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The recall of superstar Omar Abdulrahman to the United Arab Emirates line-up is a major worry for Australia ahead of their World Cup play-off in Qatar.
He's not played for his national team in more than two years but Omar Abulrahman looms as Australia's biggest threat in their World Cup play-off against the United Arab Emirates.
The former Asian player of the year, widely regarded as the best footballer from the continent to not play at European club level, has been recalled by the UAE for Wednesday morning's AEST clash in Doha, Qatar.
It's choice that has former Socceroo Alex Brosque worried.
Brosque spent time playing alongside Abdulrahman at Emirati club Al Ain from 2012 to 2014, and says even though the 30-year-old's career has stalled due to a string of injuries, including an ACL rupture in 2018, his talent is undeniable.
"If there's one man that's sort of spells danger in that squad, it's definitely him," Brosque told AAP.
"I saw him up close for two years and every single day I went into training I was surprised by just how incredibly gifted he is technically.
"He's one of those guys you make a run and he'll put it in the exact spot that you needed, he's that good with his distribution.
"Given the way they're going to play against us as well, which I'm assuming will be to sort of sit back, try and hold out defensively, when they win the ball, give it to him and he'll create something, he's the perfect player for that sort of style that they want to play.
"He's the main guy we need to shut down and if we do that, obviously we go a long way towards winning the game."
Abdulrahman, who trialled at English giants Manchester City in 2012, last played for the UAE in a 1-0 defeat to Vietnam in November 2019.
In his absence, the Emirates had an unremarkable third stage of qualifying, finishing third in their group with 12 points from 10 games - 11 points adrift of second-placed South Korea.
The winner at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium will advance to an intercontinental play-off on June 13 (June 14 AEST) against Peru with a place in November's finals at stake.
The UAE have only once reached the World Cup finals, in Italy in 1990, but Australia only have to look back to the 2019 Asian Cup to know the threat their opponents pose.
A misplaced backpass by central defender Milos Degenek allowed the UAE to snatch a 1-0 quarter-final win in that tournament and send Australia crashing out of the tournament.
It's a memory that is easily recalled by Socceroos captain Maty Ryan, who says anyone who is focusing on the Peru match is absolutely getting ahead of themselves.
"Just being in international football and in this environment that's a consequence if you don't turn up, no matter what has happened in the past, no matter who the opposition is," Ryan told AAP.
"You've got to be here and on your game.
"You've got to find that level of respect.
"Whether you're playing an opposition that the world has views as being one of the best teams - your Germanys, Frances or whatever - or whether you're playing against an opposition that in the world's opinion isn't on the same level as them."
