The UAE saw their bid to make the final of the Fifa Arab Cup ended by Morocco in Doha.
The national team’s march to the semi-final of the regional tournament had been uplifting.
It followed on from the heartbreak of missing out on next year’s World Cup after stoppage-time defeat to Iraq last month.
Cosmin Olaroiu, the UAE coach, had done well to raise spirits after that night in Basra. They had advanced at the expense of sides of the status of Egypt and Algeria to get within touching distance of the final.
But when it came to the last four meeting with Morocco, they were soundly beaten 3-0 by a country who have grown used to competing at the business end of major competitions in the recent past.
Morocco’s most renowned stars are absent from this tournament, with a view to the Africa Cup of Nations starting later this month. Even though it is essentially an A side, they still have an impressive squad in Qatar.
After all, this is a country who reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup – also in Qatar – as well as the Paris Olympics, while their Under 20s side recently won the W
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