, with the top three finishers also qualifying for the Olympic Games later this year in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Jordanian coach Jamal Ahmad will dispense with the tactics that saw his team advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Championship when they take on Korea Republic for a place in the semi-finals today.
Korea, who are aiming to maintain their impressive run of appearing at the last seven Olympic Games intact, qualified for the quarter-finals at the top of Group C after winning their opening games against Uzbekistan and Yemen before being held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq.
The nation won the bronze medal in London four years ago.
The Peninsula
