LONDON: The UAE have been told to rise to the occasion ahead of their last-eight clash against the Socceroos.
The hosts have failed to hit the heights on their march — though, in reality, more of a uninspiring plod — to the quarterfinals with much criticism being leveled at the coach, Alberto Zaccheroni, and the players.
But having made it to within three wins of glory the Whites are hoping that home advantage pays off against the defending champions and they can finally find their A-game.
“The factor of playing on our field and in front of our fans will be a great motivator for us,” former AC Milan and Juventus boss Zaccheroni said.
“It’s true as an Italian I’m not an Emirati, but I feel a great responsibility on my shoulders and I have the same responsibility as the players and we’re all hoping we can snatch the place in the next round.
“We hope to see massive numbers of fans at the coming match and to qualify for the semifinal stage so we can make all the fans and the people happy.”
The fact that the UAE fans have not been seen with too many smiles across their faces so far can be put down to the side’s patchy form. Zaccheroni’s side have reached
today’s match on the back of disappointing draws against Bahrain and Thailand and underwhelming wins over India and Kyrgyzstan.
Perhaps because of that the Italian coach wants the crowd in Al-Ain to act as the 12th man.
“All the indicators are to our advantage. The fans, the determination of the players and the aspirations of the players to qualify for the semifinals,” he said.
“This also creates pressure on the players and I’m sure they’re aware of this fact and they will play with high spirits and will fight to win the match.”
Today’s clash is really a meeting of two teams that have flattered to deceive. The Aussies, as with the UAE, have not lived up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites and have limped, rather than strolled, to the last-eight. Their penalty shootout win over Uzbekistan in the second round summed up their tournament — victory without ever really convincing.
That, however, has not dented the confidence of coach Graham Arnold who is certain his Socceroos can beat the hosts.
“We are learning a lot every game. UAE are the home nation and we respect (them) but we will play our way, in our style and expect to dominate the game,” Arnold said.
“We’ve done our homework on them and no doubt they’ve done their homework on us. We have a lot of belief in our group. We work a lot with the players mentally to get that advantage over the opposition.”
“A full stadium for the UAE can work two ways,” he added. “It can work to help or it can work the opposite way and put a lot of pressure on them because they’re the home nation. That has nothing to do with us. All we can do is prepare ourselves properly and get ourselves ready.”
Zaccheroni will be forced to make at least two changes to his team with defender Khalifa Mubarak ruled out after breaking his leg in the extra-time win over Kyrgyzstan in the Round of 16 while Khamis Esmaeel is suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the campaign against the Central Asian nation.
UAE want fans to act as extra man in Asian Cup showdown against Socceroos
UAE want fans to act as extra man in Asian Cup showdown against Socceroos
- Zaccheroni hopes home advantage is key in last-eight battle against defending champions.
- Socceroos confident they can humble hosts and make semifinals.
Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement
- Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance
- Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents
LOS ANGELES: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”
Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.
Crawford had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.
Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong.”
“Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said.
“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”
“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had.”
Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents.
He won his maiden world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with victory over Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2014.
Crawford won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Alvarez.
He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight.
All of his 42 victories have come by way of unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring in favor of an opponent during his career.
