Narrow failures they may have been on the road to Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, but they were still significant achievements for a small nation numbering just over a million inhabitants.

Indeed, had Bahrain qualified for the 2006 edition, they would have been the smallest nation at that time to feature at a World Cup. Instead that achievement went the way of their opponents – the Dwight Yorke-inspired Trinidad and Tobago. And that feat, of course, was famously eclipsed by Iceland this year in Russia.

Four years after Bahrain's initial heartbreak came even more anguish as they missed a penalty that would have taken them to the World Cup at New Zealand’s expense. New Zealand, of course subsequently competed at South Africa 2010 with distinction, completing the group stage undefeated.

Since taking the reins of the national team after June’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, coach Graham Arnold has called a cluster of youngsters into his training camps in both Turkey last month and now in Dubai.

And there could be as many as four debutants in Monday's friendly against Kuwait, with the likes of Awer Mabil, Denis Genreau, Thomas Deng and Kenny Dougall all pushing for selection.

A stalwart of the Australian team, Jones admits the injection of fresh faces proves the depth in the Australian national team is improving all the time.

The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Executive Committee approved the recommendation to align the AFC’s national teams competitions with the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game (LOTG) announced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “The entire Continent is eagerly awaiting Asia’s most prestigious tournament and it is, therefore, essential that the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 adopts the latest regulations as we strive to stage a truly unforgettable spectacle.

“I am confident the new regulations will add to the excitement of Asia’s flagship national team competition and further strengthen the AFC’s ambitions to be the world’s leading Confederation.”

In the past few weeks you have been voting for the best forwards and midfielders, and now it's time to turn our attention to defenders.

So, here are eight candidates for the spots at the backline. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite defenders for this all-star XI in the poll below.

Thailand and Syria recorded wins, the United Arab Emirates played to a draw against Honduras while Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon suffered defeats.

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Barcelona: The United Arab Emirates, aiming to impress on home soil, secured a 1-1 draw with Honduras with talisman Omar Abdulrahman's 32nd minute strike giving them a share of the spoils at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic in Barcelona.

Honduras had taken an 18th minute lead through Romell Quioto, who scored with a right-footed shot from close range to the top right corner of the UAE net.

UAE fought back and were rewarded when Abdulrahman found the back of the net with a right-footed effort after receiving the ball from Ismaeil Matar.

Without Japan and Europe-based stars Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda, Theerathon Bunmathan and Kawin Thamsatchanan, Thailand will have a new-look side when they face Hong Kong on October 11 and Trinidad and Tobago on October 14.

However, coach Rajevac (below) is convinced the games will serve as vital build-up for the War Elephants, with important challenges to come in the months ahead with the 2018 AFF Championship and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 looming large.

Bento's side assembled at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, north of Seoul, on Monday to prepare for friendlies against on Uruguay in Seoul on Friday and Panama in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, four days later.

Korea Republic had a 2-0 win against Costa Rica and played to a goalless draw against Chile last month. Before competing at the AFC Asian Cup UAE in January, Bento said his goal is to identify problems and improve the team's shortcomings.