Omar Abdulrahman still has the magic to strike fear into Australia - despite the injuries

Four years ago, when Australia last had to navigate the treacherous playoff route to the World Cup, one of Asia’s best players by the name of Omar stood in their way.

On that occasion the opposition was Syria and the player was the imposing Omar al-Somah, who came within inches of clinching a remarkable and historic win for the Syrians when his injury time free kick smashed off the woodwork to save Australia’s blushes.

Fast forward to 2022 and the Socceroos once again find themselves having to navigate the sudden death playoff route as their hopes of qualifying for a fifth consecutive World Cup hang in the balance. Once again they will come face-to-face with one of Asia’s best players by the name of Omar.

On this occasion it is none other than the UAE’s own Omar Abdulrahman, the Emirati wizard who was once arguably the most feared footballer on the continent, such was his ability to influence any match with a deft flick of his sumptuous left boot.

While the Abdulrahman who will face Australia on Tuesday night at Doha’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is a far cry from the player who dominated Asian football in the mid 2010s, his name is one that still strikes fear into any opposition.

When Abdulrahman, Asia’s best footballer in 2016, turned back the clock in a recent Asian Champions League match for Shabab Al Ahli – displaying that despite his wretched run with injury he hadn’t lost any of his class – plenty of fans and pundits in Australia stood up and took notice.

Just a little over six weeks out from the Socceroos’ do-or-die clash with the UAE, a return to form for Abdulrahman is the last thing Australian fans wanted to see. As Tuesday’s kick off approaches, his is the name that will be most on the lips of those wearing green