The last week of AFC World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers draws to close for many the international calendar for 2015. While some will return for the AFF Suzuki Cup at the end of December, the vast majority are set for a lengthy wait for match day’s 9 & 10 which will return in March. We are left to digest in the winter months how well qualification has progressed for each nation. One nation will be thinking ahead further than just March, as Qatar guaranteed progression to not only Round 3 of World Cup 2018 qualifying but also to 2019, after becoming the second nation after United Arab Emirates to ensure a place at the next Asian Cup edition. For the rest, expectations are cooled for now, but here’s a look back at who signed off in style from 2015 qualification play.
The Player
It might be a questionable inclusion to select Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al-Sahlawi as the player of the week, after blanking in arguably their most important match of the month against Palestine before reaping the rewards against a pretty dredful Timor-Leste on Tuesday. However, this spotlight is long overdue, Al-Sahlawi’s five goals (yes five) this week took him to the top of the world in terms of international goals scored in 2015, 18 in total, two ahead of Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, and a further one over UAE’s Ahmed Khalil.
This is an even greater feat given the reduced proficiency Saudi Arabia had garnered from Al-Sahlawi in the past. The striker who has been in the peak of his career for a few years now at 28, had only scored twice for his country prior to this year, but despite healthy figures domestically with Saudi champions of the last two seasons Al-Nasr he’d hardly featured for the Green Falcons. The one obstacle being the inclusion of Nasser Al-Shamrani, the AFC Player of the Year for 2014 and chief goalgetter for club (city rivals Al-Hilal) and country who threatened to lead the line once again for the Saudis going into 2015.
Al-Shamrani’s injury and domestic indiscipline cost him dearly, as Al-Sahlawi took his chance emphatically. He was by and a way Saudi Arabia’s top performer in Australia at January’s Asian Cup and has took it on to another level in World Cup qualification. Last Monday’s goalless draw in Palestine was the first match Al-Sahlawi hadn’t scored in since the Asian Cup and brought to an end a stretch of 13 goals in 7 matches for his country. His masterclass, all be in finishing rather than anything individually eye catching against Timor-Leste underlined his importance to the team, something Bert van Marwijk dare not ignore after rumours of a potential deslection led to a public outcry from the Saudi fan base. As Saudi Arabia look to cement World Cup progression, Al-Sahlawi is set to prove his worth against the region's top nations over the coming year.
The Team
Many have grumbled that the new World Cup qualifying format has watered down the quality of Asian football, and while giants Japan and Korea Republic continue unabated, there have been a couple of shocks that can’t only be explained by regulars underachieving but an upgrade in performance from the previous minnows the exact impact that the change in format desired. Hong Kong have been one of many to illustrate why their inclusion was necessary at this level, underlined by going unbeaten over two ties against bitter rivals China PR over the run of qualification.
This week was another example of what has been the calling card in their recent successes. Two shutouts from two, their fifth and sixth in seven qualifying matches has shown how far they’ve come, considering their last World Cup experience was a devastating defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia going down 8-0 on aggregate. There are a few reasons for this upward form trend, firstly the numbers of games allocated; Hong Kong’s encounter against Saudi Arabia in 2011 was their only action granted to them in World Cup qualification, move forward another cycle; they’re guaranteed at least 8 matches to test themselves and grow.
Secondly, the influx of nationalisation. As much as it’s controversial, it’s been a clear catalyst in their success this year. Brazilian born duo Sandro and Paulinho alongside Englishmen James McKee and Jack Sealy have all put in incredible shifts in the squad to shape a side that has plenty of threat across the pitch. Thirdly however, is the re-ignition of the home born talent, skipper Yapp Hung-Fai has often been in inspired form between the sticks, while Lam Ka-Wai has provided all his experience and guile from midfield. Hong Kong are more than a sum of their parts, and not simply a side built on mercenaries. Their improvement guided by the South Korean coach Kim Pan-Gon has been staggering, a nation who were bumping along in Asian mediocrity minnow status, are now looking a credible outfit to qualify for their first Asian Cup since 1968.
The Talking Point
So, as seems to be a regular topic, let's talk about Jordan. They hold an unusual ground between aspiring middle weight and underachieving potential giant. My view has often been the latter, highlighted perfectly in my mind by the uninspiring tenure of Ray Wilkins at the end of last year. An English football great, but often a frustrated manager, Wilkins rarely saw his side live up to its potential, a sole win in his 12 match spell illustrated a side in need of new ideas, inspiration and undoubtedly a rocket behind them if they were to make a real fist of World Cup qualification.
In came the highly controversial, well travelled Belgian Paul Put. Four wins in five later, Jordan went into last week's qualifiers in pole position on the back of an historic home victory over Asian Cup champions Australia. A rejuvenated side on the top of their game, but in need of two wins from two against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh to set up the decider with Australia where they'd be in front, easy? No chance. Jordan crashed at the first hurdle, a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday to Kyrgyzstan has put Put's side in a pretty grim position even to pick up a lucky loser spot.
The question is, should we be surprised, either by their initial form under Put, that victory over Australia or by their capitulation when they needed it most in Kyrgyzstan? While Put has clearly organised the side, what they needed most was regular goals and that's what they've found in the last few months. Hamzah Al-Dardour, who was one of the few who escaped the Wilkins reign unscathed has been in scintillating form, scoring five in his last three before Tuesday's encounter. While experienced midfielder Hassan Abdel Fateh has also shipped in with his fare share, five in four in qualification for him. Abdel Fateh's absence in Bishkek was a massive loss and maybe the killer blow that put pay to their World Cup hopes. Let's hope for Put and all Jordanian fans' sakes it was an isolated blip rather than a true sign of their talents.
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