Latest news with #CosminOlaroiu
The National
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
UAE to resume 2026 World Cup qualifying against Qatar and Oman
The next phase of UAE's mission to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has been set up with the national team drawn to face Qatar and Oman in the fourth round of Asia qualifying. The UAE had qualified for the final round of a complicated qualification process after failing to make the cut in the previous round. In June, new coach Cosmin Olaroiu had a great chance to secure qualification soon after taking over the team. However, the UAE were held to a 0-0 draw by Uzbekistan in a crucial third-round qualifier in Abu Dhabi. Victory there would have handed them a spot in the World Cup finals. However, now the UAE will have to go through another round of qualification for next year's expanded 48-nation tournament that takes place in the US, Canada and Mexico. The winners of the three-team groups - matches for which will be played in October - will join the already-qualified Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Jordan at next year's finals. Saudi Arabia host Group A and open against Indonesia on October 8. Indonesia then play Graham Arnold's Iraq on October 11 before the kingdom and Iraq face off on October 14. Group B hosts Qatar, who had successfully hosted the 2022 World Cup, will take on Oman in their first game on October 8. UAE take on Oman on October 11, with Qatar and the UAE meeting on October 14. The nations finishing in second place in each group will advance to a further round of qualifying, which will be held over two legs in November on a home-and-away basis. Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths at the finals. A possible ninth berth is available to the winner of November's match-up via an intercontinental playoff in March. While it is a complicated route to the finals, UAE forward Caio Canedo said the team remains confident. 'There is a feeling of disappointment because only the victory mattered, but we can still go to the World Cup, just in a different way,' Canedo had said after the match against Uzbekistan. 'If you see the players now, nobody is happy. But we have to believe in the project, we have to believe in the new coach, a great coach with new ideas. 'It is still the beginning, with a new project and ideas and we are all working together. We have got to keep going. We still have another way to go through.' There is also the larger issue of discipline that needs attention. Ahead of their final match of the third round of Asian qualifying, two key players were thrown out of the squad and heavily fined for disciplinary issues. Khaled Al Dhanhani and Sultan Adil were stood down from the squad travelling to Kyrgyzstan and also banned from domestic football for five matches for an unspecified 'violation'. UAE coach Olaroiu had said discipline was paramount. 'It is always disappointing to have to make this kind of a decision, but when the players come to play for the national team, they have to understand it is not about themselves,' the Romanian said. 'I told them before the first game: this shirt that we wear is more than ourselves. We are carrying the responsibility for a million people."
The National
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
UAE to resume 2026 World Cup qualification quest against Qatar and Oman
The next phase of UAE's mission to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has been set up with the national team drawn to face Qatar and Oman in the fourth round of Asia qualifying. The UAE had qualified for the final round of a complicated qualification process after failing to make the cut in the previous round. In June, new coach Cosmin Olaroiu had a great chance to secure qualification soon after taking over the team. However, the UAE were held to a 0-0 draw by Uzbekistan in a crucial third-round qualifier in Abu Dhabi. Victory there would have handed them a spot in the World Cup finals. However, now the UAE will have to go through another round of qualification for next year's expanded 48-nation tournament that takes place in the US, Canada and Mexico. The winners of the three-team groups - matches for which will be played in October - will join the already-qualified Australia, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Jordan at next year's finals. Saudi Arabia host Group A and open against Indonesia on October 8. Indonesia then play Graham Arnold's Iraq on October 11 before the kingdom and Iraq face off on October 14. Group B hosts Qatar, who had successfully hosted the 2022 World Cup, will take on Oman in their first game on October 8. UAE take on Oman on October 11, with Qatar and the UAE meeting on October 14. The nations finishing in second place in each group will advance to a further round of qualifying, which will be held over two legs in November on a home-and-away basis. Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths at the finals. A possible ninth berth is available to the winner of November's match-up via an intercontinental playoff in March. While it is a complicated route to the finals, UAE forward Caio Canedo said the team remains confident. 'There is a feeling of disappointment because only the victory mattered, but we can still go to the World Cup, just in a different way,' Canedo had said after the match against Uzbekistan. 'If you see the players now, nobody is happy. But we have to believe in the project, we have to believe in the new coach, a great coach with new ideas. 'It is still the beginning, with a new project and ideas and we are all working together. We have got to keep going. We still have another way to go through.' There is also the larger issue of discipline that needs attention. Ahead of their final match of the third round of Asian qualifying, two key players were thrown out of the squad and heavily fined for disciplinary issues. Khaled Al Dhanhani and Sultan Adil were stood down from the squad travelling to Kyrgyzstan and also banned from domestic football for five matches for an unspecified 'violation'. UAE coach Olaroiu had said discipline was paramount. 'It is always disappointing to have to make this kind of a decision, but when the players come to play for the national team, they have to understand it is not about themselves,' the Romanian said.
The National
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
From war-torn Yugoslavia to belated UAE debut, Sasa Ivkovic is proud to represent ‘country I love'
At the end of a week scarred by controversy over the value of wearing the UAE shirt, a player born during war in Yugoslavia showed just what it means to represent the national team. Sasa Ivkovic made his debut for the UAE in their final match in round three of Asia's World Cup qualifying process, in Kyrgyzstan last Tuesday. The Al Wahda centre-back was a commanding presence at the heart of the UAE backline. He did not deserve to leave Bishkek with anything less than a win, but the national team had to make do with a 1-1 draw because of a last-second equaliser. Despite the frustrating end, Ivkovic was proud of his night's work. That much was clear by the fact that, as he headed to the team bus, he was holding a blue plastic bag with two treasured possessions inside. They were the white shirts of the national team with No 2 and 'Ivkovic' written on the back. There was no chance was he swapping them with anyone. 'I am protecting my shirt as it's my first game; these are for me and my family,' Ivkovic said, as he gripped tight hold of the bag. It was the sort of feelgood ending that a tempestuous week really needed. The start of it had been headlined by the banning of Khalid Al Dhanhani and Sultan Adil due to misconduct during the national team's training camp. That issue led the new coach, Cosmin Olaroiu, to point out that indiscipline of any kind while representing the country at football would not be tolerated. 'This shirt that we wear is more than ourselves,' Olaroiu had said. 'We are carrying the responsibility for a million people.' It is a responsibility that Ivkovic is grateful to be asked to bear. 'It feels great,' he said. 'I am really happy because that was my first game for the UAE, the country that I love. 'At the same time, the feelings are a little mixed because they scored in the last second. That was unfortunate because we almost had the win in our hands. 'But I am proud of my team because we gave 100 per cent. There are some things to improve, but this is a new group. There are a lot of players missing, and I think we will grow. At the next gathering, we will be even better.' Ivkovic's continued involvement – perhaps even as a first-choice starter – seems assured after his outstanding display in Bishkek. His manager termed it 'fantastic,' and was impressed by the solid partnership he had formed with fellow Wahda centre back Lucas Pimenta. 'For his first game, I expected him to be more emotional, but he performed fantastically,' Olaroiu said. 'He and Pimenta, their performances were top.' Ivkovic said the fact he did not outwardly show nerves might be due to his age. His first crack at international football is coming after a lengthy club career which started out in Serbia, before taking in a spell with Maribor in Slovenia. He had five seasons with Baniyas from 2019, then helped Wahda to AFC Champions League qualification after joining them last season. Although he represented Serbia in age-group football, he officially switched allegiance to the UAE in February. 'I am 32, so I have some experience of these kinds of matches, but of course there is emotion when you play your first game,' Ivkovic said. 'This wasn't a friendly game. It was an important game, so there was emotion, but I tried to stay concentrated and focused. I'd have been even more happy if we could keep [the score to] zero, but I am looking forward to the next matches.' Representing the UAE in senior international football is a long way from his tough start to life. Ivkovic was born to Serbian parents in Vukovar, a city in what is now Croatia, during the Yugoslav War. 'I was born in a really difficult moment,' Ivkovic said. 'My family was born and lived in what is now regarded as Croatian territory after the war. 'So many bad things happened in the war. I was born in 1993, and after that we moved to Serbia. It was not an easy period, and I am always thankful to my parents for the energy they have given me. 'I was born and raised at a difficult time, but we managed to succeed, and make [ourselves] good people, I guess.' The family followed a wave of refugees who had been forced from their homes by the conflict, and resettled in a town near Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia. That is where Ivkovic spent his formative years in football before, aged 17, he moved to the capital to join one of the country's footballing giants, Partizan Belgrade. It was there that he pursued his ambition of going pro, and following in the footsteps of his hero, the long-time Partizan captain, Sasa Ilic. 'He is a legend, not only a great player having captained Partizan for so many years, but also a legend as a human being,' Ivkovic said. 'Everybody, when we were kids, would look up to him. He was the one guy we all wanted to be.' Ivkovic says he is thankful he has little memory of the conflict himself, and is glad participation in football has taught him how to respect others. 'As a Serbian there, my parents decided to move to what is now Serbian territory, as it would be easier for us,' he said. 'It was 30 years ago, and everything is good. I hope for peace everywhere, that is most important. It was a very difficult time for our country, but the new generation, we try to look ahead positively, and have no bad blood between us. 'Especially in sport. As sportspeople, we always have to strive to achieve this: to have respect for one another.'
The National
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Richarlison's step-brother Alvaro de Oliveira thrilled after race across the world leads to debut for UAE
When Cosmin Olaroiu was getting ready to dial Alvaro de Oliveira's number, a call-up to international football literally could not have been further from the player's mind. The domestic football season had long since been wrapped up, and the Al Bataeh striker was already back in the land of his birth. He was settling into some down time in Brazil, and getting ready to cheer on his step-brother, Richarlison, playing for the Selecao. Then the plans were dramatically altered. He received the summons back to the UAE, to join the campaign that all of the country hopes will eventually lead to World Cup qualification. And so started the round-the-world journey which ended with him debuting as a second-half substitute in the small Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, 13,500kms away from his home town. His involvements were few, as the UAE were frustratingly held to a 1-1 draw when the home side struck with the last kick of round three of Asia's World Cup qualifiers in Bishkek. Despite the disappointing end, and the exhausting trip, the 24-year-old striker was thrilled that he was now able to call himself an international footballer. 'It is an amazing experience, having my first time coming into the national team,' Alvaro said. 'I feel very happy about that because I have been in the UAE now for six years, and you work for it. Thanks to God for this opportunity. 'I was in Brazil already with my family when I received the call. It was an amazing feeling when the coach called me to come here, and I enjoyed the moment. Let's see what happens in the next games. 'This game was very unlucky because we conceded a goal in the last second, but Alhamdulillah, everything is coming together for us, and we are focused on the next round.' It is amazing how fate works. Alvaro might still have been enjoying his holiday, gloriously oblivious to what was happening back in the UAE, had circumstances been different. Olaroiu, the coach, had been troubled by a lack of physicality up front in the 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan on Thursday which cost the UAE automatic qualification for the World Cup. That is a problem which might have been solved by Sultan Adil. But then the young Shabab Al Ahli striker reportedly went walkabout from camp, incurred the wrath of the management, and was summarily thrown out of the squad, fined, and banned from domestic football. An SOS was sent out for a bustling striker of power and strength – and it went all the way to Brazil, where it was received by a thrilled public. The most high-profile well-wisher was his step-brother. Alvaro's mother is married to the father of Richarlison, the Tottenham Hotspur and Brazil striker. When he was on his way to national duty of his own, for Brazil against Paraguay in South American qualifying, Richarlison took time out to post a good luck video message. 'Hey there, Alvaro,' Richarlison said. 'I'm here to wish you all the luck in the world and congratulate you on your call up. We're with you, Nova Venecia is celebrating for you.' While Richarlison has carved out a career in the Premier League with Watford, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as 50 appearances for Brazil, Alvaro has taken a different route in the game. He started out at the same club in Belo Horizonte as his elder sibling, América Mineiro. But while Richarlison went on from there to Rio giants Fluminense, Alvaro somehow found himself bound for Shabab Al Ahli in Dubai when he was just 18. He did not play a first-team game for them, before he moved on to Dibba Al Fujairah, and then Al Bataeh, where he scored four goals last season. 'We are step-brothers and we have always been together since we were very young,' Alvaro said of his relationship with Richarlison. 'He is a very good guy, and I also wish him all the very best for his games, as well. When we were young, we played together in school, but he was one age-group above me. 'I always looked up to him as he is a brilliant player, and it was always a good experience to be together with him. I wish for him all the best.'
Dubai Eye
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
UAE held by Kyrgyzstan in World Cup qualifier
Kyrgyzstan's never-say-die attitude saw them grab a last-gasp goal to hold the UAE to a 1-1 draw in their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group A clash on Tuesday. The late salvo at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek saw Kyrgyzstan end their campaign on eight points while Cosmin Olaroiu continues to wait for his first win as UAE head coach with his side finishing on 15 points. The result qualifies the UAE for the AFC play-offs in October that lead to the World Cup. With the UAE's progress to the playoffs and Kyrgyzstan's elimination already decided going into the match, the game saw a cagey start before the visitors stole into the lead at the half hour mark. The UAE's goal was scored by Harib Abdullah, while Kai Merk scored for Kyrgyzstan in the 90+5 minute. In another match within the same group, Uzbekistan closed their campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Qatar. Timur Kapadze's men, who have already booked their spot in their first FIFA World Cup, finished with 21 points from 10 matches. Qatar finished fourth in Group A with 13 points, also qualifying for the AFC play-offs.
