The Asian Cup kicked off in great style this week, with a number of impressive performances put in by nations and individuals alike. This week, I’ve had a look at the key player, team and talking point of the first round of matches, and what we can expect from the remainder of their group stage campaigns.
The Player
Often overlooked in favour of artistic playmaker Omar Abdulrahman or an inform Ahmed Ali Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil came into this tournament under somewhat of a cloud, with some fans back in the Emirates calling for his starting place to be relinquished in the build-up to the Asian Cup. However, after an explosive start to the tournament, no one will be taking the striker lightly again after a man of the match display was highlighted with a crucial brace to overturn an early deficit against Qatar.
UAE came into the tournament on a wave of hype, despite an initially promising Gulf Cup campaign ending prematurely. Their squad has been honed for years now, after mounting successful under age tournaments and competing at the London Olympics. Khalil has been a key part of their success but has fallen off the boil in front of goal for the past year after losing his starting place for his club side Al-Ahli. However, the national team coach Mahdi Ali has never swayed from his commitment to Khalil, remaining loyal to his main out and out centre forward.
The Emirati side have started emphatically, blowing away Gulf Cup champions Qatar 4-1, going some way to ensure qualification for the knockout stages from their so called “Group of Death”. Khalil’s initial poacher’s effort was supplemented by a sublime curling free kick, sending their fans into joyous raptures. Three points against the group’s weakest side Bahrain in the next matchday should cement progression, while attention will fast turn to avoiding the pre-tournament favourites, Japan in the quarter finals.
The Team
Under mounting pressure and conceding a penalty on the hour mark, many would assume it was all going downhill for China PR. However, half an hour later, the East Asian nation finished with all three points and a wave of admiration for a thoroughly professional performance against one of the tournament’s strongest outfits.
A late deflected free kick from Yu Hai may have been against the run of play against group favourites Saudi Arabia, but it was created on the basis of a thoroughly methodical approach. Built on a solid defence, China restricted the Green Falcons to few real clear opportunities, the first main chance afforded being the penalty the Saudis forced on the break. Birthday boy Wang Dalei in the Chinese goal, profited from a tamely hit penalty from Saudi striker Naif Hazazi, something that was later revealed to be inspired by the ball boy behind the goal instructing the goalkeeper to dive to his left.
While the local ball boy has been appointed as a cult hero back in China, before being subsequently requested to tend the area behind Dalei’s net in their second match, the team itself has been widely praised for their ever improving form that’s peaking at the right point. Coach Alain Perrin hasn’t been universally accepted in the footballing community, however a strong first year in charge has forced people to change their minds. A victory over Uzbekistan later in the week will surely leave no one with any doubts over the direction he’s taking his team in.
The Talking Point
A narrow 1-0 victory would usually be accepted by most national teams at the start of a regional cup competition such as the Asian Cup. However, mounting pressure on Korea Republic to improve aesthetically will unlikely relinquish as they continually fail to impress with their performances. Ever since the appointment of German coach Uli Stielike, Korea have put together a promising set of results, while the performances on display have hardly set pulses racing. This has lead to concerns that the South Koreans won’t make a real impact in the latter stages of the Asian Cup.
In their opener against Oman, Korea found their opponents in a frustrating mood and for the most part impenetrable to their attacking pursuits. The majority of the Korean's attacks were played at arm’s length, distant punts that hardly troubled Ali Al-Habsi in the Omani goal, leaving Oman quite content in their defensive display, aiming to hit Korea on the counter. As has been apparent under Stielike, Korea did enough, forcing the opener through Cho Young-Cheol who had been pretty ineffective for the rest of the proceedings, before languidly hanging on to their slender lead for the second half of football.
Against weaker opposition, Korea’s talent is there to see with little effort or invention needed. While narrow victories at the beginning will satisfy the fans back home, an improvement in the final third is needed if they're going to make a real fist of making it to the latter stages or even winning the competition in Australia. Next up for Korea is another, on paper easier task against an out of form Kuwait side fresh off a heavy beating by the hosts. Stielike has already indicated that he’ll fully utilise the whole of his squad as he desperately seeks that extra spark needed to build up a head of steam.
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