The UAE national team have been put through their paces ahead of an upcoming friendly against Uzbekistan. The match in Dubai on Monday will be the first official friendly under the guidance of Jorge Luis Pinto, the Colombian who <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/ivan-jovanovic-sacked-as-uae-manager-before-taking-charge-of-a-game-1.1002265">succeeded Ivan Jovanovic</a> in June. Among the players taking part was Sebastian Tagliabue, the Argentine-born Al Nasr striker hoping to win his first cap. Pinto’s primary objective is to lead the UAE to the World Cup in Qatar in two years’ time. At present, the national team sit fourth in Group G in the second phase of qualification, five points off leaders Vietnam with four matches remaining, although they do have a game in hand. The Asian Football Confederation <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/uae/uae-see-world-cup-2022-qualifiers-postponed-again-due-to-coronavirus-1.1062829">postponed all men's qualifiers scheduled in October and November</a> for the 2022 World Cup. The AFC and world governing body Fifa said the delay is to protect the health and safety of all participants during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE will complete Round 2 with home matches against Thailand and Vietnam, on November 12 and 17. Only the top team are guaranteed to progress, alongside the four best runners-up from the eight groups. The UAE have only once qualified for a World Cup, in 1990.