The World Cup gets underway in Brazil this weekend without one of the globe?s most in-form sides. Mahdi Ali?s men are set for a busy season,*but chief among the challenges facing them is how to maintain their current form **t only into 2015 but onwards through qualification for Russia 2018. The UAE FA have made a very deliberate attempt to raise the standard of opposition, with the national team?s next three opponents ? **rway, Belgium and Morocco ? representing a step up from Yemen, Bahrain and Uzbekistan.