The United Arab Emirates will head into this year’s Asian Cup full of confidence after lifting the Gulf Cup for the first time in their history last January, and Bruno Metsu’s side will hoping for similar success in a competition they have not been serious contenders in for over 10 years.

The UAE made their Asian Cup bow in 1980 but, disappointingly, did not qualify from the group stage in their first three attempts.

It was a different story in 1992 when they lost in the semi-finals to Saudi Arabia and eventually finished fourth, but it was just a taste of things to come.
Four years later as hosts the Emriates made it into the final for the first time before once again being undone by the Saudis, this time in a penalty shoot-out.

But after failing to qualify in 2000, they fell at the first hurdle three years ago in China, finishing bottom of Group B with only one point from three matches.
They got the better of the Jordanians in the qualifiers for the 2007 edition as the UAE topped Group C with four victories, a draw and a solitary defeat against fellow qualifiers Oman.