Former president of the UAE Football Association, Yousef Al Serkal, believes the Emirates got a "relatively easy" group for the fourth round of World Cup Qualifying.

Bruno Metsu's side managed to avoid both Australia and Japan as they were drawn in Group Two alongside Saudi Arabia, Iran and the two Koreas.

Al Serkal, who is also deputy chairman of the Asian Football Confederation, said: "The draw has put the UAE in a relatively easy group compared to the other group, which I think comprises stronger teams.

"But that's not to say our group will be easy; it will not. It is a strong group and our mission will be difficult. We should not play down the strength of our opponents."

UAE coach Metsu came under fierce criticism after his side almost missed out on qualification altogether after poor performances against Kuwait and Syria.

But Al Serkal says the blame must not fall solely on Metsu's head if his side fail to progress to South Africa 2010; everybody must get involved to make it happen.

"The responsibility of taking the team to South Africa will not be confined to the players, Metsu or the UAE FA," said the Frenchman.

"Rather it is the responsibility of all those involved in the sport, be that media, fans... all sports sectors." Meanwhile, former UAE coach Badr Saleh has called for domestic teams to co-operate with the FA in order to build a team capable of qualifying for the showcase.

The current squad will train with their club sides in the run-up to the Group Two opener with North Korea on September 6.

But Saleh says that in order for the team to gel, they must have the opportunity to train together.

"I see that the draw was balanced, and it cannot be described as difficult or easy," said Saleh.

"The UAE's chances of qualifying exist – provided that they prepare well.

"Undoubtedly it is in the interest of the team to keep its players because national team camps are more useful."

Group One will see Australia, Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar face-off for two places in South Africa.


South Korea

South Korea will be favourites to qualify top of Group Two as they have qualified for the World Cup more times than any other Asian country.

With four players signed to clubs in the English Premier League and Kim Dong-Jin holding down a place in the back-line of Uefa Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg, there is no denying they have a higher standard of players than most Asian teams.

But while the more famous names will garner the attention, it is winger Park Chu-Young who the UAE need to be wary of.

The 22-year-old was voted AFC Young Player of the Year in 2004 after netting 16 times in 16 games at Under-20 level.

For the Korea Republic 'A' team he has continued to score important goals. His two strikes in qualification – including the only goal of the game in the win over Jordan in Amman – has taken his international tally to nine in 27 games.

Park has been linked with moves to Newcastle and Sunderland, with the Black Cats supposedly readying a £4 million (Dh29m) bid.

The UAE have met Korea 15 times and only managed three wins, although in World Cup qualifiers their record is even worse: played three, lost two, conceded six.

Playing Korea may well stir the emotions of some former Emirates players though. In 1990, the UAE confirmed their qualification for the 1990 World Cup after holding the Tigers to a 1-1 in Singapore.

The coach of Korea, Huh Jung-Moo, says he's confident of reaching the next round as long as his side play to its potential.


Iran

Despite the speed and experience of the South Koreans and the brute strength and killer instinct of Saudi Arabia, it will be northern neighbours Iran who UAE coach Bruno Metsu will likely fear the most.

The UAE have never beaten Iran in nine attempts and with goalkeeper Mehdi Ramati between the sticks, Ismail Mattar and Faisal Khalil will have their work cut out.

The Mes Kerman stopper has been in inspired form for his country conceding only two goals in the whole of qualification – both in the 2-2 draw with Kuwait.

Metsu will, however, know all about the dangers of his Iranian opponents. The two teams faced each other in the last round, with the UAE holding them to a stalemate in Tehran, before an early goal from Ferydoon Zandi in Al Ain saw Team Melli leave with three points.

It's understandable then why Iran coach Ali Daei says he has no fear of the UAE, and is more concerned with the prospect of facing the underdogs of Group Two.

"I would say North Korea are the most difficult team in the group," said Daei. "I have been there twice as a player, and there were no problems... But football-wise, they are a very strong team."

Another player to keep an eye on is Andranik Teymourian, the only Christian in the Iranian team. Having played for Bolton for the past two seasons – where he scored four goals in all competitions – he was transferred to former UAE coach Roy Hodgson's Fulham this month to shore up a ropey midfield.

Saudi Arabia

Having qualified for the past five World Cups, Saudi Arabia come into the group stage as the second-highest scorers in the last round of games, one behind Uzbekistan's 15.

Asian Cup finalists in 2007, the Saudi's most potent weapon is hitman Yasser Al Qahtani.

Nicknamed "The Sniper", the Al Hilal forward has a scoring record impressive enough to shoot anxiety into even the most composed of defences.

Al Qahtani netted four times in five games in qualification and finished last summer's showcase as captain and top goalscorer. He has also managed 35 goals in 49 games for his domestic side.

Such performances earned the 25-year-old a trial at Manchester City at the start of the year where he trained for two weeks. Sven-Goran Erikkson may not have been sufficiently impressed, but there is no denying on the Asian stage, the Sniper is one of the most clinical around.

Al Qahtani received the recognition he deserved last year when he was named the 2007 Asian Player of the Year – ahead of Iraq's Asian Cup-winning hero Younes Mahmoud.

The UAE don't have the best record against their Gulf neighbours, having lost 15 of their 27 meetings. But when it comes to World Cup qualifiers, the Emirates have never been on the losing side.

The two countries have met three times in qualification and only produced one goal; a 1-0 victory in Dubai in April 1986.

Bruno Metsu will be happy to continue that trend, but with Al Qahtani and strike partner Malek Ma'az in attack, a stalemate is unlikely.

North Korea

North Korea remain undefeated in the current qualification campaign and only finished second on goal difference to neighbouring South Korea.

Despite their exploits, the UAE will still – behind closed doors at least – view them as the easiest of the four nations they face.

Largely an unknown entity because of current President Kim Il-Jong's Stalinist dictatorship, North Korea could well spring a surprise on Metsu's Whites.

Nineteen-year-old Chol Min Jong may not be a regular starter yet, but with four goals in two games, he is sure to start demanding more game time.

The striker netted against Mongolia in their 5-1 rout in Ulan-Baatar and then one week later bagged a hat-trick as they crushed them conclusively 4-1 at their home ground.

It will be the UAE's turn to travel to Pyongyang on March 28 – so long as there are no knotty diplomatic issues.

When South Korea were due to travel north in the qualifying stages, the North's government ruled that their neighbours' flag and anthem would not be permitted. Outrage ensued and the game was played in Shanghai, China, ending 0-0.

The second nought is a common factor in North Korean matches; indeed the North's defence is the stingiest in the tournament, keeping six clean sheets in six games. The likelihood of that record remaining intact in stage four is highly unlikely as they prepare to face much superior opposition.

And the omens are good for the Emirates too. Korea may have got to the quarter-finals of the 1966 World Cup, but they have never beaten the UAE in their six attempts.

The two countries have met three times in qualifiers, the most recent being in 2006 when the UAE won 1-0 over the two legs.