(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Italian Alberto Zaccheroni's tenure, since being installed as the new UAE football coach in October, would have involved careful preparation for the AFC Asian Cup on home soil in 2019.
And with no competitive tournaments during the time frame, it would have been interspersed with a number of friendlies penciled in from time to time to gauge where the team and the squad stands.
But with the Gulf Cup of Nations back on the radar, it is perhaps a blessing in disguise for the former Juventus and Japan coach. The tournament, the 23rd edition of which kicks-off on the morrow, presents Zaccheroni the ideal opportunity to rebuild a team, after the heartbreak of not qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next year.
The tournament in Kuwait may have arrived a tad too soon for Zaccheroni as he had only little time to acquaint himself with his new wards. And in the intervening period, the 64-year-old, the architect of Japan's AFC Asian Cup triumph in 2011, has only had two friendlies - a 1-0 loss to Haiti and a 1-0 win against Uzbekistan.
But then, there is nothing better than having game time and a real match scenario and nothing can replicate that. So, for all intents and purposes, the Gulf Cup of Nations will be Zaccheroni's first official assignment as the UAE coach.
The AFC Asian Cup on home soil still remains the remit, his priority No.1, but a successful campaign in Kuwait, at the turn of the year, would do no harm to his already impressive portfolio.
The UAE, champions in 2007 on home soil and in 2013 in Bahrain, are in Group A along with Saudi Arabia, Oman as well as the hosts Kuwait. The Whites open their campaign on Friday night against Oman, winners of the Cup in 2009.
The UAE squad is a blend of youth as well as experience with a few of them who fought so valiantly against champions Real Madrid in the Fifa Club World Cup, making the squad. The UAE's first choice goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, who stood like a wall against the rampaging 'Los Blancos,' was not picked following the injury he sustained during that game, with the shot stopper being replaced by Al Wasl's Sultan Al Manthari.
The UAE's next game is against Saudi Arabia, who have sent a second string squad with the World Cup in mind, on Christmas day. They wind up their group engagements with their final fixture against Kuwait on December 28.
Group B involves Qatar, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain and the top two from both the groups make it to the semifinals. The semifinals are slated for January 2, 2018, with the final to be held on January 5, 2018.
Abdulla Nasser Al Junaibi, the Vice President of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA), said that the Gulf Cup was an important stage in preparing for the AFC Asian Cup.
"Our main goal is to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted by the UAE in early 2019. But we are taking the Gulf Cup of Nations very seriously," said Al Junaibi.
"The tournament represents an opportunity for the technical staff led by Alberto Zaccheroni to identify the capabilities of all the players and help him devise tactics which he plans to implement during the next phase. The morale of the players is high and there is a real desire to give their best and try and win the Gulf Cup," he added.
GROUPINGS:
GROUP A:Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Oman; UAE
GROUP B:Qatar; Iraq; Yemen; Bahrain
TODAY'S FIXTURES(UAE TIME):
Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia, 6:30pm
Oman vs UAE, 9 pm
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