Fabio De Lima ruled out of UAE camp ahead of 2022 World Cup qualification final round

Bert van Marwijk's squad departed for Serbia on Saturday morning as preparations ramp up for the third round of qualifiers, which kicks off on September 2

UAE manager Bert van Marwijk takes training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam in the World Cup qualifiers at Zabeel Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ali Mabkhout during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Shaheen Abdulrahman during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Sebastian Tagliabue during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Majed Hassan on the ball during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Tahnoun Al Zaabi and Bandar Al Ahbabi during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Mohammed Jumah during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE's Fabio De Lima during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE manager Bert van Marwijk talks to his players during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE player Walid Abbas celebrates during training before the game between the UAE and Vietnam. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE squad travelled to Serbia on Saturday for a short training camp to prepare for the final round of qualification for the 2022 World Cup, although they did so without forward Fabio De Lima.

The national team, who advanced to the third phase in June as winners of their second-round group, met in Dubai on Friday before flying to Serbia for the get-together until August 13. Qualification commences on September 2. The UAE are placed in Group A alongside South Korea, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

However, there were multiple changes to Bert van Marwijk’s initial squad for the camp, with De Lima and Al Wasl teammate Ali Salmeen ruled out on Saturday morning through injury. The Brazilian-born De Lima has proved a huge hit since making his competitive debut for the UAE in June, scoring five goals in four qualifiers. Salmeen, meanwhile, is a regular starter in midfield.

On Friday, the Football Association announced that Khalfan Mubarak, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas and Mohammed Juma Eid had all withdrawn through illness or fitness issues, with Yahya Al Ghassani, Hassan Saleh and Zayed Al Ameri called up in their place. The UAE are not scheduled to play any friendlies while in Europe.

Van Marwijk’s side begin their Group A campaign with a double-header next month against Lebanon, in Dubai on September 2, and against Syria, in Jordan, five days later. They then take on Iran and Iraq in October, both at home, before travelling to South Korea and Lebanon the following month. The third round concludes next March.

Only the top two teams in each of the two groups will seal an automatic spot at Qatar 2022, with the two third-placed sides then facing off to go into the intercontinental play-off. The UAE have only once previously competed in a World Cup, in 1990.