UAE hammer Yemen in Arabian Gulf Cup opener as Zlatko Dalic reign starts with bang
The UAE made a convincing start to life under new coach Zlatko Dalic as they eased to a 4-0 win over Yemen in Jeddah. Nicolas Gimenez inspired the victory with a two-goal salvo as the national team began their pursuit of a third Gulf Cup title in confident style. It was the UAE’s first competitive fixture since the end of last year, when they took bronze at the Arab Cup in Doha after adverse…
The UAE began their 2026 Gulf Cup campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Yemen, as new coach Zlatko Dalic made an immediate impact. Nicolas Gimenez was instrumental in the win, scoring two goals in the match. This was the UAE's first competitive game since the Arab Cup, where they finished third and had to settle for a bronze medal after a play-off against Saudi Arabia was called off due to bad weather.
Dalic, who had just wrapped up a World Cup campaign with Croatia, took over the reins of the UAE team. The match, held in Jeddah, saw only five of the UAE's starting XI from the aborted Saudi Arabia game in December. Yemen, despite having a loyal fan base, were outnumbered and lacked the same energy as the UAE team. The UAE's players, still finding their rhythm after a long layoff, were ultimately able to dominate the match and secure a commanding lead.
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Also reported by 3 other outlets
- UAE hammer Yemen in Arabian Gulf Cup opener as Zlatko Dalic reign starts with bang thenationalnews.com
- UAE opens Gulf Cup 27 with 4-0 win over Yemen gulfnews.com
- UAE thrash Yemen 4-0 in Gulf Cup group stage english.ajel.sa
