Bert van Marwijk picks extended UAE squad for training camp in Dubai

National team to assemble on Saturday as they prepare for resumption of 2022 World Cup qualification

Manager Bert van Marwijk has named an extended UAE squad. Courtesy UAE FA

Bert van Marwijk has named an extended UAE squad ahead of the upcoming training camp in Dubai.

The national team will meet on Saturday for a five-day get-together as they ramp up preparations for the resumption of 2022 World Cup qualification.

As it stands, the qualifiers are to begin next month, where the UAE will look to turn around their Group G campaign with the double-header against Malaysia and Indonesia. Those matches take place on March 25 and March 30.

Back in his second stint as UAE manager, Van Marwijk will trim the squad following Round 15 of the 2020/21 Arabian Gulf League, which plays out on Thursday and Friday.

The 28-strong group includes naturalised trio Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo and Sebastian Tagliabue, although experienced duo Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil remain on the sidelines.

After Malaysia and Indonesia – the latter is away from home – the UAE face Thailand and Vietnam, both at home, in June.

At present, the national team sit fourth in Group G, five points off leaders Vietnam although they do have a game in hand. Only the top team are guaranteed to progress to the third round of qualification, together with the four best runners-up from the eight groups.

Van Marwijk, 68, returned to the UAE in December as successor to Jorge Luis Pinto, little more than one year after his first spell in charge ended. The UAE are expected to meet midway through next month for an extended camp before the qualifiers.