UAE coach Dalic vows to build strong team with eyes on WC

Decorated Croatian manager Zlatko Dalic has been unveiled as the new coach of the UAE national football team, vowing to build a strong squad with an eye on the 2030 World Cup. Dalic, who previously led Croatia for nine years, expressed his delight at returning to the UAE after a decade.

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I am glad to be here again. After 10 years, I came back to the UAE again. I had a great time here. I am confident that we will have a great time again.

"I am glad to be here again. After 10 years, I came back to the UAE again. I had a great time here. I am confident that we will have a great time again," Dalic stated. He thanked Sheikh Hamdan for the trust placed in him to guide the team towards the 2030 World Cup.

Dalic's tenure with Croatia saw significant success, including reaching the 2018 World Cup final, securing third place in 2022, and making it to the 2023 Nations League final. He will now focus on preparing the UAE team for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and the Gulf Cup, which is just a month away.

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My primary goal is to build a strong team. First competition is the Gulf Cup, which is just a month away. That will be our first challenge.

"My primary goal is to build a strong team. First competition is the Gulf Cup, which is just a month away. That will be our first challenge," he added. Dalic also announced that Branko Ivankovic will join his staff as a special advisor, leveraging his regional expertise. "Branko has big expertise in the region. Our job is to select players who can play for the UAE for a long time. I will need the help of Branko, because of his expertise," Dalic explained.

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Branko has big expertise in the region. Our job is to select players who can play for the UAE for a long time. I will need the help of Branko, because of his expertise.

Dalic acknowledged the limited preparation time, especially with the league starting soon, but emphasized the need for competitiveness in all tournaments. "The most important thing is that we need to be competitive in all competitions. However, the main objective is to go to the 2030 World Cup," he asserted. He aims to lift the Gulf Cup in his first assignment, despite the challenges of short preparation time.

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The most important thing is that we need to be competitive in all competitions. However, the main objective is to go to the 2030 World Cup.