With their Russian dream hanging by a thread, the UAE football squad began their second phase of preparations in the tropical climes of Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The 27-member squad underwent rigorous training under the watchful eyes of Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza. The weather has been mostly cloudy in the Malaysian capital but 'The Whites' will be looking for a silver lining first up, against Thailand, with tougher tests to follow against Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

These three fixtures are what the UAE have to put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track. The UAE are currently fourth in Group B with nine points from seven matches. Japan and Saudi Arabia are on 16 points each, while Australia have 13 points.

The squad will train in Kuala Lumpur until June 8 before leaving for Bangkok for their final phase of preparations. A scheduled international friendly against Lebanon in Kuala Lumpur on June 7 has been cancelled. The Whites take on Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on June 13.

New coach Bauza said that the preparations have been going well so far and added that the players and the coaching staff have been able to understand each other and are on the same page.

"The player have responded well during the training sessions in Dubai as well as here in Kuala Lumpur. There are no difficulties in communicating with the players and there has been good understanding between each and everyone," Bauza told the UAE Football Association's official website.

The former Argentina coach admitted that UAE's path was laden with obstacles but was optimistic that the team could overcome them in the remaining three fixtures.

"The current mission of the UAE team is very difficult but not impossible. We have to redouble our efforts to score the nine points which is still available through the remaining three matches against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. We have to concentrate and focus on each match and take it step by step. And if all goes well, it will all fall in place. Also, we shouldn't forget that anything can happen in football and group calculations could favour us as well. But what's important at the moment is that we have to do what is required of us, that is to win the remaining three games," he said.

Bauza was also delighted to have a strike force consisting of Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil and midfield linchpin Omar Abdulrahman. "Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil are the most influential players in the squad and any coach would be happy to have such players. Such players can change the game and can provide solutions to the many problems or difficulties that the team might face. We also have a good group of players in the team who have the capabilities and the skills," said the 59-year-old.

Bauza was also pleased with some of the players cutting short their holiday and reporting early for practice sessions in Dubai, even before the official camp had got underway. "It shows their sense of responsibility that some of the players had turned up even before the camp could begin," he said.

Bauza, who coached Argentine for eight games, said he had made some observations from the twin losses to Japan and Australia in March and added that they will work on the strengths and weaknesses.

And Bauza was looking forward to the new challenge that lay ahead of him. "This responsibility is a challenge and I want to win this challenge. I had several offers from teams in Latin America and some clubs but I opted to take on this project. I hope we can do well in the remaining three games and try and qualify for the World Cup," said Bauza. Meanwhile, centre back Mohamed Ahmed was pleased to earn a call-up after nine months on the sidelines through a knee injury. "I'm very happy to rejoin The Whites," Mohamed Ahmed, who suffered the injury during the game against Australia last September, said. "I feel a strong desire to achieve positive results with the national team and to get a win against Thailand will be a new beginning," he added.

Source: Khaleej Times