The UAE Football Association has launched an initiative to encourage football fans in the Emirates to support the national team in their quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
The governing body, led by FA president Marwan bin Ghalita, has introduced #Together_We_Can, a social media campaign that encourages the use of the hashtag designed to unite the country behind Mahdi Ali’s team.
The UAE, currently at a training camp in Dubai, open the third and final qualifying stage for the 2018 World Cup on September 1 when they face continental giants Japan in Saitama. They then host reigning Asian Cup champions Australia in Abu Dhabi five days later, before fixtures against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
The FA hope the new social media initiative will generate interest in the national team and thus help push the UAE to only their second appearance at a World Cup.
“I am confident the UAE squad realise the importance of this stage,” Bin Ghalita said. “Everyone in the nation is obliged to support these heroes on their mission.
“The hashtag #Together_We_Can has been created to help them. This is more than an initiative or invitation, as it will let our institutions stand alongside the national team.”
Each country plays each other twice in Group B, with the top two guaranteed a place in Russia in two years’ time. However, the third-placed team from both Group A and B will meet to advance to an inter-confederation play-off. The UAE qualified for the World Cup, for the only time in their history, in 1990.
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Results
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Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
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Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
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Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
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10pm City players on stage
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Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
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1. Fasting
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5. Zakat
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