tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42198062283478726232024-02-19T04:06:39.023+00:00plasticpitch blogMartin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-73033361450540138142019-11-01T00:00:00.012+00:002022-04-05T16:44:27.081+01:00The Asian Game<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGS1Bsgqv8io4Yr-UX9jI_Nhu5bHMF6LwfgbmYYSQsYXb_fZmytdQLLSbiBs75kssOJGphWPPgWVY6saenglmL-ZkKX-haFDZt87l1NCOg21b8Sn0BFWL5CgQtTkVnN1ae_Mb_vDWq3NLRAJvF7jCPSDAzPn-yB9w1zhKInLgnZwR3WhyMzeoMneWW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="139" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGS1Bsgqv8io4Yr-UX9jI_Nhu5bHMF6LwfgbmYYSQsYXb_fZmytdQLLSbiBs75kssOJGphWPPgWVY6saenglmL-ZkKX-haFDZt87l1NCOg21b8Sn0BFWL5CgQtTkVnN1ae_Mb_vDWq3NLRAJvF7jCPSDAzPn-yB9w1zhKInLgnZwR3WhyMzeoMneWW" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m delighted to announce that I’m joining The Asian Game, a new multi-content providing website that aims to become the leading source of English spoken Asian football specific opinion and analysis.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The following links will direct you to the main page, and my author specific page to keep up to date with my regular work.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.theasiangame.net/" target="_blank"><b>The Asian Game – Home Page</b></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.theasiangame.net/author/martin-lowe/" target="_blank"><b>Martin Lowe – The Asian Game Author Page</b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m in no doubt that I’ll return to these pages at different points to provide more analysis of personal relevance, such as my regular previews, but until then please check out the TAG pages for more of my recent work.</span></p><div><br /></div>Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-40299688699124188352019-10-11T06:00:00.000+01:002019-10-15T13:51:53.674+01:00Tajikistan: The rise of the Crowns from Dushanbe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It would have surprised many to see Tajikistan atop their World Cup qualification group come the end of September, but what could initially be assumed as a one off flash in the pan, instead has roots to be one of the more interesting underdog tales of this World Cup cycle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tajikistan, in a political sense is regularly likened to North Korea. A closed dictatorship, that is propped up by an impoverished population, drained by an all consuming ruling family, a country well rehearsed in closing itself from the rest of the world. But while North Korea have looked to improve their footballing scene, in hope to project a better image of itself outside its borders, Tajikistan have largely forgotten about theirs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The domestic game severely lacks funding, from basic infrastructure to playing facilities, Tajikistan’s top tier league continues to shrink in number and shows little sign of shrugging off its corrupt past which stretches to regional associations across Central Asia. The only case of governmental “assistance” comes in the form of leading club Istiklol, who have just romped home for a sixth domestic season in a row.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The president’s son Rustam Emomali instigated the formation of the club back in 2007, in which he featured as a player before moving on to own it entirely. Istiklol are regularly criticised for having the governing body in it’s pocket, the main reason why their dominance has persisted for so long; acquiring their competitor’s very best Tajik talent in way of little to no compensation, whilst benefiting to let’s just say favourable refereeing decisions; in effect ruling the league redundant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As has recently been the case, domestic interest instead lies continentally, or how the AFC Cup now works on a focussed regional basis. As with Kyrgz champions Dordoi and Tukmen powerhouses Altyn Asyr, Istiklol represent the third jewel (outside Uzbekistan) in the Central Asian football armoury, reaching the final on two occasions in the last four years. While success has on occasion arrived, consistency, as the others have also experienced is difficult to rely upon when the rest of the league are playing catch-up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While the domestic scene falters, the national team has ignited a bounce, through the appointment of proud and bullish Uzbek coach Usmon Toshev. Far from being a household name, even back home in Uzbekistan, Toshev’s biggest achievements to date have come in Afghanistan prior to taking up the Tajikistan hot seat last year. What he lacks in his CV, he makes up entirely with his passion for the game and his unerring ability to prepare a team.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The starting theme under Toshev is clear, that of discipline. So much so that he used three different words for it in a recent interview (probably says a lot more about Uzbek culture in general) when talking up his impact since arriving. He took over a team without heart, without backing and without direction, turning them full circle into a unit that is far greater than the sum of its parts. He’s conceded that his side lacks individual talent, instead focusing on occasions and emotion to make their mark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so they did, in their qualification opener at home to neighbours Kyrgyzstan. A mismatch of a contest with an added derby day feel, a capacity crowd roared on a team, previously lacking a clear idea, to an unlikely opening day victory. Something the fans could hold as their own, outside the control of their ruling overlords.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toshev’s principles aren’t rocket science, but they’re proving successful. 1) Modernise an outdated structure, 2) curb external influence (banning outsiders from entering the dressing room on matchdays) and 3) trusting in your talent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alongside a slow rise in form at senior level, Tajikistan have seen an accelerated rise at youth level; finalists at the Asian U16s last year, while making it to the last eight on the last two occasions at U19 level. Rather than being an exception, Tajikistan’s presence at the top end of Asian youth football is becoming a normality amongst the elite. The tougher task of course, is to replicate such form at senior level. Tajikistan have never qualified for an Asian Cup in their history, but general opinion genuinely believes this is the greatest opportunity yet to rewrite this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toshev has embraced the fresher growth of Tajik talent that has succeeded through the youth ranks, handing half a dozen debuts to players under 21 in the last six months, overseeing a squad that regularly averages under 25 years of age. Half of the 23 man squad selected for September were under 21, with the majority of them already reaching double figures in caps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This last week Tajikistan steamrolled the competition in qualification for next year’s U19s, with a number of seniors playing key roles. The style of play was consistent to that of Toshev’s team; quick, possession focussed with an emphasis on getting it to their number 9, on this occasion 18 year old colossus Shahrom Samiyev who scored 5 goals over the three qualifying matches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their youthful base is well complemented by a spine of experience honed in Europe, mainly in Russia, encapsulated by the three Dzhalilov cousins. Defender Iskandar, midfielder Alisher and attacker Manuchekhr who all made decent fists of their time in Russia, but have gone up another level since returning home for both club & country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Manuchekhr Dzhalilov was the sensation of the last cycle, with his electric capability to stretch defences and score off barely nothing, his power and pace was a constant threat that even drew praise from visiting Australian journalists when the Asian Champions rode into Dushanbe in 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His younger cousin Alisher Dzhalilov promises to have the same impact this cycle, after only being able to tie up his Tajik registration on the eve of qualification. The classic number 10, started with immediate effect, with a man of the match display to go with his match winning goal against Kyrgyzstan which immediately propelled him to national hero status. The former Rubin Kazan playmaker is agile, inventive but also industrious, and will prove to be a thorn in any defence’s side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tajikistan’s rise comes at a time when Central Asian football is starting to lurk out of it’s inward looking past. Kyrgyzstan were one of the stand out performers at this year’s Asian Cup, playing some of the most positive and tactically adept play the competition had to offer, while Turkmenistan have embarked on a root and branch reconstruction of their whole structure under new Croat leadership, already having tangible effects, in their narrow defeat to South Korea last month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tajikistan sit as the poorest relation in the region, with arguably the least amount of support from its FA. Yet, with an upsurge in talent making its way through and a bold, single minded coach at the helm, Tajikistan are out to provide yet more surprises as this World Cup qualification cycle rumbles on.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-39017193717003949552019-10-09T06:00:00.000+01:002019-10-09T06:00:02.447+01:00WCQ Preview: Regional derbies headline the week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Round 2 of World Cup Qualification is never a stage that the Asian elite are particularly fond of; either made to play out comfortable victories or suffer from an outsider out to break a record (or over-enthusiastically and inadvertently a star player’s leg). Fans of those sides would have been mildly enthused however with challenging if in the bulk of cases comfortable opening day fixtures, yet October brings around a stark reminder of the sheer breath of Asian football</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matchday 3 four years ago bore witness to 12 home victories from 15 matches played, one mere “upset”, and a combined total of 73 goals scored against 3 conceded. A one sided avalanche of goals and subsequent questions of whether Asia was sailing in the right direction. Unfortunately, the AFC have failed to address the schedule and plumped for another full accumulator friendly set of fixtures that looks to be heading only one way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Thursday in the main looks to be a matchday to watch from behind the sofa, there are molecules of interest in the form of some mammoth regional derbies and the plight of some struggling fallen giants to savour, the two calling cards of this early qualification cycle so far. There remains much to see in International Week, you just might have to scratch the surface to find it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a concern of many that Group G was never going to live up to the hefty billing it received upon the WCQ draw at AFC House in July, yet the magic fingers of Tim Cahill have sprinkled their magic in Southeast Asia, as this regional super group starts to meander a complex but entertaining path.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much so, Indonesia, the notable weakest side in the ladder have seen pressure already flung upon their coach Simon McMenemy after their opening day defeat, such is the expectation and regional pride that is at stake. While UAE, the only team from outside the region within the group, under the calculated Bert van Marwijk look to be avoiding such drama, the melee below offers plenty to the neutral.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thursday’s monumental clash between Vietnam and Malaysia arguably trumps any other match that day, given the pedigree - a rematch of December's Suzuki Cup final, the significance - defeat would shunt either side way behind the progression spots, and the contrast in styles - a clash of two single minded managers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As was on display 10 months ago, a positive, attack focussed Malaysia under Tan Cheng Hoe, sought the advantage only to be hit by a clever, well organised but reactive Vietnam counter play, a style embedded by their Korean coach Park Hang-seo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vietnam have rode a positive year; their second ever regional crown, followed by an impressive Asian Cup campaign with players making some upward switches abroad. Malaysia on the other hand have had to negotiate preliminary WCQs and have already tasted a home defeat at the hands of UAE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This match has all the hallmarks of a passing of the baton however, from Vietnam to Malaysia as SEA’s primary focus on the continental stage. It should be considered though, as Malaysia have shown so far, while they offer some of the most exciting and brave football on offer anywhere in Asia, their discipline and focus remains off in key moments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If Park Hang-seo had to handpick a clash of styles, this would be his ideal situation. With Malaysia in the driving seat to take the initiative, Vietnam set as the pouncing cat ready to turn the tables is a fascinating thought. Yet on the flip side; the attacking duo of Syafiq Ahmed & Safawi Rasid flanked by an improving Mohamadou Sumareh could have you out of sight by half time. This game promises to have it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Another new dawn for Uzbekistan?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The eternal bridesmaid story of the Uzbekistan national team is one regularly revisited, however another tale of misery and managerial change pits the team in an all too familiar state of uncertainty heading into this week’s World Cup qualification schedule. As soon as one new era under renowned coach Hector Cuper started, it was over, quickly extinguished upon opening day defeat to Palestine last month. After a moderately successful Asian Cup campaign which promised much going forward, the long wait to see the Uzbek national team appear at a World Cup, continues to look like a long distant dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For many it was a case of <i>“I told you so.”</i> Cuper’s appointment had a lot to do with his previous role as Egyptian national team coach; having achieved the ultimate goal of the UFA, of qualifying a team for the World Cup. His tactical acumen has regularly come under scrutiny however; for being systematic and cautious, rather than embracing attacking talent. Uzbekistan clearly don’t have a Mohamed Salah in their midst to inspire a chance out of nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That being said the Asian Cup, in brief moments suggested that Cuper may be able to integrate a young cohort of players that have been impressive of late, with those last few exiting members of the previous golden generation. The likes of Eldor Shomurodov were starting to illustrate their true ability on the continental stage, so a seamless transition into early World Cup qualification was treated as an expectation rather than a wish. Uzbekistan’s opening day defeat in Al-Ram inevitably forced his employers hand, and Cuper was swiftly sacked at the first opportunity, leaving the White Wolves playing catch up from bottom spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether designed or not, Cuper’s successor Vadim Abramov, into his second stint as Uzbekistan boss, is a hopeful one in terms of his ideals. His mantra for attacking play has been applauded, most recently with a young, exciting Bunyodkor team. Defensively he has always been questioned, most prominently in their 6-0 semi final humiliation to Australia in his last match in charge of the national team at the 2011 Asian Cup, one area that’ll not calm national team observers who have witnessed some ropey to say the least defending over the last few months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Abramov is flanked by legendary Uzbek international Timur Kapadze, who had temporarily taken the reins of the national team ahead of Cuper’s appointment last year. His impact in those brief months suggested he had the ability to deliver the very best out of the young crop of players coming through, and having such a respected head in the dressing room going forward, should allow for an inspirational edge which they’ve been sorely lacking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While they start from a low point, Group D remains wide open after similar upsets for Saudi Arabia and Palestine leave the ladder in a particularly tentative state. The question of what will change is also up in the air, as Abramov selected a similar looking squad to that of the Cuper regime. Much of the change will only come on the pitch in their intention, and most probably the positioning of Odil Akhmedov, who continues to play an integral role in how play is dictated going forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The common thread flowing through these early matchdays of this qualification cycle has been of regional rivalries, much larger than those outside have appreciated; Indonesia v Malaysia for example was barely whispered about. The upcoming Korean derby breaks through that worldwide consciousness, however with relations drawing closer to resolution over the last year, Tuesday’s derby has much more scrutiny put on it than normal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This will be only the second time ever that South Korea have played in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, their first competitive outing, having faced their neighbours on neutral territory the last time their paths crossed in qualification. Both teams head into the match in good form on the pitch, boasting 100% records, and having not conceded a goal between them, but outside that the state of play (like much to do with North Korea) is a mystery..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While South Korea’s preparations have been typically public, with coach Paulo Bento speaking quite openly about their priorities heading into this mammoth matchup, the North have remained unsurprisingly quiet, with even the venue kept under wraps until the AFC confirmed the arrangements a few weeks back. They were a shadow of their former selves in the UAE at the turn of the year, falling to three heavy defeats from three at the Asian Cup, but have hit their stride since then, winning the Intercontinental Cup in India over the summer, before picking up solid if only sparingly spectacular wins against Lebanon and Sri Lanka.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Home comforts continue to play a big part in their recent successes in qualification, a matter that they would undoubtedly have been keen on utilising in this upcoming match. What kind of atmosphere will greet the South Koreans is another unknown, but a sellout crowd is highly expected. For many outside observers the pressing issue will be how to view the match; North Korea have regularly shielded coverage of matches, even limiting real time commentary of even FIFA regulated competitive games, it would be in the AFC’s best interests to ensure this one runs transparently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It comes as North Korean football returns to the forefront of the Asian footballing mind, with domestic champions April 25 making it to the AFC Cup final for the first time in their history. With clamour for coverage expected come the final at the King Il-sung Stadium in early November, the world will be eager to know how far North Korean football has progressed and whether the indications that they were about to integrate into wider society was a sign of what the future may bring or a fleeting statement to appease their political adversaries.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-18491833574187294242019-09-09T12:36:00.000+01:002019-09-09T12:37:29.366+01:00Style & identity: Asian football seeks a way forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Identity in football is hot business at the moment, and like anything that is proven to walk hand-in-hand with success, a unified vision, style or philosophy is one that is currently being striven for across the world. While club identity is easily malleable, a nation’s identity, once seen as sacrosanct, is anything but. With Asian football keen on taking things to the next level however, we’re increasingly seeing change in this area heading into a new World Cup qualification cycle.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Saudi flip flop</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No national association has experimented more of late than the Saudi Football Federation. While it could be argued neighbouring associations have turned their back on footballing progress and focussed more on the money they can channel out of it, the SFF have continually looked to invest and challenge the progress of the national team and the standard of their domestic league.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The appointment of Herve Renard over the summer was a real coup, an example of how much financial and persuasive sway the SFF have. One of the most sought after coaches outside of Europe, Renard has a promising record of establishing talented individuals into a cohesive unit. A perfect match for Saudi Arabia, a national team that has long been punching below its weight in Asia; plenty of quality, but lacking the harmony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That of course was until a certain Dutchman; Bert van Marwijk entered ahead of the last World Cup cycle, going on to clinch direct qualification for the first time in 12 years, playing a style of football that was symbolic to the nation’s footballing identity; fast, direct, physical and utterly devastating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But upon conclusion, van Marwijk’s time was up; coach and FF clashed over residency issues and pre-tournament plans. The SFF made the about turn move to change philosophy altogether, swinging the pendulum to former Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pizzi, spurred on by his employer’s ambition of aesthetic, future thinking football, set about recreating a country’s style from the ground up. Star players were shipped out on loan to Spain, youth team structures were overhauled, while the national team had a complete style revamp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out went the traits that got them to this position, intrinsic of a whole generation of Saudi players; in came demands of increased composure in possession (from keeper up to centre forward), slow transition (inviting and capitalising on the press) and fluid positional shifting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was no wonder in hindsight that Saudi Arabia fell at two successive major tournaments; crashing out of the group stage of the World Cup, before limping through to a Round of 16 exit at the Asian Cup. The personnel didn’t have the required bedding in period to switch styles so effortlessly, those who went out on loan, despite showing signs of improvement failed to accrue minutes, while considerations of comparable quality with their peers was starting to hit home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To their credit the SFF stuck with Pizzi longer than many imagined, especially given their global showing in Russia. Yet, what were they going to do? Investment had been willing, transformation had been persisted with, who was going to turn their back on something that was unanimously backed 18 months prior? In the end results will almost always trump ideology, the SFF’s hand was forced; Pizzi exited, Renard entered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As expected, Renard’s tenure has already started to rewrite the national team picture. One match into his reign (Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Mali), Saudi Arabia returned to their more conservative, reactionary origins, but without the passion and speed van Marwijk was able to harness during World Cup qualification.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’re one (uncompetitive) match into a new World Cup cycle, so it’s naive to make any sweeping statements of what’s to come; but one things for sure Saudi Arabia are back to square one on the identity front. The action of change doesn’t necessarily correlate to instant success, as their regional rivals, persisting with a more long term approach will attest to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Long term planning delivers results</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Qatar’s vision of creating a whole new footballing structure, from academy right through to national team is as long term as you can get. And while the primary objective was to improve the quality of the players within its ranks; no one should write of the symbolism of having a well honed style that the entire squad believes in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A squad that was home with one another, and crucially with their coach Felix Sanchez, was the true catalyst behind Qatar’s triumph at January’s Asian Cup, not through a particularly star studded side. The penny is starting to drop; irrespective of the talent you possess, consistency in approach can bring you success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two of the most trigger happy nations in Asia; Jordan and Iraq have sought to embrace this. Renewing the managerial contracts of Vital Borkelmans and Srecko Katanec post Asian Cup, wasn’t a sign that either had produced particularly remarkable results, instead an appreciation that their job was only half done. Borkelmans in particular has <a href="https://www.fromthetofubowl.com/2019/09/jordan-world-cup-qualifying-preview-by.html" target="_blank">carved a direct strategy that is becoming succinctly Jordanian</a>; opposed to the disorganised mess that usually greeted fans during numerous short managerial reigns of the recent past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Asia isn’t the only region to take a longer term view on things. Over the last few years, Southeast Asia is finally awakening from its slumber as a real contender on the international stage. Vietnam, under Korean coach Park Hang-seo have developed and cascaded a well honed counterattacking identity, with clear designations for it’s personnel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a way, Park’s rekindlement of all that is successful in Southeast Asian footballing culture; busy, quick and sharp play has been harnessed with a system that better suits their ability. Finding a perfect way of playing that compliments a nation’s profile is one thing; how to marry this up with expectation is another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Style or substance; Asia’s big four struggle to find the right balance</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big four in Asia have all been through transitional periods to one degree or another over the last few years, many of them have and will continue to experience change in philosophies offset by the level of expectation put upon their shoulders heading into a new international cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South Korea, you could say endured a tough spell with Uli Stielike at the helm. Many will scoff at the idea that this was somehow a difficult period for Korean football, having made an Asian Cup final, and looking likely to progress to yet another World Cup over that period, yet his style was so un-Korean, meeting paper objectives in the end didn’t matter. A defensive setup, that was designed to make the most of isolated attacks was too much for some to take, despite the accolades it brought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly, Japan under Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic were starting to finalise an edge, some nous and a direct, impactful approach, before sacking their head coach out of the blue ahead of last year’s World Cup despite being in solid form. The subsequent in-house appointment of Akira Nishino, followed closely by Hajime Moriyasu were brought in specifically to reintroduce the Japanese identity of play; a million miles away from the “get smarter” attitude Halilhodzic persisted with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The balancing act between style and substance is one that is incredibly difficult to juggle. Despite clinching a debut Asian Cup, Ange Postecoglou’s time as Australia coach was increasingly trying. His attack focussed ambition, that ran into trouble late on, was too much for a footballing fraternity that expected a certain standing; scraping through against Syria wasn’t deemed good enough irrespective of the way they were doing it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And with Iran, Asia’s prized diamond over the last few years, ideology and how they look to move to the next level is quite attently in focus. Replacing the grandeur of Carlos Queiroz is a mammoth test at the best of times, but managing the transition from defensive stalwarts, to a proactive attacking mentality, that their ever-improving squad demands is proving hard for some of their fans to grasp hold of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A narrowing field; minnows start to close the gap</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uncertainty, a preference to standstill at the top and the heavy burden of expectation all add to a continental footballing landscape which is narrowing year-on-year. The renovation of World Cup qualification and the expansion of the Asian Cup have both helped along the progress of the middle to lower ranked member associations, however the willingness to learn and improve, whilst observing they can truly compete at the next level is starting to enact change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Previous minnows are now becoming some of the most exciting prospects to watch; Philippines under the guidance of Scott Cooper, continue to set up on a positive footing (if on occasion, as their 5-2 defeat to Syria attests, they are still a work in progress defensively), <a href="http://www.kleagueunited.com/2019/09/preview-turkmenistan-vs-south-korea.html" target="_blank">Turkmenistan</a> are shaking off their cautious inward looking past by appointing a foreign coach for the first time in their history, while Taiwan, are looking at making great strides past their regional glass ceiling under English coach Louis Lancaster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather pleasingly, the trend for positive, attacking football which is pertinently in vogue across Europe is being replicated in Asia. It’s by no surprise, that two of the biggest underachievers in Asia still left with question marks beside them; China and Uzbekistan, continue to go over old ground, relying on prestigious but arguably outdated coaches. But the question mark against most remains the same, who can afford to take a sustained risk away from the perceived tried and trusted?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saudi Arabia start their World Cup qualification campaign, away against Yemen (in Bahrain) on Tuesday evening. While a return to a physical, direct, individual style of play probably suits the capabilities of this current squad, such turmoil presented with a regular ideological shift over the last few years could well come back to bite them on the backside. Renard has an impressive reputation for rallying a squad round a cause, but it’s to be seen if they can rekindle the same sort of unity that saw the Green Falcons flourish four years ago.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-23862782288512295522019-06-14T16:58:00.000+01:002019-06-14T16:58:42.018+01:00Copa America 2019: Japan (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A year into his reign as national team coach, Hajime Moriyasu switches focus ahead of a new cycle of World Cup qualification, to consider the small matter of national pride in their warm up to hosting the Olympics in 12 months’ time. While the Copa America represents a worthy continental prize to the South Americans taking part, as one of the two invited teams in this year’s tournament, Japan will distinctly be travelling with different measures of success being attached to their plans.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last month has borne witness to a myriad of squad announcements, most of which have conflicting restrictions and briefs; Japan’s U20 side travelled to the World Cup in Poland, an U22 selection travelled to France to play in the annual Toulon youth tournament, a more recognisable senior outfit was selected for two international friendlies at the long laboured Kirin Cup, while a mixture of all three was selected in a predominantly Olympic games focussed squad travelling to Brazil for the Copa America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’ll undoubtedly be a few Japanese players out there feeling hard done to, as every man and his dog seemed to be called up to one squad or another. An interesting personal example to highlight the stretched resources over the last month sees Hamburg midfielder Tatsuya Ito having to feature in the Toulon final on Saturday night (ironically against Brazil), before travelling half way across the world to South America, ahead of Japan’s Copa America opener against Chile on Monday evening. This month like no other has pulled the national team picture quite literally across the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This squad, aside from its internally forced age parameters feels typically Olympic in its experimental nature; the overage players include two outgoing sages in Eiji Kawashima and Shinji Okazaki, while still missing some of the more credible U22 players of this cohort; the likes of Ritsu Doan were called up for senior duty, while Ao Tanaka travelled to France for Toulon. The squad of 23 boasts only seven players with previous national team experience (there will be no official warmup matches either), two of whom have over 88 caps. The disparity is stark, as is the case with most Olympic selections, marking expectations as a clearer unknown than usual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tactically, Japan continue to shift between the 4231/4221 system that saw them progress to the Asian Cup final back in February, and the 3421-system used predominantly over Moriyasu’s managerial career to date, most recently reintroduced in Japan’s Kirin Cup friendlies and in both other youth team tournament appearances this summer. Despite this, the Copa America squad doesn’t exactly provide the essential wingbacks or central defenders to fully excel in this system, instead a plethora of support attackers, many a Samurai Blue fan will no doubt be salivating at the thought of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top of that pile is the hottest property in Asian football, if not the World. Takefusa Kubo’s rise to prominence seems to have peaked perfectly for his 18th birthday at the start of the month, which effectively pitted him as the most exciting free agent around, going into the Copa America. On the eve of the tournament it was announced he would be signing for Real Madrid, further intensifying the scrutiny he’s likely to face in Brazil after a stellar start to the season back in Japan with J1 table toppers FC Tokyo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Kubo offers the raw unpredictability, the building blocks of a new Japanese senior team will truly be under the spotlight, not least in defence. Eiji Kawashima, ridiculed for a failed World Cup last year in Russia, will either look to bow out on a high or play mentor to up and coming Sanfrecce Hiroshima keeper Keisuke Osako, with Moriyasu keen to plug one of his most problematic positions to date. In front of them, Naomichi Ueda’s progress since moving to Belgium will be assessed, next to the growing stature of Takehiro Tomiyasu who particularly stood out at January’s Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan’s development under Moriyasu has been understatedly fruitful so far. With a daunting task of leading a transitioning Japan to an Asian Cup upon arrival, through World Cup qualifying simultaneously juggling reputational pressure with a home Olympics looming. The tough schedule and increasingly polarised demands have understandably left the Copa America way down the list in terms of priorities, which should regrettably affect the product on the pitch in Brazil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That product has widely divided Daihyo fans, but whether you agree with the style implemented by Moriyasu or not, the change in tact is quite recognisably evolved over time. From the creative and possession focussed approached of Alberto Zaccheroni and Javier Aguirre, Moriyasu (and Akira Nishino before him) like it or not have clearly been affected by Vahid Halilhodzic’s more functional and reactive philosophy during his tenure over the last World Cup qualifying cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Halilhodzic quite openly focussed on developing a quicker, more direct approach with a focus on hardening the mentality of Japanese footballers in general, Nishino, and in particular Moriyasu have attempted to bring back the guile, in particular of those in behind the attacker. Too often at the Asian Cup however, we saw Japan relinquish possession easily and take a back seat in proceedings. Last week’s Kirin Cup struggles only added to this; a draw against Trinidad & Tabago and an unimpressive win against El Salvador do little to suggest Moriyasu has upped the charm offensive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A crumb of comfort for Japan is usually they up their game on the road. Away from Asia, away from the expectation in a sense, Japan have confounded expectation and played some of their most expressive football when little has been promised. Last summer’s World Cup took plenty by surprise, especially the near masterful art of coping with Belgium in the knockout phase, whilst going back further their friendly tour of Europe ahead of the 2014 World Cup, or the Confederations Cup the year previous, showed the very best of what Japanese football is all about; expression without restriction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commanding a squad made up of retiring pros alongside fresh debutants may prove a clever mix to generate these perfect circumstances. Little to no expectation will be put on any player (Kubo, potentially aside), while Moriyasu will be given his fair due to experiment and rotate where applicable. With that in mind, whilst results aren’t a necessity, the flow of performance and the stylistic tendencies it’ll create should prove interesting viewing, come kick off on Monday night against Chile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Key Men</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach – Hajime Moriyasu</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former Japanese international turned coach, who worked under Akira Nishino on the run up to and at the World Cup over the summer. Famed for leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three titles in four seasons playing an attacking brand of possession football. Started afresh with many new faces after last summer’s World Cup success, but still tinkers between playing styles and formations.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Star Play</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">er – Gaku Shibasaki</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Becoming the staple of this current Japanese national side, the thread that has run through from the World Cup, to the Asian Cup and now into the Copa America, Shibsaki is the one of only two Samurai Blue regulars to make the trip to Brazil. Confident central midfield pivot who brings together the best defensive and attacking qualities of the team’s play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Shop Window – Shinji Okazaki</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third in Japan’s all-time goalscoring lists, the diminutive and well-liked striker goes into this tournament a free agent after being released by Leicester City at the end of the season. Even at 33, he has the poacher’s instinct to create goals out of mere half chances, but missed the Asian Cup cut after struggling to pick up minutes domestically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect – Takafusa Kubo</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’ll be no young player receiving as much scrutiny at the Copa America than Takafusa Kubo, after the 18-year-old joined Real Madrid ahead of the tournament. While he’s likely to be phased in by Moriyasu, his ability to explode in small cameo appearances makes him a useful reserve option to have. Small, quick and flexible in his combination play, Kubo will be in a confident mood after his Samurai Blue debut last week against El Salvador.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-27376063851751992342019-06-13T12:38:00.000+01:002019-06-14T13:00:15.355+01:00Copa America 2019: Qatar (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Qatar stand on the edge of making remarkable history, as they look to back up their Asian Cup crown from February with a second separate continental trophy within a year at this month’s Copa America. In truth, it’s unlikely that this will come to fruition to put it kindly, with few even giving the Maroon a chance of threatening for a point let alone a second successive fairy-tale tournament run to the latter stages.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And while their triumphant course to glory in the UAE was a considerable notch below what would be required in Brazil, it shouldn’t be forgotten how far they’ve come already. This time last year, Qatar were generally seen as a mess, projecting early that a transition to a more home-grown, younger unit would take time to come to fruition, given the average age of the squad coming through (the Asian Cup group averaged just over 24) coupled with modest club experience, which was almost entirely accrued in the domestic league.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Positive friendly results against Iceland and Switzerland in November sparked early curiosity. There was a glimmer of a promise that something might be different about these young players, something that hadn’t been seen before on the continent could potentially live up to its lofty billing. That billing of course, generated by the multi-billion pound <a href="https://sandalsforgoalposts.com/2015/05/29/qatar-series-aspire-academy/" target="_blank">Aspire Academy</a>, tasked with producing the next generation of Qatari sport talent, with more than one eye firmly fixed on a competitive showing at the 2022 World Cup. Through the youth ranks they’ve indeed blossomed; qualifying for two of the last three U20 World Cups and making it to the semi-finals at the last two Asian U23 Championships. Their Asian Cup triumph however was the loudest indication that this group were ready to compete on the world stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fallout from such success though has been moderately muted. Post the lavish celebrations (and cake cutting) players returned to their QSL clubs, cruelly missing out on a transfer or two which would’ve naturally occurred if the January window hadn’t yetd closed weeks before. The domestic season was another duopoly fight that didn’t show us any more than we haven’t seen before, while the Qatari clubs in question coasted through their Champions League preliminary groups in second gear. The headlines haven’t kicked on from February, with the big names who stamped their authority in their national colours failing to take the initiative once they returned to their employers. The Qatari youth sides haven’t exactly ridden the coattails of their elders either, finishing winless in recent U20 World Cup and Toulon tournament appearances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conveniently (if you’re feeling optimistic) the Copa America falls at a crucial juncture to keep brand-Qatar in the footballing public’s eye. A month out from the World Cup qualifying draw, which Qatar will remain part of despite having their hosting spot already guaranteed, it would surely feel like a missed opportunity if one or two of this promising group weren’t able to engineer a move to Europe over the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Injury has held back Asian Cup top scorer and player of the tournament Almoez Ali, while upon his comeback he’s returned to a peripheral role for his club side Al-Duhail who continue to rely on the glitzier foreign talent around him. His partner in crime from the Asian Cup, Akram Afif has continued in trailblazing fashion for Qatari champions Al-Sadd, but while he is clearly a step ahead of anyone domestically, there is little hint his parent club Villareal will be keen on recalling him anytime soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether these two, or any of a host of promising talents catch the eye in Brazil is debatable. A star studded friendly against the Seleção last week in Brasilia was a close match on the scoring board, but a heavy hit home that the gap in talent is significant ahead of their Copa opener against Paraguay on Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Qatar, dissimilar to fellow AFC invitees Japan will be at full strength, free from serious injury and in the mindset of making a dent in the contest, a side out to pull a surprise or two rather than merely relying on the tournament for development purposes. With the Confederations Cup taking a back seat for the next cycle, this looks to be the last competitive outing these players will have to truly fight for something and sell their country in a positive light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That light of course remains flickering. Political divides across the region has seen the modestly sized peninsula annexed from support. Add to this the problematic issues regarding their hosting, through questionable labour standards and corruption allegations, it’s fair to say the Qatari picture isn’t painted too rosy outside their borders at present. Even on a footballing standpoint, the cloud that emerged during the Asian Cup over Almoez Ali & centre back Bassam Al-Rawi’s eligibility for Qatar remains a question unanswered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In adversity, and through little expectation usually comes a Qatari side fighting. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, a man who’s been in Qatar for over a decade now has been reinstated as the man to lead the country through to the World Cup, after numerous suggestions that he’d make way for a “bigger name” come tournament time. Far from being merely an excellent youth team coach, Sanchez fully demonstrated his arsenal in tactical play in the UAE, having the nous and patience to know when to pounce, how to counter effectively and to attribute the best players to key roles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They have the qualities to prove the perfect underdogs, as they did at the Asian Cup on countless occasions. Soaking up possession early in the piece, as they did <a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2019/01/asian-cup-matchday-review-quarter-finals.html" target="_blank">against South Korea</a>, and to a smaller degree against <a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2019/02/asian-cup-matchday-review-final.html" target="_blank">Japan in the final</a>, they showed their patience to pick holes in stronger teams on the break. Through the pace of Akram Afif, the vision of Hassan Al-Haydos and the bullish pressing of Assim Madibo (which Neymar learnt to his cost last week), the team has its fair share of big game players that can hurt even the most established teams on their day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When it comes to expectation however, it’s difficult to gauge. A realist, Sanchez has expressed this adventure as a perfect testing ground to develop further as a group and as individuals. Whether his employers will be quite so forgiving if they were to make a show of themselves in the wider public spotlight is another thing. In the end, while the World Cup remains a clear distance off, the Copa America will be assessed as a success for Qatar more by the column inches and media exposure it generates, rather than the results or the development it accrues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Key Men</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Spanish youth development coach, turned Qatari national hero, moulding a distinct group of talent over the last 10 years into continental champions. Riding a wave of enthusiasm his contract was extended to their showpiece 2022 assessment, while talk of a big-name outsider is shelved (for now). Borne out of a typical Spanish form, Sanchez proved he could switch up their usual possession hungry approach and play on the break at the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player – Almoez Ali</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Player of the tournament and record goal scorer at the Asian Cup with 9 goals from 7 appearances, the rangy Sudanese born striker has become an essential focal point to the side’s game plan. Has developed considerably from being used merely as a static leading man, Ali’s movement out wide by necessity at club level has improved his all-round game, which contributes to an effective link up with Al-Haydos and Afif in the Qatari attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Shop Window – Akram Afif</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having tried and to a degree failed to break Europe earlier in his career, the last six months has well and truly promised that Akram Afif, the golden child of Qatari football should be given another shot in the big leagues. Quick, direct with a cultured finish to boot, the 22-year-old remains on the books at Spanish side Villareal but will be keen on making a step up even on a temporary basis from his spell with home town club Al-Sadd, where he won the domestic title last month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect – Tarek Salman</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A flexible, multi-faceted midfielder turned centre back, who encapsulates the spirit of much of this new Qatari team. Not the most physical (but on occasion petulant), nor quickest of defenders, Salman does however have the right head to succeed in the modern game, having the awareness and skill set to defuse and launch attacks in a blink of an eye. Formed an impressive centre back partnership with Bassam Al-Rawi in the UAE, despite both players only being 21 and having only brief experience outside of Qatar.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-75382932404288686052019-05-23T16:50:00.000+01:002019-05-23T17:12:00.958+01:00AFC Champions League Round Review (Group Stage)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The culmination of the AFC Champions League group stage is finally upon us. Even if (at the time of writing) the postponed Zob Ahan v Al-Nassr match is yet to be played the outcome is certain; we know our final 16 set to face off in June.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all the build-up that this was the West’s “year” the quality of football and performance in general has backed this up. The greatest performers have hailed from the Middle East, namely Qatari duo Al Sadd and Al-Duhail, Saudi giants Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr as well as perennial overachievers Zob Ahan. The supporting cast saw a step up in quality also; Al-Zawra’a on debut flew the Iraqi flag proudly (only for their fans to let them down on occasion), while Pakhtakor made a decent fist of escaping a daunting group stage draw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The East in comparison has been laboured, if thankfully open. Amidst heavy rotation and sluggish form, the big guns progressed as expected, but it remains difficult to pick an out right favourite, from a crowd that looks at a pain to make this competition a priority. The most in form side, current K-League table toppers Ulsan Hyundai muted expectations by losing 5-0 on the final matchday, to finish top with a negative goal difference. It summed up the East perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was still magic, drama and emotion still on offer across the continent, and with that here’s a quick rundown of the winners and question marks from the first half of the Asian domestic calendar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Player</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Backing up a Champions League title win is a difficult ask on any continent, but to do so alongside one of the most competitive leagues around, navigating a ludicrously long domestic schedule and doing so reacting to crucial injuries, and Kashima Antlers’ plight was already looking like a daunting one. But the 2018 champions continue unabated, far from the devastating style they illustrated last term but instead in effective production, relying on individual bursts to see them through to the knockout stages of the ACL on the final matchday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given how even things have been in the East, moments of quality have mattered more than consistent waves of performance, and Kashima have indeed benefited from that. Their final day reversal of Group E pacesetters Shandong Luneng tipped them over the progression threshold, in no small part thanks to their goalscorer in chief for this year – one <b>Sho Ito</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the run up to the 2019 season, few would’ve suggested Ito would become the focal point he has materialised as (<a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2019/03/afc-champions-league-preview-east-2019.html" target="_blank">even though he was my “cover star” for my ACL preview, I wasn’t expecting it either</a>). Last season’s attack of Yuma Suzuki, Hiroki Abe and Serginho was an eye-catching blend that spearheaded their continental glory. Through injury, lack of form and rotation, the baton has been thrust towards 30-year-old Ito to shoulder the expectation. An electric start to the season both domestically and in Asia (scoring three in their first two ACL matches), Ito has himself struggled for consistency since, but has provided when it mattered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His double on the final day to force the final three points home stood testament to Ito’s impact this year. Coming alive to a melee in the box following a corner to equalise Marouane Fellaini’s opener, Ito went on to strike the winner, delicately chipping the onrushing keeper with the iciest of nerves. You’d expect Shandong should know better, after all Ito demonstrated the same poise in the reverse fixture two months back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ito is an interesting case in general. Never a player that has been considered Samurai Blue material, but his physical attributes alone, both in stature and speed makes him a sought after forward. The clamour for him to receive his first national team callup may seem to be falling on deaf ears at present, but while influential striker Yuya Suzuki remains laid up with the same hamstring injury that curtailed his ACL final appearance against Persepolis last November, Ito is providing the next best option, a player who has kept Kashima right in the reckoning for another extended Asian run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Domestic champions for the first time in six seasons, <b>Al Sadd</b> are looking to go one step further than last year’s semi-final run in Asia and have a shot at replicating their ACL triumph a decade ago. In a tough group stage campaign, the Doha club recovered from a weak start to qualify for the knockouts with a game to spare. With question marks in the dugout as well as on the pitch to look at over the summer break, can they emulate Qatar’s national team to succeed continentally in 2019?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Al-Sadd have one of the most terrifying attacks in West Asia, coupling Algerian colossus Baghdad Bounedjah (39 goals from 22 QSL matches last term) with Asian Cup final MVP Akram Afif (26 from 22), teed up by the likes of Spanish legends Xavi and Gabi, Korean international Jung Woo-young and Qatari captain Hassan Al-Haydos. The big names have all stood up at key times in the group stage; Bounedjah’s last minute winner and equaliser against Persepolis and Pakhtakor early on, Xavi’s emphatic double out in Tashkent and Akram Afif’s winner against Al-Ahli, all in their own way demonstrable of the side’s sizeable might in goalscoring positions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While they have the stars, they can also count on a solid core made up of the bulk of Qatar’s Asian Cup squad. Keeper Saad Al-Sheeb marshals in effect four of the five that performed admirably against Japan in February, giving Al-Sadd the perfect foundations to build off. All signs point to a long and fruitful run towards the finals, but as we reach the off-season break, question marks are starting to be posed of the QSL champs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Primarily their opponents for the Round of 16 – Qatari rivals Al-Duhail. While Al-Sadd came out on top of the end of the season ladder, recent form suggests a shifting balance; with Al-Sadd having only overcome Al-Duhail once in their last six encounters. After a month of shaky transition, Rui Faria is starting to find his feet in management, and with the return from injury of Almoez Ali, to dovetail perfectly with the growing in stature Edmilson Junior, Al-Duhail can warrant a claim of having as strong a squad, if not stronger than their rivals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Al-Sadd will indeed have to adapt accordingly after Xavi retired from football upon the group stage completion, coinciding with the exit of the coach that brought their title success Jesualdo Ferreira. While it looks highly likely Xavi will make the transition into management with Al-Sadd, a debut for either himself, or any interim coach against Al-Duhail in June is a daunting task. Whatever transpires, the all Qatari Round of 16 matchup looks to be one of the hottest clashes of the season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Talking Point</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An injury time goal, that’s all that stood in the way of <b>Pakhtakor</b> making it through one of the most enticing groups in the ACL’s first round. However, for Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s winner for Al-Ahli, Tashkent’s primary club will see out a decade without progression to the continental knockout phase and stretching the country’s record to three years since Lokomotiv’s unlikely run in 2016. In a manner typical of much about Uzbek football of late, there are positives and there are negatives, leading many to ask whether it promises hope of progress in the future, or that they’ve missed their best opportunity yet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite feeling handicapped slightly by the fact they hadn’t kicked a ball over the winter months, come the start of the new ACL season Pakhtakor started like a rocket. Showing no sign of rustiness or incoherence, given their extended layoff compared to their opponents and broadly a newly assembled squad, their form at a well-attended Markaziy Stadium became the bedrock to their campaign. Introducing some of the best Uzbek talent around, in Odiljon Hamrobekov, who joined from Nasaf Qarshi, Javokhir Sidikov from Kokand and welcoming back Dostonbek Khamdamov from Russia, Pakhtakor took what youthful inspiration had been gleamed from a moderately successful Asian Cup campaign internationally and ran with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The attacking duo of Serbian giant Dragan Ceran and returning poacher Marat Bikmaev provided the dividends early on. Ceran strikes the opposition as an archetypal target man, but with the link up play and spatial awareness to blossom in behind a frontman, while Bikmaev started where he left off in seasons gone by, scoring in each of the club’s first four continental matches of the season. Half way through they topped the charts; beating Al-Ahli, drawing with Al-Sadd, whilst notching a point away in the Azadi. The early signs were positive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their run in however cut them short. Narrow defeats to Al-Sadd in Doha and Al-Ahli in Jeddah (both to late winners) were both critical blows to their progression hopes. A point in either would have seen them through, but the away hoodoo that seems to plague Uzbek clubs in Asia continues unabated. Combining Pakhtakor’s and Lokomotiv’s ACL results this term, 14 points were accrued from a possible 18 at home, while a mere 2 points were picked up away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crumbling centre was plainly on display in the dying embers of the Al-Ahli encounter. Neither side were great, but Pakhtakor were able to force an equaliser with minutes to spare. Instead of offering a resolute spell going into added on time, Pakhtakor crumbled and succumbed to the winning spirit of a side who have barely gotten out of second gear during the group stage. As January’s Asian Cup attested, Uzbek football is brimming with promise, but many a talented generation are let down by mentality, something that needs to be ironed out in the coming years if we are to see a return to Uzbek success in Asia.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-15767158472418624282019-03-01T16:39:00.000+00:002019-03-01T16:40:31.144+00:00AFC Champions League Preview (The East - 2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Twelve titles from an available thirteen. That mere stat truly encapsulates the undisputed dominance of East Asia in recent Asian Champions League history. Kashima Antlers’ impressive run to the final last year, ultimately ended in muted fashion, as they eased past Iranian champions Persepolis in the final, but are such one-sided finals something we can expect to end going forward?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The perceived new wave of challenge was supposed to come from China. The increased money being funnelled down into the domestic game was becoming a real consideration for even Western Europe, let alone the rest of Asia. Despite the large amounts of cash flowing in initially, the picture looks a little more stable nowadays, and with one of the quietest windows for some time just passing by, the challenge from China in the Asian Champions League looks comparatively weak to years gone by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perennial contenders, and two-time winners <b>Guangzhou Evergrande</b> encapsulate China’s evolving yet diminishing threat continentally. Having lost out on their first domestic title for eight years, rather than jump straight back into the lucrative transfer market of highly sought after European talent, Guangzhou have bizarrely restricted their own overseas quota, instead looking to seek weaker nationalised options to bulk up their squad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The purchases of former England youth international Tyias Browning and Peruvian born Roberto Siucho are the first part of a long-term strategy put into play by the club to exploit China’s vast waves of global diaspora. Ahead of the curve, fellow Asian Champions League side <b>Beijing Guoan</b> have already confirmed the national switch of Norwegian born midfielder John Hou Saeter (now known as Hou Yongyong) and are significantly along the way in doing the same for English born Nico Yennaris (to be known as Li Ke) who should switch allegiances in the coming months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The quality of Chinese football, as demonstrated in January’s underwhelming, yet misleadingly successful Asian Cup campaign, is still lacking in a number of areas. The mere bright spot of the campaign, domestic golden boot winner Wu Lei, has now left for Europe, leaving his former club and newly crowned Chinese Super League champions <b>Shanghai SIPG</b> in a muddle heading into their first ever domestic defence and ACL pursuit. Shanghai have failed to sign up adequate cover for their outgoing talisman, and with an ageing squad to hand, growing ever more static (the physical size of star man Hulk is again on the rise), it’s hard to suggest that the current Chinese champions have it in their locker to make a dent continentally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The title in the East then, as has been the case for the last two editions, looks favoured to return to Japan for a third year in succession. Back-to-back J.League champions <b>Kawasaki Frontale</b> look far better prepared to make a sustained impact on the continental stage than last year, given their close season signings of Leandro Damiao and Maguinho have already hit the ground running domestically. Group stage returns to face Shanghai SIPG and Ulsan Hyundai, the two teams to usurp Kawasaki last term, will prove an interesting yard stick to assess progression of each team individually, but an area the Japanese champions look best set to improve upon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The two previous ACL champions in <b>Urawa Red Diamonds</b> (2017) and <b>Kashima Antlers</b> (2018) also return, with strong looking squads to progress deep into the competition. The off season purchases of Ryosuke Yamanaka, Ewerton and Kenyu Sugimoto have improved quality across the pitch for Urawa, whilst Kashima, who may have lost defensive duo Gen Shoji and Daigo Nishi in the transfer market, have been able to keep hold of both their AFC Player of the Year nominated stars from last term Kento Misao and Yuma Suzuki, and have brought in experienced forward Sho Ito, a player who has already scored in both his Champions League and domestic debuts for the club in the last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only question mark, often labelled against Japanese contenders for Champions League glory, has been that of priorities. The J.League remains the most intense and extended of domestic schedules in the East, leading some in the past to field under strength squads in their midweek Asian excursions. One of the most regular abusers of this in the past, <b>Sanfrecce Hiroshima</b> already look to be treading on familiar ground, after deploying a second-string squad in their weary penalty shootout victory over Chiangrai in the ACL playoffs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With this in mind, <b>Jeonbuk Motors</b> look well placed to be challenge the favourites at the tournament. The Korean champions, have few worries domestically, given their considerable superiority over the chasing pack, have a reduced schedule compared to their Japanese counterparts, and have strengthened their depth going into the new season. Boasting an almost relentless attacking force, including the likes of Moon Seon-min, Bernie Ibini and Kim Shin-wook as mere bench options, Jeonbuk clearly have the playing staff to live up to being a worthy challenger. Outside them however, the Korean challenge is diminished (on paper at least), given the surprising rise of <b>Gyenognam</b> and <b>Daegu</b> last season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gyenognam backed up their K2 promotion campaign in 2017, to finish in behind Jeonbuk last term. Whilst they’ve lost leading scorer Marcao (Hebei), and centre back Park Ji-soo (Guangzhou Evergrande) to the Chinese Super League, the introduction of Jordan Mutch, formerly of Cardiff City and former Inter Milan winger Luc Castaignos looks to keep them competitive at the very least in the group stage. Daegu’s unexpected KFA Cup victory opens a historic continental challenge for the modest Korean club, yet with little star quality across the field, they’ll likely find it difficult against such experienced opponents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of their group opponents, <b>Melbourne Victory</b> however, look to have timed their improvement perfectly. The recruitment of Japanese international Keisuke Honda, alongside physical Swedish striker Ola Toivonen, looks to have been a masterstroke, and given their appeasing group stage draw against Deagu, Sanfrecce and Guanzghou could be the required game changer. In a stop-start league campaign to date, Victory have proved on their day, they have the best side in one off matches in Australia, a level of performance they’ll be keen on replicating in Asia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aiming to prove they’re more than simply going to make up the numbers, Thai champions <b>Buriram United</b>, heading into their seventh ACL season in eight years, and five times Malaysian champions <b>Johor Darul Ta’zim</b>, in their debut ACL group stage encounter are the potential banana skins no side will relish in facing. JDT in particular have stocked up impressively ahead of their historic debut in the tournament proper, bringing in Brazilian defender Mauricio and striker Diogo, who has already proven how highly effective he is in front of goal in Thailand last term.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-9265218012135978972019-03-01T16:38:00.000+00:002019-03-01T16:40:06.521+00:00AFC Champions League Preview (West - 2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A month on from the <a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2019/02/asian-cup-matchday-review-final.html" target="_blank">Asian Cup</a>, the rise of Qatar looks set to spill over into club football ahead of the new season of the Asian Champions League. Qatar in the main came from the periphery, formed around a squad that was almost exclusively based at home, thrusting previously unheralded youngsters Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Bassam Al-Rawi and Assim Madibo into the limelight. Now, ready to prove they’re more than a mere flash in the pan upon the resumption of the Asian club calendar, can they wrestle back the ACL title to the West for the first time in 8 years?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pinnacle may have been reached internationally, but the progress at club level is already in full flow; Qatari champions <b>Al-Duhail </b>and current league leaders <b>Al-Sadd</b> made it to the last eight of the Champions League last term, only to falter after the World Cup break against eventual finalists Persepolis (in the quarter & semi-final stages respectively). That added bit of experience required to take the initiative in these type of matches, is slowly seeping its way into the two pillars of Qatari club football, and off the back of their continental crown internationally, can attest to having the best home-grown players in the whole competition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The foreign contingent is hardly lacking either; Al-Sadd’s Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah has amassed an incredible 34 goals across 18 matches this season, along the way pipping Lionel Messi to the ultimate world golden boot across the calendar year for 2018. He’s backed up by the highly influential Spanish duo of Xavi and Gabi from centre midfield and will be able to call upon Korean international Nam Tae-hee if they indeed replicate their exploits from last term and make it to the last eight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Al-Duhail similarly boast a strong overseas quota; adding Japanese playmaker Shoya Nakajima and Belgian wide-man Edmilson Junior to an already terrifying attack line led by Moroccan Youssef El-Arabi. They’ve also sought to reaffirm defensively, bringing in Medhi Benatia from Juventus; a real coup for Asian football in general given his pedigree and his age, which sets up a tantalising partnership with the highly rated Al-Rawi in central defence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ingredients are set for a sustained return to form for the West. However, the regular argument against such is the highly detrimental mid-campaign break, which has the possibility of disrupting harmony and squad membership across a number of teams. This year in particular promises extensive upheaval, with the young Qatari contingent; headlined by Almoez Ali and Akram Afif, looking likely to head to Europe over the domestic off-season. Then there is always the case of managerial change; given neither Qatari club will envisage an close season where they settle for a domestic runners-up spot gladly. Where this leaves West Asian clubs in general is equally uncertain, and far from an ideal standpoint for any side with serious ACL title ambitions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A side that has such focussed priorities, <b>Al-Hilal</b> from the Saudi Pro League, can attest to the schedule's drawbacks, given their tendencies for wholesale changes at the drop of a hat. The club synonymous with the Champions League of late, boast the strongest overseas contingent of the whole tournament; not just in their four nominated ACL players, but in their strength in depth available to them domestically. The signing of Italian Sebastian Giovinco in the January transfer window, more than makes up for Omar Abdulrahman’s continued injury layoff, in behind prolific French striker Bafetimi Gomis and Brazilian playmaker Carlos Eduardo, the Riyadh club’s attack makes for an exciting balance that promises an abundance of goals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further back, the inclusion of Socceroo Milos Degenek as their fourth overseas player, squeezes out the likes of Jonathan Soriano, Andre Carrillo, Ali Al-Habsi and Alberto Botia. An embarrassment of underutilised riches some may say, but with a domestic title bout to juggle alongside the Champions League group stages, the flexibility at hand for new coach Zoran Mamic looks impressive in its possibilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The criticism against them surrounds their mentality and tendency for change. Aside from odd moments, Saudi football regularly frustrates, the playing staff on paper may look to be tremendous options; Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari and new signing Hatem Bahebri are all seasoned internationals, but have regularly looked off colour , especially in January’s frustrated Asian Cup campaign where Saudi Arabia generally struggled. In addition, the swift hand of change above them, most notably and inexplicably demonstrated in the sacking coach Jorge Jesus last month, can only threaten to destabilise the club’s pursuits further.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With that, the solid proposition, of experience and relative organisation is an outside bet for success. With this look no further than last year’s finalists <b>Persepolis</b>. Rarely flashy, with a diminishing amount of star power, they offer a hearty alternative to the big spending nature of many of their West Asian neighbours. While they still can call upon Iranian international goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and Iraqi midfield maestro Bashar Resan, the recruitment of Mehdi Torabi may give them that extra spark to force home wins in those early group stage encounters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the elite to the chasing pack, on paper at least a gulf in quality is starting to grow. No league has been left behind more in this regard, than the Arabian Gulf League, which looks to be entering this continental season at their lowest ebb. <b>Al Ain</b>, their primary force for many years look a pale imitation of their past, Al-Ahli have plummeted since their intercity merger, whilst Al-Jazira’s continued absence from the top table of Asian football remains a frustration to many, given their significant talent base to call upon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Al-Wahda</b> and <b>Al-Wasl</b> make up the Emirati representatives, with neither having experienced great form of late, the latter in particular will be considerably more focussed on the prospect of relegation than competing in Asia. After their whirlwind start to last season, the wheels are well and truly starting to fall off. They’ll hope the individual brilliance of their Brazilian catalyst Lima will be enough to propel some energy, both at home and on the continent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another to be feeling the strain, Saudi giants <b>Al-Ittihad</b> are in even worse trouble, currently in the automatic relegation places, with nine games to go and onto their fourth coach in 12 months. Into the breach of the underwhelming tenure of Slavan Bilic comes former Itti coach José Luis Sierra, returning after leaving the club only last summer, with fans of the Tigers praying that they can return to the form of last season, spearheaded by the likes of Fahad Al-Muwallad, Romarinho and new signing Abdulaziz Al-Bishi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside the usual gameplayers, the re-emergence of Uzbek football (this sounds familiar…) is promised once again on the upcoming Asian Champions League campaign. While champions <b>Lokomotiv Tashkent</b> look slightly weaker for their off-season transfer business, fellow capital giants <b>Pakhtakor </b>are starting to make waves, thanks to a number of interesting domestic signings and an early signal of intent through the ACL playoffs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purchases of key cogs from Uzbekistan’s strong youth set up that succeeded continentally of late; defensive anchor Odiljon Hamrobekov, left back Akramjon Komilov and the returning Dostonbek Khamdamov from Russia, Pakhtakor will look to bring through some of the same inventiveness and speed, impressively demonstrated at the Asian Cup through to the club environment. Supplementing the arrival of an extensive youth stock, leading Uzbek scorer over the last two seasons Marat Bikmaev returns, after leaving Pakhtakor back in 2004, to add a focal point at the sharp end of the attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lowest expectations of any group stage side might be found at <b>Al-Zawra’a</b>, who thanks to IPL colleagues Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, who dominated the AFC Cup over the last few years, have sealed Iraqi football an automatic birth into the round robin stage of the tournament for the first time. While little is expected of them, the fact they get to play in their own country (ironically not the case for much of their group given the ongoing political tensions) and can call upon a couple of notable gems in the making (headlined by young midfielder <a href="https://sandalsforgoalposts.com/2019/02/07/asias-rising-stars-safaa-hadi/" target="_blank">Safaa Hadi</a>), they’ll be up to cause some real upsets early on.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-14010607361751440872019-02-01T17:20:00.001+00:002019-02-01T17:20:44.741+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Final)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Qatar clinch their first ever Asian Cup in some style, cruising to a 3-1 victory over heavyweights Japan in what was a final that didn’t falter under heavy expectation. The names Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Bassam Al-Rewi and Felix Sanchez are now written into Asian football folklore, but what about the rest of the world with this summer’s Copa America and the World Cup in 2022 still to come? For now, a quick look back on a terrific game for the neutrals, and the key talking points to take from it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given the realistic ambitions of Qatar heading into the tournament, one man had a greater amount of pressure on his shoulders than most to fire his side’s cause. Upon this, the nation’s first continental senior prize,<b> Akram Afif</b> can sit back and can comfortably believe that he exceeded his personal goals. No fewer than 10 assists (unofficially 11, but we’ll let the AFC off), with two coming in the final, Afif has been the chief creator behind a side that has blown away the rest of Asia over the last month. His match sealing penalty was the cherry on his cake, a campaign to be savoured.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This match in particular saw Afif’s all round game come to fore, past the mere (sic) statistics of scoring once and providing another two. His pace was continually a threat on the break, stretching the usually mobile Maya Yoshida and Takehiro Tomiyasu this way and that, as Qatar continually threatened the Japanese backline. For better finishing he could’ve even finished with greater assist figures, Abdulaziz Hatem’s scooped effort after a great run and find from Afif in the second period would’ve capped off a worthy hat-trick of assists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The eternal question will be what next for Qatar’s golden boy? He of course has dipped his toe in European football before and been found wanting. After a positive start with Eupen in Belgium, a move too early to Villarreal really stunted progress. For Afif, alongside the likes of golden boot winner Almoez Ali, centre midfield dynamo Assim Madibo and others, the approach of blindly funnelling them through the Eupen based Aspire outpost seems to have hit a dead end. Given the magnitude of these performances however, could we be about to see some moves of greater significance come the summer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be few arguments around, that the best team didn’t win the Asian Cup trophy. 19 goals scored by seven different scorers, only to concede once (in the final) along the way, <b>Qatar </b>were exceptional from start to finish. The initial praise needs to go to the coaching staff, and the patience of the federation’s hierarchy. This has been a project 10 years in the making, and with grander sights being set on the World Cup in 4 years’ time, this promises to only be the beginning. The framework was sound, but the players have developed through it at a rate of knots. To a man this Qatar side were at the top of their game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the final, I’d initially predicted that Qatar would set up in a similar manner to the way they did against Korea. Deep, cautious and brave, only to hit on the counter come the second period. Well, to a degree I was right, but that defensive start only lasted a few minutes. As soon as the likes of Assim Madibo and Boualem Khoukhi got a foot hold in the midfield, Qatar ramped up the gears and left Japan flatfooted. An exceptional bicycle kick from Almoez Ali, followed by a sublime curling effort from Abdulaziz Hatem steered them away from the Japanese charge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When summing up Qatar’s success, I quickly gravitate to the view that they see themselves as a team against the world. That world of course, being the political tensions that surround the region to date. Some may have worried for their inexperience given the magnitude of their matches against Saudi Arabia and UAE, but the young men came through fighting. The eligibility concerns that swirled upon the final failed similarly to de-balance a focussed group that are out to prove their doubters wrong. A worthy performance, that deserves the highest of praise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all the positives that can be taken out of today’s final, the last few days have been tiresome, something neither helped by the governing body or the individual federations involved. If only football was the talking point after such a varied and substantive month-long competition, but instead we’re questioning ill-advised referee appointments, TV rights debacles and questions over player eligibility. The AFC have a much tougher job than most, given the intense political arena that is Asia, but continually they lack initiative, forethought and clarity, leaving us more and more in the dark, time and time again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maya Yoshida, a man who has stepped up to the plate in his new responsibility as Japan captain on and off the field pointed to this very fact on the run up to the final. Few want to imagine football as a consumer object, but the fact is the Asian Cup is a weak product, something the governing body has done little to resolve. This week’s inaction to crowd disturbances in the semi-final between UAE and Qatar and the accusations of falsified eligibility documents has done far more to fan the flames of a perceived corrupt footballing landscape than it does to alleviate tensions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I speak as an outsider looking in. There has been little media scrutiny out in the Western world on anything to do with the Asian Cup, it’s not been on TV for a start, whilst any mention of players playing in the tournament is often derided as a “mickey mouse tournament.” The two key “trending” moments of the tournament have been when Son Heung-min was “released” of his duty upon South Korea’s defeat to Qatar and the right royal mess surrounding the Qatari national team’s eligibility, which is still perceived as a side that has bought its way to the title. While the AFC will notably shrug and suggest they have little impact on this, it has a duty of care to protect its prize product. Lessons need to be learned if Asian football is set to improve in the coming four years.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-72964874914413119292019-01-30T07:10:00.000+00:002019-01-30T16:45:21.338+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Semi-Finals)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We’re now left with our final two, as Japan and Qatar overcame favourites Iran and hosts UAE in Monday & Tuesday’s semi-finals. While we’ve had hiccups along the way, it can’t be argued that we haven’t been granted the best two tactical teams on current form ahead of Friday’s final. Moriyasu’s Japan have grown into this tournament and demonstrated the best half of football we’ve seen in Asia for years, while Sanchez’s Qatar brushed aside the hosts as an afterthought, after a heated “blockade derby” ended with one clear winner. Looking back on the round, here’s my take on the key talking points.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Player</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/plasticpitch/status/1090257889715867648" target="_blank">“Flat track bully turned big match hero.”</a> </i>Depending on your point of view I may have undersold <b>Almoez Ali</b>’s impact to date there. The languid frame of Qatar’s leading man often flatters to deceive, but on this tournament’s reading, the Sudanese born striker has proved you shouldn’t underestimate his proficiency in front of goal. As Qatar emphatically overcame UAE in Tuesday’s semi-final, Ali clinched a little bit of history of his own, scoring his 8th in 6 matches, matching that of Asian great Ali Daei, in become the joint highest goal scorer in a single Asian Cup campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In previous matches, Ali has come alive in the most inopportune moments, in jumping on lapses in defending, off a brilliant assist or dropped ball to capitalise in devastating fashion. His strike to double Qatar’s lead over the hosts was noticeable in its variance from the usual trend; picking up the ball 30 yards out, he engineered a small amount of space, to curl past the outstretched Khalid Eisa and send the capacity crowd into rapturous boos and sandal throwing petulance. The way he used the defender to create the angle was ingenious, the finish was right up there with the best at this tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ali’s career has blossomed of late, not in terms of proficiency, as he’s always been known for a high strike rate from early youth, but in his technical development. Having been moved out wide domestically for Al-Duhail, his movement and link up play have come along in spades, and that has transitioned into the national team. His passion for the cause also has been noticeable, for an often-quiet looking man, he’s been the most emotional of performers in the key politically charged moments against Saudi Arabia and UAE. Ahead of the final, Ali will be out to make history on a personal as well as national platform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Team</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the biggest match of the tournament so far, the best side in Asia over the last four years collapsed to their first continental competitive defeat over that time in dramatic style. While much of the discussion after the match surrounded Iran (I will get onto that), and where they go to now, <b>Japan</b> deserve the lion share of the limelight after what was another well thought out game plan. After a wobbly group stage, which required a comeback against Turkmenistan and a ground out result against Oman, the evolution of this Samurai Blue side has been a credit to their coach Hajime Moriyasu. After coming into the Asian Cup in muted form, Japan stand with one hand on the trophy ahead of Friday’s final with Qatar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Turkmenistan opener that welcomed this new Japanese side into competitive football, minus the likes of Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki to name a few for the first time, was a tad disappointing to say the least. Defensively they were caught off guard too easily on the transition, whilst in possession they lacked ideas. From there forward, Japan improved immensely, firstly in a defensive capacity; their narrow victory over Saudi Arabia in the knockouts was a prime example of how to restrict attacking output to a possession hungry opposition, but they also improved their own forward thrust, demonstrated fully on Iran.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s arguably been slow in the uptake, but off the back of an improved performance by Ritsu Doan against Vietnam, the first-choice front four were back clicking. The return from injury of Yuya Osako spearheaded this, combining beautifully with Minamino (who looks much more comfortable in a support role opposed to burdening the goal scoring responsibilities) for both his opener, and the resulting penalty. Genki Haraguchi, one of the few who to survive the transition from direct countering deployed under the previous Halilhodzic regime, has changed up his game and capped off his performance with the late third.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all the youthful inventiveness that has come to the fore, it was in experienced deeper areas where Japan starred most against Iran however. Maya Yoshida has grown in his responsibility, given the likes of Makoto Hasebe and Keisuke Honda have left. He looked a taller man, leading from the back alongside his fledgling defensive partner in Tomiyasu, his regal status is beginning to blossom. Another muted but effective performance from Gaku Shibasaki again ticked the team along. When few were keeping their heads in the Iranian line-up, Shibasaki ran the show coolly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This new breed of Japan under Moriyasu has taken time to get used to, but with Iran joining the likes of Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Australia on the plane home after underwhelming campaigns (most of whom remain in transition), Japan’s success to date is ever more considerable. A Friday final appearance awaits them, as Japan continue to flex their undoubted muscle on the continental stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Talking Point</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday’s exit for Iran from the Asian Cup, which many had them destined to win, left many with a mixture of feelings. For neutrals, for an overwhelming favourite to be contested in that way is uplifting, however given the manner of the capitulation and resulting fallout, the last four years of dominance has a feeling of anti-climax for most of us. In the direct wake, legendary head coach Carlos Queiroz leaves Iran, having overseen arguably the greatest national side in the country’s history, but he still leaves plenty of what ifs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As suggested in <a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2018/12/asian-cup-2019-iran-preview.html" target="_blank">my tournament preview,</a> Iran’s Achilles heel was that of mentality, something Queiroz had developed over his tenure. At the World Cup last summer, Iran revelled in being the underdog, contesting with the likes of Portugal and Spain on a technical level was a tough ask, but on an emotion level they had it won hands down. When it comes to continental football however, Iran were rarely going to be afforded such little expectation. The second half in particular against Japan finally ebbed away from them, fuelled by a sense of injustice where emotion and spirit overcame them, to be clinically took apart by a ruthlessly put together Japan side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's difficult to separate Queiroz’s managerial style and Iran’s philosophy, as both seem to fuel each other. Where to next for both parties will be very interesting indeed, and whether either will differ intact. While Queiroz is rumoured to be heading to South America, with Colombia being the most interested of parties, Iran start afresh in their pursuit of replacing a living legend. An emotional resilient approach has worked wonders the last four years, but given the improvements made in Iranian football from a talent perspective, is a technical, forward thinking coach the way to go? With Juan Antonio Pizzi already being muted as a potential successor, Iranian fans could be set to replace chalk with cheese on the most extreme proportions.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-67764053480725717262019-01-25T18:00:00.000+00:002019-01-25T18:00:03.824+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Quarter-Finals)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiplmJFjGMs8C-8hGXo1cYUeGyuJs-6Br88revORL9LdGubW7fzJIgnu4eR49pTmC_ivXgbx9QYd-RW_Z0wBdJ5iqvVoNzV8nHjpkCBSLt3e6A265ToHuZNoiewEwD_73z0rGfPy8f7s/s1600/doan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="765" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiplmJFjGMs8C-8hGXo1cYUeGyuJs-6Br88revORL9LdGubW7fzJIgnu4eR49pTmC_ivXgbx9QYd-RW_Z0wBdJ5iqvVoNzV8nHjpkCBSLt3e6A265ToHuZNoiewEwD_73z0rGfPy8f7s/s320/doan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’re through to the finer end of things as we set up for the Asian Cup semi-finals that will take place on Monday and Tuesday. While Iran shone with a stunning attacking performance over China, the round was defined by some solid and tactically aware defensive performances from Japan and tournament dark horses Qatar. With so much still to unbox (not to mention the introduction of VAR into international Asian football), let’s start with looking back at the key talking points from the quarter finals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Player</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Japan’s attacking intensity has noticeably eased off this tournament, victory over Vietnam saw an element of hope that a return to the positive ways of old is on the horizon. The lack of a classic number 10 has been sorely missed in this Samurai Blue side; the semi-retirement of Keisuke Honda, and lack of form of Shinji Kagawa was eased by the emergence of Shoya Nakajima late last year, but injury put pay to that plan on the eve of the tournament. Filling the void hasn’t been easy, but <b>Ritsu Doan</b>’s performances of late suggest all is not lost for Hajime Moriyasu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Groningen man has had an up and down tournament, largely excusable given his age (not 21 until the summer), inexperience (still less than 10 caps) and the deep tactical shape infringed on the squad by Moriyasu. However, with Japan afforded more possession against Vietnam, Doan took on more responsibility, drifting in from the right to initiate build-up with Minamino and Kitagawa (who have rarely looked up to this level), Doan forced notable openings early on, and represented the only source at times Japan had of forcing a breakthrough against a well organised Vietnamese defence, and when breached, a commanding Dang Van Lam in net.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The key moment came, as Doan showed his inventiveness and wiliness to take on his marker, drawing the first <a href="https://twitter.com/plasticpitch/status/1088462297947885568" target="_blank">VAR penalty awarded at the tournament</a>. Whether there was contact or not (see my opinions on Twitter), the impact was telling and Doan’s responsibility to take the resulting penalty kick (despite Haraguchi’s success last week) illustrates how much his reputation has grown within this team. With Iran ahead of them, in decent form both in attacking areas and in defence, Moriyasu’s tactical expertise will be tested to another level. One thing’s for sure, after this performance Doan’s involvement will be integral going forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Team</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third quarter final between South Korea and <b>Qatar</b> was always likely to be the match to swing a tournament on; the favourites for some (myself included) against the outsiders, this was the true test of both sides mettle. Qatar’s triumph with a late winner, backed up with a fifth consecutive clean sheet has sent waves across Asian football. The side that was only supposed to come to the table in four years’ time at their own controversial hosting of the World Cup, is turning the tables on some of Asia’s elite from the outset.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was plenty eulogised about Qatar on the build up to the Korea matchup, many suggested they’d test their opponents back line early, that the match would be a much more open showing than we’ve seen so far this tournament. Instead, we witnessed a cagey first half, where Korea dominated possession and Qatar comfortably sat deep, happy to sniff out chances when they came and not to concern themselves too much if their counters broke down quickly. A maturity we’d hardly expect from a fledgling outfit, but there was more to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the second period they burst out, pouncing on weakness and setting the Koreans back on their heels. No one expected anything from Qatar, the pressure was on Korea, with the returning Son Heung-min looking a weary figure under the weight of a nation. In truth Korea looked the side happy with extra time, and with that Qatar pounced. A quick, direct shot from distance from the unlikely source of Abdulaziz Hatem had them caught cold, in which they had little answer to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some have already sought to <a href="https://twitter.com/HubertMaRo/status/1088810569203896324" target="_blank">compare this Qatar team to the UAE side of four years ago</a>. And while this is a similar shakeup to the elite order in Asian football, UAE were carried along by individual performances that have rarely been bettered. This Qatar team are exactly the opposite, in that they are a team, headed by a tactically aware coach that has set his stall out to perform. This is just the beginning, 2022 seems an awfully long way away at this point, but an Asian Cup final appearance could well set this side up for a great future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Talking Point</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday’s quarter-final defeat to Iran brought to close China’s Asian Cup adventure, but also the career of a true managerial great in Marcello Lippi, who is set to retire with a glittering CV that includes a World Cup and two continental club titles. Lippi’s time in charge of China however has been a head-scratcher; on one hand – China made it to the quarter-finals of a continental showpiece, further than anyone had expected pre-tournament, on the other - we’re left questioning how much further has he taken this team and football as a whole in the country?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lippi arrived to save face, after a miserable start to latter World Cup qualification. Expectations were modest, focus was clear – redevelop this squad ahead of the Asian Cup and bring back some pride in the national team ahead of another World Cup cycle. What came to pass was a meagre reconstruction job, patching up holes where possible but no long-term fixes to China’s quite obvious issues. Lippi predictably relied upon the old guard that brought him success while at Guangzhou Evergrande, selecting the oldest squad at the tournament, captained by 38-year-old Zheng Zhi. He’s hardly leaving his successor with any resources to progress forward with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CFA and CSL have emphatically pushed their agenda of late, to increase youth participation in domestic football and upped the amount of national youth camps but stopped short of pushing this on the national team. The few players under-25 that did gain minutes at the Asian Cup were borne out of necessity rather than being chosen on merit. Their success on an individual tournament basis is also misleading given they struggled in overcoming Kyrgyzstan before losing connivingly to Korea in the group stage, ahead of narrowly beating Thailand in the knockouts. Thursday’s humiliation in a defensive capacity against Iran was a heavy blow, that in all reality had been in the pipeline for weeks. China are left with a moderately successful campaign on paper, but with plenty to do in reality if they are to see any noticeable uplift going forward.</span>Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-2120558368756047142019-01-22T18:00:00.000+00:002019-01-22T18:00:00.397+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Round of 16)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Just over a week until the grand finale, we’re starting to see the weak from the chaff emerge from what has been a tight and competitively contested Round of 16. The typical big four are through, despite several scares and while you could plump for an outsider to buck the trend, a familiar final four looks the likely outcome, question marks withstanding. There was finally a big name elimination however, as Saudi Arabia, qualifiers for last summer’s World Cup were dumped out by Japan, leaving head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi on tenuous ground. In that regard, here’s my look back on the round’s key talking points.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Player</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was a round for goalkeeping heroics, after Dang Van Lam’s shootout performance saw Vietnam progress to the quarters (more on that later) and Alireza Beiranvand reaffirmed his penalty saving specialist tag by denying Oman’s Ahmed Kano from the spot for Iran. At that juncture, a rumbling debate started to emerge, of who in fact is the best keeper in Asia at the moment? The elephant in the room, one <b>Mat Ryan</b> had been criticised recently for his showings for the Socceroos; despite consistent performances domestically with Brighton, his form so far at the Asian Cup did little to turn around his doubters. His performance against Uzbekistan on Monday however, went someway to silence them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His triumphant double stop in their penalty shootout victory, spared Australian blushes, after an erratic but ultimately blunt effort against a stubborn in transition Uzbek team. Ryan, when called upon was a colossus in the match, sometimes considered too rash in his early career, his movement and decision making have clearly come on, highlighted perfectly by his early stop to deny the man of the moment Eldor Shomurodov his 5th of the tournament. Ryan’s one handed save to his right to deny Marat Bikmaev in the poignant penalty saved his teammates bacon, who can still savour hope of back-to-back continental titles despite rarely getting going so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With regards to the debate over the best keeper in Asia right now, Ryan can easily point to domestic success as his mantle for high achievement. While Beiranvand experienced a whirlwind 2018, where he should’ve really been crowned AFC Player of the Year, he won’t be truly recognised as the continental best until he moves to Europe. Bringing it back to current matters, Ryan’s performance keeps him well within a shout of the Golden Glove reckoning, as Australia build albeit slowly to another lengthy finals appearance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Team</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coming up against the surprise package of the tournament thus far in Jordan, <b>Vietnam</b> were considered outsiders for progression, but slowly this side has developed from merely a hipster’s choice of young talented players to a real threat, setting up an almighty clash with Japan in the final eight. For Park Hang-seo, the risk of making a couple of significant starting changes from the side that brought regional success only a month ago, has brought its own reward of a quarter-final appearance, but is this the limit of their adventure in the Emirates?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deploying their now synonymous, 343-cum-523 counter attacking setup, it hasn’t been the easiest of rides early on for Vietnam; out witted by Iraq on the opening day, in arguably the most attack filled match we’ve seen so far, followed by a humbling defeat to Iran. In the end they scraped through as a lucky loser, overcoming Yemen with little conviction, their days felt numbered. But a renewed sense of purpose occurred against Jordan, where the Vietnam of 2018 vintage, that thrived off these one-off tournament match ups (see Under 23s, Asian Games & Suzuki Cup campaigns) came roaring back from the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The aforementioned Dang Lang Vam has been integral to this; commanding and brave, reaffirming a defence marshalled by Que Ngọc Hai, who has been magnificent over the last few weeks. Further forward and the flexibility and guile of the irrepressible Nguyen Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc behind the lively and ever growing in consistency Nguyen Cong Phuong, Vietnam are starting to look a devastating package in the final third. Up against the Samurai Blue next, the clash of two similar counter attacking displays looks set to be a tense, tactical battle of wits, but one Vietnam will come into in a world of confidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Talking Point</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearly seven months on from their rude awakening in Moscow, Saudi Arabia hit another low in their recent footballing history, falling in the Round of 16 of the Asian Cup, in what was meant to be a dominant tournament for the Green Falcons. While losing to Japan, on paper is no embarrassment, to exit their time in the Emirates, losing half of their allotted games, only managing to score and secure victory against moderate opposition (Lebanon and North Korea), the campaign as a whole and Juan Antonio Pizzi’s tenure in charge must be considered a failure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having bossed over 70% of possession, but succumbing to a 1-0 reversal against Japan, makes for familiar reading for any recent follower of Saudi football. Pizzi’s revolution that started just over a year ago, has been stark, admirable but ultimately unsuited for this group of players. The same issues that were on display at the World Cup, persisted into the Asian Cup; a clumsy looking defence and a regularly blunt attack. The midfield, despite missing the integral Salman Al-Faraj looked as competent as ever (as the possession stats illustrate), the problem as always, was in breaking the lines through to the attacking third.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s likely to be a matter of days before Pizzi’s time is cut short, especially after his damning criticism of the league’s standard in the aftermath of the match. For a spell that promised so much, aesthetic gain over gelling tactics with the resource available clearly doesn’t function on the international stage where you’re tasked to get the best out of the players you’ve got to hand. Following on from one of the most successful Saudi Arabian sides of modern times, under Bert van Marwijk, Pizzi failed to take on the feeling harnessed in qualification into two considerable competitions. He was offered more than any others have been previously, in being able to coach at two significant tournaments in succession, something the SFF will likely live to regret.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-85116425232955054632019-01-17T18:05:00.000+00:002019-01-22T15:54:32.416+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The group stage of this year's Asian Cup has culminated, and despite the predictable affair we witnessed in the first two rounds, we finished with some drama and adulation, as debutants Kyrgyzstan qualified for the round of 16 in their debut appearance at the tournament. We also saw a perfect separation of Asia's big four, with Iran, South Korea, Australia and Japan all avoiding one another in the tournament bracket quadrants, meaning there'll have to be a big shock not to witness an elite feel to the latter rounds. For now here are my player, team and talking point of the round just gone.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<br /><b>The Player</b><br /><br />There were few shocks to be had in the last round of group matches, but Bahrain's last minute penalty victory over a highly impressive India, to qualify themselves and knock out their opponents, will undoubtedly go down as the most dramatic of moments in the group stage. Amidst the high tension, one man continues to stand in serenity; 21-year-old Bahraini centre half <b>Hamad Al-Shamsan</b> may not be necessarily making the headlines, but his presence has been integral in his country's knockout progression.<br /><br />Tall, physical, quick on the turn (check out his chasing down of Udanta Singh in the second half) and confident in possession, it's difficult to pick holes in the defender's game. When indeed a long through pass is over hit, you reel in frustration, only to remember the player's fleeting age and experience, illustrating perfectly how he's grown into his starting role. Few expected Al-Shamsan to even see minutes at the Asian Cup, the fact he's played every second so far shows what faith Miroslav Soukup has in him.<br /><br />Soukup's tenure has been that of growth, and long term planning. If that final minute penalty didn't come, Bahrain could have rest assured they have a strong unit, alongside a raft of young players looking to emulate the outgoing golden generation. In striker Abdullah Yusuf Helal, centre midfielder Mohamed Marhoon and wide man Ali Madan they have the capabilities to threaten the next level over the next cycle. For now though, thanks to Al-Shamsan's calmness in drawing that historic final minute penalty, Bahrain are dreaming of today.<br /><br /><b>The Team</b><br /><br />There have been few teams to demonstrate the consistency and freshness that <b>Kyrgyzstan</b> have shown this tournament. From minute one against China, to their parting victory over Philippines, Alexandr Krestinin has formed a side tactically adept, physically ready and unfazed by the challenge that greets them. Drawing hosts UAE in the last 16 in their debut Asian Cup appearance, you can be sure that the White Falcons will be the one fully confident of causing an upset.<br /><br />Against China and Korea, Kyrgyzstan set up, as many others do against the elite in Asia, five men at the back with a packed midfield. The difference between the likes of North Korea, Yemen or their neighbours Turkmenistan, who all put up a rearguard action but little else, Kyrgyzstan flexed when they needed to, scaring China early on, before creating a number of chances against Korea, falling short on both occasions by the odd goal. With a last day decider, the challenge was set to fully illustrate their attacking game.<br /><br />And that they did. A comfortable 3-1 win (which could've been 3-0, but for a late goalkeeping error) was as imperious as any we've seen to date. Fixed in place by the phenomenal Valery Kichin in defence and their central midfield skipper Edgar Bernhardt who has been untouchable at times this tournament, the glory fell to German based Vitalij Lux, who went on to make history as the first Kyrgyz player to ever score a hat-trick in competitive play to fire his side through to the knockout stages. A phenomenal feat in their debut tournament, but this side represents more than a mere plucky underdog.<br /><br /><b>The Talking Point</b><br /><br />Regularly a talking point in this continent's football, but officiating is again on the agenda, after a number of inconsistencies, lapses in judgement and clearly obvious errors shone a light again on the development of referees and the questionable selection criteria in place. Sadly, despite being in the third round of group stage matches, it has continued from a low base; the awarding of UAE's spot kick on day one by Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh unsurprisingly brought forward suggestions of favouring the host in their opening game, but that severely underestimates the usual standard of Asian officiating.<br /><br />Since then we've seen linesmen standing out of line with the last defender, inconsistencies in bookable offences (Mohammed Saleh's red for Palestine v Syria, came after numerous examples of unpunished thuggery) and a ghost goal ruled out for Lebanon against Qatar after mere contact in the box. But the worst was still to come, as referee Cesar Arturo Ramos of Mexico (that well known Asian nation) took charge of the Group B decider between Australia and Syria.<br /><br />His unwavering view of Mark Milligan's obvious looking handball was brushed off before <i>"making amends"</i> in strange fashion, as Omar Al-Somah was felled by his own player in the box. The resulting penalty mattered little, as Australia came back for a third time to win the match and book their progression, yet questions were flying in the Asian football fraternity; 1) why are the AFC offering a referee exchange scheme with Mexico/CONCACAF in their prized continental tournament in the first place and 2) when are standards going to improve across the continent?<br /><br />For those of you who will point to VAR's implementation upon the quarter-final stage, you've come to the wrong person given <a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/2017/05/vars-case-against-video-replays-in.html" target="_blank">my considerable views on the subject</a>. Irrespective of the technology being treated as a silver-bullet to those so called clear mistakes, an area even Western Europe is <a href="https://twitter.com/i/events/1085638145696092160" target="_blank">starting to awake to in the last 24 hours</a>, the quality of officiating isn't necessarily improved, rather mirrored in the VAR booth. Examples in Asia have already bared witness, if the refereeing is bad on the field, it's going to be similarly suspect off it. Australia, China and Saudi Arabia have all had mixed results in implementing it in their domestic leagues, so why God for bid is this the right time to bring it in to the international arena?</span>Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-85631091669819414592019-01-14T13:23:00.000+00:002019-01-14T13:41:50.830+00:00Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matchday two saw a return to form in terms of results for the elite nations, and while performances continued to be strong for those fighting against this, the round as a whole was predictable fair. As we head towards the final matches of the group stages; we already know the names of nine teams that will take place in the Round of 16. For the rest, have your calculators at the ready, we're in for a confusing final few days of the group stage. For now, here are my player, team and key talking point from the week just gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long been touted as the breakout star of this generation of Chinese players, <b>Wu Lei</b>'s transition from one of the CSL's finest domestic talents to international goalscorer has rarely materialised. His mercurial display against Philippines however lay down a clear marker of both China's expectations going forward in this tournament, but also the striker's hopes of living up to the vast potential he has.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It could be argued Wu Lei's two goals against Philippines have been the finest two efforts of the tournament so far; his first a quick reactionary close control then looping lob from the corner of the area, before an instinctive volley in the second half, both showed his vision and sheer ability to find the net from at best mere half-chances. His general play at the Asian Cup has been a step above his recent showings in Chinese red, his hold up play has been more effective, his initiative to drop off the central striker more calculated but generally his willingness to accept responsibility is developing. He's not alone in shouldering heavy expectations, South Korea's Son Heung-min has often struggled with such a heavy burden, but in a similar way off the back of a successful club season Wu Lei looks to be finding his place in the national team.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His explosion on the international stage comes at a timely juncture also, as his club side Shanghai SIPG have reportedly put in a bid for Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic. Wu, in a similar fashion to the West Ham United player has blossomed from a predominantly support striker into a flexible leading number 9, is starting to put his face in the window of a potential switch the other way. While Chinese football concentrates on the ever ludicrous domestic rule making, the next stage of development requires a player to shine in Europe, something Wu definitely has the potential in doing. With a group deciding tie against Korea (and a returning Son no less) on the horizon, is this the perfect encounter to prove his worth to a wider audience?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who needs pre-tournament form? Who needs a proven goal scorer? Who needs a manager with an ounce of experience? On all counts, clearly not <b>Jordan</b>. I look rather foolish in my questioning of Vital Borkelmans in my Asian Cup preview series now, yet given his meager CV and the fact he dispensed of Hamza Al-Dardour on the eve of the tournament, Jordan look a better side for it. After providing the shock of the tournament to date, edging reigning champions Australia in matchday one, Jordan went on to go two-from-two in their comfortable passage against Syria in matchday two, to become the first side to progress to the knockout stages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their success has been down to identity, tactical shape and unity. The squad has always had quality players to call upon, but has yet to truly resemble a quality team. In the Emirates, they have a united force, both strong and committed in defence, neat and unfussy in midfield, whilst quick and maneuverable in attack. From within a squad that generally hails from the domestic league, the likes of Yaseen Al-Bakhit and Musa Al-Taamari have blossomed with their responsibilities given their pedigree away from Jordanian shores, currently the two standout players in their group stage triumph.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking at the side and their evolution going into the knockouts, the final match dead rubber (as far as Jordan are guaranteed top spot) will hold snippets of information crucial for their longevity, Borkelmans' set up has thrived off quick transitions and a united philosophy, so it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the squad performs once rotation starts to play it's part. Having vanquished two pre-tournament favourites for the latter stages, Jordan head into the Round of 16 fearing no one, and with a defence headed by veteran keeper Amir Shafi, a back-line that looks impenetrable to anything thus far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hot on the heels of a competitive (if not in terms of shock results) first matchday, the second batch of matches came and went in sadly predictable fashion. In the twelve matches played, all twelve were won to zero goals conceded, with all but one seeing the nominated favourite triumph. The only tie that broke the trend - Jordan beating Syria - was hardly the most unexpected either. While this isn't a stick to beat the quality at this tournament (there were notable performances from India, Kyrgyzstan & Oman over the week), it has generated plenty of debate in the Asian football fraternity, in terms of the tournament schedule, it's capability for shocks, and whether or not we've seen a narrowing of the field or a greater disparity between the elite and the rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My take on the matter surrounds the organisation of the tournament, rather than it's expansion per se. As alluded to above, and in particular in matchday one the quality of football has been on the whole better than we've seen for a while, an early legacy of what was a fine qualification campaign. Out of the 24 teams in the Emirates, the two who have looked a clear distance behind the pack; Yemen and North Korea have experienced notable handicaps in the last year, surrounding coaching appointments and general infringements politically. I'd go as far as saying North Korea could've been fighting for progression, if they'd have made a wiser coaching replacement, than reverting to type as they have done for this tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that's the thing, both teams mentioned still have a crack at progressing, which in a three match group stage shouldn't be the case at this point. The expansion to 24 teams hasn't hindered the tournament in regards allowing access to developing nations, rather than it dilutes the first stage in allowing "lucky loser" spots to be granted to teams that finish third. Given the foolish scheduling, the fight for third spot at present makes for grim reading, given two teams are currently down for progression without accruing a point so far. It'll all be to play for on the last day, where the two lowest seeds of each group will in most cases be fighting for third spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having such standard of teams looking to progress isn't an issue in my view, but how we got to this point (ie. most of these teams have lost two matches from two) is. Syria/Palestine in Group B, currently with the second best record of all third placed sides are in a good position to progress even if they draw their final match 0-0. Meaning they might not only make the knockout stages without winning a match, but they will without even scoring a goal. In context, considering other tournaments (U20 World Cups and Euro 2016) who deploy the same format, no team has progressed with lower than 3 points, this could indeed be an unwelcome first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those who cry out "elitist" at me assuming I have an agenda against those outside the top dozen in Asia, have got to remember the Asian confederation are in a tentative position of having to fight up at both ends of the spectrum. Despite a successful World Cup over the summer, the standard of the top few has been quite abject in the early stages of this Asian Cup. Watering down the group stages, in which it's harder to exit than it is to progress is not helping anyone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking Australia for example, who lost surprisingly on the opening day against Jordan. They could've again tasted defeat to Palestine this last week and still had it in their hands to progress on the final day. It's no wonder South Korea were so accepting of Son Heung-min's limited cameo, or Australia's willingness to carry injured players in their squad, if progression was a near guarantee. I ludicrously predicted months ahead of the tournament that there would be no shock exits in the group stage, despite being over-hyped going into the Asian Cup Syria look to be the only team to be threatening that argument.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyone that has followed my analysis of Asian football over the cycle should know I'm not against development of the so-called emerging nations, I'd even put it ahead of results throughout qualification in that regard. India and Yemen were given a second shot of qualification after both failed miserably in the second round of qualification, and just look at the improvement that was made. But for the AFC to give the same second chance opportunities in the continental showpiece looks to devalue their primary product on a larger scale. By how much, is something to dissect upon the tournament's culmination, but for now let's hope for some long overdue do-or-die action in the final set of matches, something we've been severely lacking so far.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-32284595145334629072019-01-09T17:30:00.001+00:002019-01-10T08:47:54.912+00:00 Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Asian Cup kicked off last weekend in impressive style, with a great mix of convincing performances, underdog shocks and some good old fashioned terrible defending on show. Despite some disappointing attendances at many of the matches, some of the football offers hope we are about to see a competitive stage going forward, while the underachievement of some of the big guns alludes to a greater consistency of play across the continent. Summing up the first week of action, I’ve picked out a player, team and talking point for further focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Player</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The devastating news on the eve of their Asian Cup opener that star midfielder Salman Al-Faraj was ruled out of the entire tournament, was a hard blow to take for Saudi Arabian fans, but one that might have been eased by the evolution of a new centre midfield partnership. Al-Faisaly midfielder <b>Abdulaziz Al-Bishi</b>, who has slowly become a regular at the heart of the midfield in the last few months, had a stand out performance alongside Abdullah Otayf in the fulcrum of the Green Falcons set up against North Korea, complemented perfectly with two assists in their 4-0 victory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It perfectly summed up his impact, that Al-Faraj wasn’t really missed at all. Otayf, continuing his World Cup form, of industrious, tireless play in front of the back four, Al-Bishi dictated play off his diminutive partner, roaming around the centre of the park, quick to create and intuitive in his movement. A quick pass out to the left stretched the North Korean defence, to allow Hatem Bahebri to cut in and open the scoring, while a direct inside run caught the opposition napping once again, allowing Al-Bishi to cut back for Al-Dawsari to clinch a third goal. It was a low-key performance on the face of it, but it allowed others to shine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His progression to date has been slow, but after his summer move from Al-Shabab, Al-Bishi has subsequently nailed down domestic starts, was integral in Saudi Arabia’s Asian Games run, whilst continually impressing for the seniors since. While Saudi Arabia’s 4-0 win on paper looks to headline a side in promising form, there are plenty of questions still to be asked at both ends of the pitch. Al-Bishi’s form of late however, ensures the centre third remains the Kingdom’s most prized asset.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Team</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With Australia, South Korea and Japan all experiencing varying degrees of scares in the first round of matches, pre-tournament favourites <b>Iran</b> shrugged off the pressure in a crushing 5-0 victory over Yemen. While the performance may have been aided in their opposition’s collapse (after an initially promising first 10 minutes), Iran forced their hand, demonstrating some eye-catching attacking fluidity, dynamic midfield play and generally a positive attitude that some (me included) doubted of them ahead of the tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Support striker Mehdi Taremi headlined the performance with a first half brace illustrating his importance to Team Melli; first he reacted quickest off a keeper spillage to slot home, secondly a perfectly directed header from distance. On paper he’s rarely been seen as an eye-catching option but offers much more than the sum of his parts. His link up play with Sardar Azmoun, and the highly effective Mehdi Torabi, who stepped up in place of the injured Alireza Jahanbakhsh was an aspect to saviour, and something they’ll undoubtedly need to rely upon going forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further back apart from the initial scare, Iran defended as Iran do under Carlos Queiroz, an area they’ll continue to excel going deeper into the tournament. The recall and subsequent performance of Ashkan Dejagah gave further hope that depth will also be key over the next month. His initiative and speed in transition helped Iran tick over and threaten Yemen’s napping defence, while his freekick (which inexplicably hasn't been chalked down as a goalkeeping own goal) was the cherry on top of his individual display. Plenty to be pleased about, as Iran march on ominously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Talking Point</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since the draw was made, and with the expansion to 24 teams allowing more inexperienced and weaker sides to enter the tournament, few shocks were predicted in the opening rounds, yet we’ve already been treated to a number. UAE struggled in their opener against Bahrain, having to rely upon questionable officiating to secure a draw, reigning champions Australia were stung by a well drilled counter display by Jordan, Southeast Asian heavyweights Thailand were crushed by India, all while the likes of China, Korea and Japan all looked shaky before forcing victories over the line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It led to some to dig into the reasons why this was the case. Some suggested it was tactics; sides with less possession hitting opposition on the counter surely had a greater say early on, while it could be considered a condensing of the pack thanks to the new and more strenuous international calendar could’ve provided closer fought contests. But for the eventual result, the likes of Philippines, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan all put in competent displays, when few really gave them much hope in the tournament’s build-up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end, Iran and Saudi Arabia’s dominant performances to end the week suggest a lack of familiarity in the dugout may have damaged those elite nations more than them merely being caught off guard. New coaches in charge of Australia, Korea and Japan clearly have further work to achieve in finalising their state of play, while a severe lack of form going into the Asian Cup for China, Thailand and hosts UAE meant few should’ve expected a tournament bounce from the get go. Given third in the group allows progression, there’s a long way to go to be sure of a big shock exit or two, but for now it makes for fascinating viewing.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-55335419382601773162018-12-21T18:00:00.000+00:002019-01-02T13:57:11.732+00:00Asian Cup 2019 (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 18th </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">AFC Asian Cup</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> gets underway on the 5th January in Abu Dhabi, bringing to close an historic four-year cycle for the confederation. The new qualifying format was proven to be a unanimous success, with great strides being achieved at all levels of the international game, most pertinently highlighted by AFC’s record-breaking effort over the summer at the World Cup. The expansion of the continental tournament to 24 teams has its drawbacks, yet we’re still likely to see the most competitive finals competition to date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re regularly reminded of the ills and deficiencies of Asian football, but the revamped qualification phase that came into place over the last four years has been largely an unheralded success. Developing nations were scheduled with proper competitive football to last the duration of the cycle, opposed to small doses of quick fire shootout competition. Instead of grouping minnows together, the two-round group stage split allowed for nations to compete with the elite, whilst offering more realistic preparation to follow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While some may have expressed concerns over what impact this elongated process would have had on the top tier of Asian football, the World Cup in Russia proved testament that the quality has only seen an improvement over the cycle. Given where we were in 2014, the strides made towards 2018, and looking forward to an Asia hosted World Cup in 2022, the qualification revamp proved more than beneficial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading into January’s Asian Cup should, in theory be considered the closing ceremony of the cycle, yet we’ll likely see a number of sides in transition, some only at the start of their progress towards the next World Cup challenge. The likes of Japan, Australia and South Korea have all appointed new coaches since their showing over the summer, while Uzbekistan, Qatar and Iraq have all expressed their long-term ambitions over an advanced run at the Asian Cup, after poor qualification showings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Given the way the Asian calendar falls, the Asian Cup is slowly being pushed off the agenda. The Asian Cup is being treated by some as the starting point of World Cup preparation rather than the pinnacle of continental football. The AFC haven’t necessarily helped with this; marketing of the event has been slow on the uptake and the timing regularly draws criticisms. In such a vast and varied continent however, the balance is always going to be difficult to find.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With it comes change; not only a new ball (Molten?) or a new trophy (I know...), but an increase number of participants, from 16 to 24. While the technical quality has increased over the last the last four years, the gap between the elite and the rest continues to widen, which could render many group stage matches irrelevant. As has been seen at regular U20 World Cups and at Euro 2016, an expansion to 24 also opens the back door to failure via the third-place lottery, which is neither clear enough to be useful to spectators or makes for an even comparison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A less than competitive opening, which alludes to less shocks than normal, has already seen the likes of South Korea willingly sacrifice the inclusion of star striker Son Heung-min, while others look to rest injured or tired options until after the first phase. Already placed in a difficult window for European domestic leagues, the extra fixture pileup, can’t have eased the friction between clubs and countries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ll also have VAR (from the quarter-finals onwards) to tackle, a system that despite a reportedly solid World Cup appearance (which I personally question), has been hit by controversy after controversy in Asian domestic football. Ask any Australian, Chinese or Saudi domestic football fan whether they’re looking forward to seeing it being introduced in the UAE, and I’d guess the response wouldn’t be so warm. The prospect of an entertaining, yet hot tempered matchup, akin to that of Iran v Iraq in 2015, may be slightly tarnished with such an introduction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Links to Previews</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20A" target="_blank">Group A</a> - </b>UAE (Hosts), Thailand, India & Bahrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20B" target="_blank">Group B</a> - </b>Australia, Syria, Palestine & Jordan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20C" target="_blank">Group C</a> - </b>South Korea, China, Philippines & Kyrgyzstan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20D" target="_blank">Group D</a> - </b>Iran, Iraq, Vietnam & Yemen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20E" target="_blank">Group E</a> - </b>Saudi Arabia, Qatar, North Korea & Lebanon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://martinlowepp.blogspot.com/search/label/Group%20F" target="_blank">Group F</a> - </b>Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman & Turkmenistan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bringing it back round to the football, the best team over the last four years Iran start as sizeable favourites to win their first continental prize since the 1970s. Their showing in Russia was arguably their nation’s greatest footballing performance on the world stage, with an array of talent at their disposal and Carlos Queiroz in the dugout, they look well placed to live up to the expectations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The usual candidates are their greatest opposition. On the back of making it to the World Cup knockout stages, a reinvigorated and fresh-looking Japan under new coach Hajme Moriyasu look to have the raw enthusiasm to blaze through the tournament, while Australia, despite now being under Graham Arnold can call upon a similar personnel selection that sealed the title four years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">South Korea come into it in the greatest form, having tested themselves against the very best in Asia on foreign soil. Another new coach Paulo Bento hasn’t tinkered as much as others and has the luxury of relying on the best player in Asia within his ranks, and arguably the only centre forward in consistent form amongst the big four.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the fringes, the emergence of Team-2022 for Qatar, makes Felix Sanchez’s young guns a team everyone wants to see tested at competitive level, while eternal bridesmaids Uzbekistan, under Hector Cuper also provide an appetising side show in transition. Given the expansion, the likes of Yemen, Kyrgyzstan and Philippines make their tournament debuts, while Lebanon and Turkmenistan qualify only for their second appearances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ahead of the tournament, I’ve profiled each competing nation in some detail, to establish what this competition means to them, both in their footballing development sense and in their individual coach’s ideology, and which players we could be singing the praises of come the grand final in February. Hopefully you’ll find them enjoyable and informative on the run up to the tournament. <br /><br />With no further ado, utilising the official team bus slogans;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“One Team, One Nation” (Syria), “One Heartbeat” (Iran), with a “Never Say Never” (Bahrain) attitude. Will “Respect All”, but “Fear None” (Japan) and “Never Give Up” (Yemen), to prove their “Time is Now” (UAE).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This is where “We Will Triumph” (Palestine). “Heroes Will Rise” (Australia), upon “The Hope Of A Nation” (India). “Together As One” (Thailand), “Fighting For The Same Dream” (China), “One Dream” (Oman), “To Dream The Impossible” (Philippines), where “Lions Always Prevail” (Iraq).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All roads lead to Abu Dhabi, enjoy!</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-7928715729452194912018-12-21T16:31:00.003+00:002018-12-21T16:31:51.861+00:00Asian Cup 2019: Palestine (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Running up to their second successive Asian Cup campaign, the improvements made by the <b>Palestine</b> national football team have been incredible in their upward trajectory. While qualification was an undoubted success, managerial changes akin to those at this point four years ago threaten to destabilise the side going into an appealing looking group stage for potential progression.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difference in perceptions and quality at this point compared to four years ago is staggering. Palestine travelled to Australia in 2015 as heavy outsiders, debutants to the competition, basking in the feel-good factor as everyone’s second favourite team, only to come away with three comprehensive losses, conceding 11 goals in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years on, the mood has changed, both within the camp and in wider Asian football perceptions. Palestine are tipped by some to unsettle in the Emirates, even challenge for progression to the knockouts, something unheard of prior to this campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The change has come to pass, through a greater quality of players being uncovered, via the vast waves of diaspora, a manager who has bred an attack focussed side, and the fact that the national team has returned home for the first time in nearly five years, to host competitive internationals. All factors adding up, Palestine only succumbed to defeat three times in qualification; considering they faced the likes of Saudi Arabia and UAE early on, the record speaks for itself in its improvement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much so, that they were only three points away from qualifying for the latter rounds of World Cup qualification. But for defeat on the second to last matchday, away in the Emirates against Omar Abdulrahman et al, Palestine illustrated their might on the continental stage, a measure of quality that has been honed in the resulting build-up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A catalyst behind the rise was Abdel Nasser Barakat, a home coach, with the respect of players and fans alike, who guided the squad through qualification expertly, breaking a number of national records along the way. The construction of a winning mentality, on a side that was already hard to beat, with a growing spine, Barakat was seen as the ideal man to lead them into the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As was the case four years ago however, when former coach Jamal Mahmoud was displaced unceremoniously, Barakat’s tenure was cut short upon qualification. His replacement, the bizarrely appointed Bolivian Julio Cesar Baldivieso lasted only two matches, feeling the axe at the start of the year after great pressure from the fanbase finally swung the FA into making a quick decision.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From then, rookie Algerian coach Noureddine Ould Ali, who initially stepped in as caretaker boss has subsequently fallen into the job on a permanent time basis to lead The Fedayeen into January. Ould Ali, who was assistant under Barakat, has justifiably transferred that relationship to the players, but with anger from the fans, still smarting from the whole Barakat mess with the FA, the build up to the tournament remains simmering hot. <br /><br />Recent friendly results have been mixed, Palestine still struggle for the razzle dazzle friendlies other nations take for granted, but their preparation has been extensive, often running the rule in friendly tournaments, such as the Bangabandhu Cup held in Bangladesh outside of FIFA approved international windows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The team on their day are best when attacking the opposition, a trait they illustrated perfectly in qualifying, recording back-to-back 6-0 victories over Malaysia, a 7-0 win over Timor-Leste, an 8-1 victory over Maldives, and an incredible 10-0 effort over Bhutan. These can easily be brushed off as one offs against minnow nations, but it’s easy to forget, Palestine were regularly thought of in the same bracket until very recently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A reason behind such a varied and potent attack has been built on the success of their diaspora, recruiting players from as far wide as Chile, to Germany and Sweden in Europe. The varied styles of play the squad brings to the plate is a melting pot that can’t be underestimated in its unpredictability. At the heart of the team, the creative ingenuity of Pablo Tamburrini keeps the side ticking on, while the physicality of Mahmoud Eid on one flank, and the young enthusiasm of Oday Dabbagh on the other is a regular handful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quite oddly in such a varied attacking lineup, the keeper could become the star of this side’s campaign. One of a handful that still ply their trade in Palestine, Rami Hamadeh looks a prospect that could be considered for a transfer after the competition finishes in February. A modern goalkeeper moulding typical shot stopping abilities as well as those with his feet, Hamadeh is likely to get quite a bit of action at some point in the tournament, especially against Australia in the group stage, so it’ll be an interesting test of his continental pedigree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aside from the reigning continental champions, Jordan and Syria complete an intriguing set of fixtures for Palestine, who can go into the tournament in high spirits. The late change of management has tainted their preparations slightly, however with a squad that is starting to blossom at the right time, and with those around them experiencing similar difficulties, Group B looks wide open for the taking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Noureddine Ould Ali (ALG)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former assistant to the impressive Abdel Nasser Barakat, Ould Ali may have been an underwhelming replacement initially, but he’s starting to bring the fans around in his first head coach position. Has broadly rotated his squad and line-up selections, ever since he took charge but to effect, clinching victory in the friendly Bangabandhu Cup in October.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Rami Hamadeh</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stepping into the shoes of Palestine’s all-time record caps holder Ramzi Saleh is by no means the easiest of tasks, yet 24-year-old keeper Hamadi has done so, making a serious impression. An all-round modern keeper, who is confident in the air and in distribution, could well be Palestine’s secret weapon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cult Hero - Abdelatif Bahdari</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cult figure in Asian football, not always for the right reasons. An ever present in his side’s rise in prominence but about to enter his final years of his career. The Palestinian captain and central defender has the raw ability to excel at this level, but the positioning and concentration to often concede ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect - Oday Dabbagh</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20-year-old left winger who broke onto the international scene with an impressive goalscoring run at the Under 23s Championships in January. Has continued to impress of late in Palestine’s tune up friendlies, featuring heavily in his side's recent Bangabandhu Cup success.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-65507249234730777742018-12-21T15:48:00.002+00:002018-12-21T15:48:34.514+00:00Asian Cup 2019: Vietnam (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Vietnam</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">’s monumental leap into the higher reaches of Asian football, has been one of the standout stories of the last twelve months. From a promising contingent of youth players to regional champions, their return to the Asian Cup for the first time on foreign soil since 1960 marks the cherry on their cake. With justifiable hype swirling around their players and coach, can they go one step further and provide an upset in January?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The early signs were there back in 2016, with a strong run to the semi-finals of the U19 Championships, followed by their debut U20 World Cup campaign the summer after, Vietnam were building a strong youth presence ready to make the transition to the full international stage. This year’s accolades, from their run to the final of the U23 Championships at the start of the year, to their semi-final appearance at the Asian Games (first time in over 50 years), their crowning glory saw them fully transition to the seniors, clinching their first Suzuki Cup in a decade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their ambition is clear, but realistic. World Cup qualification is a long-term goal, to qualify for 2030, bypassing this current generation and laying down the gauntlet to the next production line, tipped to surpass the current crop. That would be some going given the pedestal this side is now placed, engulfing Vietnam into national celebration over the last few weeks upon their AFF triumph, the country is currently riding a tidal wave of emotion, perfectly placed for their trip to the Emirates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Qualification in itself was much less of a fairy-tale. The second round, they illustrated an upturn in quality, pushing Iraq and regional rivals Thailand hard in the group stage, but plenty had to do with the opposition’s deficiencies. The third round was similarly poised, and while Vietnam finished unbeaten over the stage, back-to-back draws against both Jordan and Afghanistan, should be noted to suppress expectations that Vietnam will ease into things next month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Qualification of course was more than a year ago now, a long time in much of these Vietnamese players’ careers, given the squad averages out at 24 years of age. Also, it forgets the impact new South Korean coach Park Hang-seo has had on the current crop and the wider footballing landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Far from being a household name in Korean football, Park’s influence since moving to Vietnam last year has been outstanding, not just in the success he’s brought but the changes he’s made in such a short space of time. The team has developed a style of play, now symbolic with this current crop, trusting young players in big match situations but in tandem pleasing those veterans that continue to add stardust and experience to the squad harmony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While their Suzuki Cup victory owed plenty to the sheer talent of the younger generation, the likes of striker Nguyen Anh Duc, keeper Dang Van Lam and skipper Nguyen Van Quyet added the spine to their creation. The former topped the goal scoring charts, while the shot stopper (currently edging out the highly thought of Bui Tien Dung) reaffirmed his spot as the number one choice going into the Asian Cup after scepticism from some.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The undoubted focus will however be on the younger, more eye-catching options in the starting picture. For what it’s worth, that is clearly understandable, with such a raft of options that look set for promising careers outside of Vietnam, which for so long hasn’t looked to be a possibility for previous generations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Central midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai headlines the bill. Despite only being 21, Quang Hai is the side’s clear star man, taking on responsibility for attack initiation, and with ever more regularity finishing the play off. His influence in a midfield, that could be overloaded against a typically midfield hungry set up, is astounding, taking up the role of sitter, box-to-box engine and creator all in his stride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quang Hai has personified the new attitude spurred on by Park, one of release, freedom and confidence to express themselves on the counter. Pigeon holing any player in this squad otherwise is difficult, even the central defensive trio have demonstrated their ability for quick possession, even in dangerous situations and their willingness to play their part in transition play. With the success, and relative ease in which it has been achieved, it leaves them however with the challenge of bringing this to senior continental level competition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Park’s initial squad selection paints a worrying development in this regard. Two of the “older” guard (Nguyen’s Anh Duc & Van Quyet) have been deselected through fatigue, off the back of a heavy going Suzuki Cup campaig. Injuries to two further starters in Vu Van Thanh and Tran Dinh Trong means a second-rate inexperienced squad will be rolled out in the Emirates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Given the group stage draw, that pits them against two of the more street wise and experienced Asian nations in Iran and Iraq, the potential to be stopped dead in their tracks is one that Park will have to predict. Another concern is goals, and the exclusions of the two more experienced players in the line-up emphasises this point. The team for all their positives, create little in the way of opportunities, relying mainly on catching out defences on the counter. Consequently, they’ve regularly shared the goals around, with Quang Hai leading the charge, more often than not with individually brilliant efforts over anything sustainable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This makes Vietnam’s return to the Asian Cup so interesting to assess from outside. The focus from the outset isn’t on winning the competition, or even progressing to the latter stages, but instead to test this generation out against the top teams in the business. Whether this sees them come out fighting or shrink from the limelight may force a knock-on effect that’ll roll on into a new World Cup qualifying campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Former South Korean youth coach, who joined Vietnam with a relatively subdued reputation. His ascension as coach of the seniors and U23 sides in Vietnam could be considered convenient timing, yet his team has quickly taken on the manager’s mould of reactive, counter attacking football which has received notable plaudits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Nguyen Quang Hai</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The star of this promising Vietnamese crop, Quang Hai is now attracting interest regionally ahead of a coming of age tournament in January. The central midfielder offers tactical foresight, speed in transition and a credible scoring touch, to a side that excels on quick counters. After man of the tournament displays at the last U23s Asian Games and Suzuki Cup tournaments, the senior Asian Cup looks a perfect testing ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the few areas of doubt surrounding this Vietnam side going into the Suzuki Cup was in net, with Moscow born Van Lam taking the lead of late. Only brought into the fold towards the end of qualification, Van Lam had a standout performance in their AFF success, yet is likely to be the player under the microscope the most on the run up to flying out to the Emirates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">19-year-old left wing back who is rising quickly to promise after cementing a starting position with Vietnamese champions Hanoi over the last season. Having starred recently in Vietnam’s run to the semi-finals of the Asian Games earlier this year, Van Hau transitioned straight through to the seniors at the Suzuki Cup with compatriot Vu Van Thanh missing out through injury.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-28695162712653887522018-12-21T13:31:00.001+00:002019-06-13T12:38:31.985+01:00Asian Cup 2019: Japan (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Six months on from surprising the world by qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> are a side full of optimism as they look to muster the perfect response to their failed Asian Cup campaign in Australia four years ago. Under yet another coach, restoring the identity of Japanese football is at the heart of the new JFA led project, building towards another promising era of potential success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It wholly depends on who you speak to you, to whether they think Japan’s campaign in Russia was tactically well executed, or on the whole had a lot to do with lady luck. One things for sure, when said events fell favourably for the Samurai Blue, coach Akira Nishino played his cards well. The eventual performance (not withstanding the first half nerves) that followed the early red card for Colombia, the brave but ultimately prudent rotation of his squad in the final group match to keep fresh for the knockouts and the purposeful pressing illustrated against Belgium, all owe a great debt to Nishino’s initiative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, his backroom staff need to take partial credit for that success, one in particular; the incoming Hajme Moriyasu, fresh in the knowledge he’d succeed Nishino upon culmination of the World Cup, had an early say in how the side set up. The early tinkering to a Moriyasu-inspired three at the back, wing back system against Ghana on the run up to the World Cup may have back fired spectacularly then, but almost certainly has granted further time for Moriyasu to adapt to his playing staff post-summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While the philosophy has carried on; that of bringing back the Japanese identity of old, high levels of possession, creativeness and slow build up, in direct opposition of the direct, workmanlike but effective requirements of former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, Moriyasu has been quick to change the personnel on the pitch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Losing the likes of Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Gotoku Sakai to retirement after the World Cup, Moriyasu has subsequently cut the summer contingent further, excluding the likes of Eiji Kawashima (who admittedly had a woeful World Cup), Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui, Takashi Usami, and Shinj Okazaki from his Asian Cup preparations. While there’ll be contrasting arguments on their usefulness to the current squad, such a swift disregard of such talent is a brave call on the eve of a continental tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This does however allude to the vast resources Moriyasu has at his disposal. In have come the attacking trio of Ritsu Duan, Shoya Nakajima and Takumi Minamino, three players playing regular European football, all under 25 and all cemented into Moriyasu’s starting plans. Nakajima in particular who could’ve felt hard done to, to not have been selected for the World Cup, seems to have improved from it, with a point to prove that he can indeed spring forward from where the likes of Kagawa and Honda left off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The gradual phasing out of their older talents and when this is best to be undertaken has been a thorny subject for years, yet Moriyasu has, for the time being at least been given a break in this regard. Under Vahid Halilhodzic, the Samurai Blue regularly lined up with Messrs Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki taking their places on the bench, yet the style of football being bred at the time, lead for quick calls for a return to the status quo. The fact Moriyasu, a J-League man through and through, has been quick to instill promising talent he knows well in an attacking, possession-based system has clearly gained sympathisers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There will be questions no doubt, of Japan’s credentials at the Asian Cup. They can’t merely coast through a tournament without scrutiny, and despite a lack of noise at present, come January fans will expect their side to compete for silverware. Given the long-term goals of the national side; to qualify and compete at 2022, seek victory on home soil at the Olympics in 2020, even portray a positive vision of Japanese football at next summer’s Copa America, is it too soon to be making a true assessment of Moriyasu’s progress at the Asian Cup?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The side feels fresh, a distinct change from that under Halilhodzic, even Nishino, but reliance on key players in defensive areas will stabilise the core required if they have hopes of going deep into the tournament. The back four is likely to feature their three most experienced players, in Maya Yoshida (now made captain under Moriyasu), Hiroki Sakai and Yuto Nagatomo. All three have experience of big competitions, but also play regular European football with their clubs, a key prerequisite going into the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The keeper situation however remains a doubt. With Kawashima, unanimously thrown onto the scrap heap after the World Cup, Kashiwa Reysol stopper Kosuke Nakamura was ear marked as the heir in waiting to make his tournament debut. Multiple injuries since the summer have subsequently thrown that certainty into doubt, with Gamba Osaka’s Masaaki Higashiguchi in pole position to take the number one jersey on the eve of the tournament. Now 32, Higashiguchi’s erratic style of old has tempered slightly, but his lack of international experience will remain a concern ahead of kick off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Japan all-in-all head into the Asian Cup as a subdued capsule. Preparations have been modest - as usual they have only scheduled home friendly matches since the summer, in which little has overly brought out a change in style or personnel that could suggest what Moriyasu is looking at heading to the UAE. With a relatively simple looking passage through to the knockouts ahead of them, Japan shouldn’t make heavy work of their Round 1 opponents, yet an early predicted meeting with Australia in the quarter finals, could see them struggle to better their abject showing in 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Hajime Moriyasu</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Former Japanese international turned coach, who worked under Akira Nishino on the run up to and at the World Cup over the summer. Famed for leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three titles in four seasons playing an attacking brand of possession football. Has already illustrated his fondness for youth and the J.League, relying on untested international players in the run up to the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Gaku Shibasaki</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unassuming but poised, deep creator, who had found it difficult to fit in the national team picture, until Akira Nishino took charge ahead of the World Cup, now looks the key cog in Moriyasu’s game plan. Amassed a significant career in Japan with Kashima Antlers, including winning the FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball in 2016, before moving to Spain, with Tenerife and now Getafe. A vital figure in transition between defence and attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Under Pressure - </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Masaaki Higashiguchi</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long been a strong performer domestically, Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Higashiguchi has been flung into the spotlight, as the Samurai Blue number one upon the eve of the tournament with only a handful of caps to his name. Was always likely to play catch up with Kosuke Nakamura, however injury has thrown him a lifeline. Quite eccentric and lively in style, the keeper has been susceptible to the odd brain fade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect - Ritsu Doan</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Player of the tournament at the 2016 AFC U19 Championship, Doan played a key role at last year’s U20 World Cup, scoring three goals over four matches. The 20-year-old can play anywhere across the three in behind the striker yet has already established favour with Moriyasu on the right side. A threat from dead ball situations, Doan scored his first Japan goal in October against Uruguay.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-46505613157216919412018-12-21T11:54:00.002+00:002019-06-13T12:38:32.015+01:00Asian Cup 2019: Lebanon (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Lebanon</b> head to their debut Asian Cup on foreign soil in red hot form, boasting one of the longest unbeaten streaks in world football over the last two years, seeing them rise to within the top 10 of Asia. While expectations are noticeably suppressed (for good reason) on the leadup to January, the Cedars remain a team that have found a new lease of life since the appointment of their unknown Montenegrin manager and will look to surprise one or two more in the UAE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lebanese football has regularly been seen as an untapped resource, that Asia has rarely seen blossom. Club football remains modest, continuing to fall way behind their neighbours, in terms of both resources and footballing prestige. The rise of the national team in the last four years could look to turn things around for the country though, heading into their first Asian Cup appearance for nearly 20 years with more than a sense of optimism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their story of qualification was that of slow growth. Starting in a World Cup preliminary group that featured South Korea, immediate progression was written off early, but the tussle with Kuwait for second became an interesting subplot of the entire group phase. Regrettably, a 1-0 defeat at home, followed by a goalless draw in Kuwait, left themselves adrift of their peers. While Kuwait’s resulting ban from international football, saw Lebanon eventually finish ahead, the fact they couldn’t see a reversal in their results prior left them cut adrift of making it through as a lucky loser.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The early qualification stages were used as a building block however, in hope of achieving their more realistic aim of qualifying for the Asian Cup. Their progress in Round 3 clearly demonstrated how far they’d come in such a short space of time; cruising to four wins from five, with their only dropped points coming in an eventful 2-2 draw in Pyongyang to North Korea; the campaign was an unequivocal success. Far from mere qualification, Lebanon have pretty much remained unbeaten for the last two years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their unbeaten run, that stretched between March 2016 through to October this year, saw them extend their streak to 13 matches, only matched by former World Cup champions Spain. Previously a national team that had for too long lacked an end product on the competitive stage, was now a side reborn under new leadership.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That leadership, headed by Miodrag Radulovic has engulfed the country and its wider diaspora, who look to head to the Emirates in their numbers to support their nation. A relatively underwhelming appointment back in 2015, taking over the role from legendary Italian footballer Guiseppe Giannini, Radulovic proved to be the perfect fit for Lebanon, recruiting several new faces from scouring Europe, whilst bringing a new attacking philosophy to the team that provided dividends in later qualification.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The side has regularly been limited by the fact the core of the squad ply their trade at home in Lebanon. The recruitment of talent from across Europe has both improved the quality but also the range of their skill base. German born, but based in the lower leagues of England, Omar Bugiel has epitomised the rise of Lebanon under Radulovic. A modest player domestically, but a player that brings a goal scoring outlet that the national team has long desired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking any pressure off their leading light Hassan Maatouk was an essential task Radulovic had to deal with. Maatouk has been an ever present since the turn of the decade, when Lebanon hit their lowest mark in the world rankings, to continue to lead his side to this day, to their highest position, comfortably within the world’s top 100. While their attacking fulcrum has recently returned home, his wealth of experience and notch above ability that he demonstrated regularly whilst playing in the Emirates, remains the catalyst in which the side builds attacking play on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the last few years, the emergence of younger heirs has been slow to progress. But in the aforementioned Bugiel, and Greek based Hilal El-Helwe, who scored three over the course of qualification, Lebanon have enough tools to frighten any team on the break. With a nucleus of the well experienced Joan Oumari to marshal the defence, and the talent of new Danish born recruit Bassel Jradi in midfield, the squad look well positioned to challenge to better their previous best at an Asian Cup and navigate past the group stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enabling such an attacking game at the highest level remains a tricky proposition however. The last few months have not only seen Lebanon lose their world leading unbeaten streak but lose twice; to Kuwait (fresh after their ban was lifted) and heavily to reigning champions Australia. Without a win in their last four, a retreat in tactics has been noticeable (fielding a back five against the Socceroos), alluding to a more cautious approach upon their kick off with a deadly Qatari attack to come in January.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lebanon have remained an enigma of Asian football for years, and that will persist going into their Asian Cup campaign. Illustrating fine attacking football in qualification is one thing but showcasing the same sort of invention at the elite table may be another feat entirely. The emergence of Jradi, Bugiel and El-Helwe promises much, but without the freedom and willingness to trust their ability to contest, a cautious campaign is likely to win out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With a similarly tough ask facing them in game week two against Saudi Arabia, a last-minute shootout with North Korea could ultimately decide their progress. A flash back to last October, in their 5-0 home win in qualification against the same opponents, a repeat performance would be something memorable to witness at the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Miodrag Radulovic (MON)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The key man behind the rise of Lebanese football, since his appointment in 2015, becoming the first Montenegrin coach in history to qualify a national team for a major tournament. Well liked in the country, for bringing through talent to match the local feel of the squad, can pull on a varied coaching career that included a spell with Uzbek giants Pakhtakor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Hassan Maatouk</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legendary winger or lone front man who has captivated Asian football for years with his immense talent and impressive work rate. A regular goalscorer for Al-Fujairah in the UAE, until moving home with Nejmeh last summer. Is set to become the record appearance holder and goalscorer for the Cedars in the coming years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Cult Hero - Joan Oumari</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outspoken Berlin born centre back, who only returned to the national team, after greater guarantees of minutes under Radulovic. Has played his entire career outside of Lebanon, much of it taking place in Europe, however moved to play alongside Fernando Torres at Sagan Tosu earlier this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect - Hilal El-Helwe</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Winger, who has the capacity to play down the middle, El-Helwe offers creative movement and a deft finish. The 24-year-old, has been integral to the successes made under the Radulovic, utilising his recent form to make the move out of the lower leagues in Germany to Apollon Smyrnis in the Greek Super League.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-17360570152904217392018-12-21T08:57:00.000+00:002018-12-21T08:57:08.917+00:00Asian Cup 2019: Bahrain (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ten years ago, <b>Bahrain</b> came within a goal of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa. Fast forward to the present day, and they’ll be happy they merely managed qualification to the Asian Cup this January. From their considered “Golden Generation”, to a side facing national ridicule, a rebuilding process is well underway to resurrect pride, if not faint hope, that those heady days of success can be replicated in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the start of qualifying, many strongly tipped Bahrain to progress to the latter stages, to push the established elite for an outside chance of making it to Russia. The appointment of former Argentina boss Sergio Batista bolstered the nation’s hopes, yet within a year Bahrain were out at the first hurdle, bettered by the likes of North Korea and Philippines in what in hindsight can now be considered the “Group of Death.” The generation that had received so many of the plaudits years before were left tarnished and set for the scrap heap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In retrospect, it looks to have been the perfect kick up the backside Bahraini football needed. It’s never an easy avenue to venture down, but the deconstruction of such a successful side, sometimes bringing in players half the age of their exiting heroes, is a route every prominent team will have to tread at some point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While individual performances were particularly disappointing, Batista took the lion’s share of the blame (and resulting axe), fitting of course of his somewhat healthy salary. His replacement, a relatively unknown Czech coach Miroslav Soukup stepped into the hot seat, catching his employers’ eye whilst in charge of Yemen, one of the few sides Bahrain picked up points against during Batista’s tumultuous tenure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His two years in the job to date have been progressive to say the least. Out have gone the familiar faces we all think of when Bahraini football springs to mind; the likes of Ismael Abdullatif, Faouzi Aaish and Abdulla Al-Hazaa. Great names of Asian football down the years, at best fazed out slowly, but generally the established stars were swiftly cut from the new national team set up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In their place, Soukup has trusted youth, an area in which the coach has a positive track record in, leading his country to the U20 World Cup final back in 2007. The intent was clear in why the BFA plumped for the previously unheralded coach. Bahrain impressed to a degree during their hosting of the U19s Championship in 2016, but by no means can they bank on any sort of like-for-like quality that has exited stage left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead though, there’s been freshness and attacking vibrancy; young untarnished minds ready to be moulded for modern football. Bahrain have quickly stepped into the 21st century; build up play starts from the back, they have energy in wide positions, entrust forward thinking full backs and positional switching that is reminiscent of present day European football.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One player who has benefited most since Soukup took charge has been Abdulla Yusuf Helal. The 25-year-old striker, who went to the last Asian Cup as a promising bench option had failed to kick on either domestically or for the national team since. That’s until the new coach made him the team’s focal point. Towering, physical, with good link up play, Helal brings the best out of those around him, making perfect use of the runs of Abdo Yaser and Jamal Rashid from deep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His form to end qualification (3 goals in the final stage) engineered a move to Europe, a first for any Bahraini player, to Soukup’s homeland with Bohemians, where the striker has started in the sort of form few could’ve hoped for him a mere two years back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hope is that more will follow Helal’s path to Europe. The number of raw products being given opportunities in the national team over the last year is promising given few Asian nations (West Asia in particular) have granted their trust so wilfully. Hamad Al-Shamsan, a ball playing centre back, Sayed Issa, an energetic, overlapping full back, Mohammed Al-Hardan, an impactful centre midfield dynamo and Ali Madan, a right midfielder adept at late runs into the area, are all examples of players who have shown glimmers of talent recently, but the real test will come with the sustainability shown over the coming cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s a difficult ask for a fledgling squad that has barely played outside of Bahrain, let alone the midtable reaches of continental football, by no means has it been a smooth ride in terms of results either for Bahrain since Soukup took over. Despite cruising through a modest looking Asian Cup qualification group, they did drop points to Singapore and Taiwan along the way. Goals have continued to flow for Al-Ahmar, however defensively it’s a work in progress that will take time to bed in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A grasp of hope going into the Asian Cup, is their draw; coming up against Thailand and India, who are both undergoing tumultuous times at present, and the fact they’ve been drawn against the hosts will also be seen as an opportunity. Bahrain produced back-to-back draws against the UAE and Iraq at last winter’s Gulf Cup, a competition where they exited at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Oman. Confidence looks to be thin on the ground in Group A, something many of Bahrain’s players can count on taking to the Emirates after a positive campaign in Saudi Arabia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They’ve shown before they can mix it at the very highest levels of the Asian game, but a cautionary warning must be heard; they have steadied the ship from their World Cup qualification humiliation yes, but have some way to go to return to the glory days of Abdulatif and Aaish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Miroslav Soukup (CZE)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Former Yemen manager, who left to take over from Sergio Batista after an awful World Cup qualification campaign. Steadied the ship through Asian Cup qualification, producing a younger, more attacking set up. Coached Czech Republic to a U20 World Cup final, where they lost to a Sergio Aguero inspired Argentina side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Abdulla Yusuf Helal</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imposing, physical striker, who looks at home with his back to goal. Become one of the first Bahraini players to break Europe, moving to Bohemians in the Czech Republic over the summer, a league where he’s already started to impress, notching five goals in nine starts thus far.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">U</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nder Pressure - Sayed Saeed</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the old guard that came under criticism during World Cup qualification. On his day he has the ability to inspire the team, but too often misses the spot. The left back or midfielder has remained in the national fold under Soukup but will need to take on greater responsibility as they head to the UAE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">21-year-old centre back, with a cultured eye for a pass, has accelerated up the national team ladder after promising performances at the Asian Under 19s and the recent Asian Games. Links well with midfield and has the physicality to hold off the attack, his age may be the only thing holding him back from a starting spot at the Asian Cup.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-27118094554448414302018-12-20T17:12:00.001+00:002018-12-20T17:12:24.269+00:00Asian Cup 2019: Thailand (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Returning to the Asian Cup after a 12-year absence, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thailand</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> can look back on a productive cycle, that generated a pool of talent that was all set to put South East Asian football on the map. However, with raised expectations and some damaging recent results, comes a retreat to a more defensive mentality which could see a thoroughly watered-down product in the UAE. With their star players set to return in time for January, can they help influence a change in the team’s fortunes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thailand’s record at the Asian Cup is pretty dire, given the circumstances they find themselves in today. Only once have they passed the group stages, but that was at their home tournament, back in 1972. Since then, one win from fifteen matches since 1992 has well and truly shackled The War Elephants to the outer edges of international Asian football. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With such a meagre history of contesting on the continental stage, the job achieved in qualification by former player turned coach Kiatisuk Senamuang was nothing short of remarkable. While steamrolling along regionally (winning back-to-back Suzuki Cups in 2014 & 2016), Kiatisuk’s Thailand shocked Asian Cup semi-finalists Iraq, in topping their Asian Cup qualifying group, before pushing the likes of Saudi Arabia and Australia in the early proceedings of final World Cup qualification.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The very fact that he was forced out thanks to criticism of below par performances in the final round, should illustrate the expectations he’d risen over his tenure. The squad of players groomed over qualification are tentatively being coined as the Thai “golden generation”, and despite concerns over the team itself ever really living up to that moniker, individual players have burnt through their own path to live up to the billing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the last year, the golden trio of Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda and Theerathon Bunmathan all made the loan move to Japan, a noticeable change to their predominantly home based squad, not only to make up the numbers, or to draw in the crowds, but to compete and excel. Chanathip in particular, after a fine season with Consadole Sapporo, has sealed his permanent future in the J.League, impressing enough to be nominated for the league’s top performer across the season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rise of all three championed a positive style of play Kiatisuk encouraged throughout the side. An attacking, wing back system, that saw Thailand at their very best, rip through weaker teams on quick counters, but also stretch and pose questions of those established nations, something rarely seen from a Thai side to date. Chanathip’s burst of energy whilst in possession scared opponents, while the delivery from Theerathon from the left, and Tristan Do from the right, kept lone man Teerasil busy with goal scoring opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing Thailand wasn’t, was ever cautious. In the end, that was Kiatisuk’s undoing, thus a more defensive coach Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac was brought in to steady the ship. <a href="https://sandalsforgoalposts.com/2017/04/29/milovan-rajevac-arrives-in-thailand-with-a-lot-to-prove/" target="_blank">As I preluded upon his appointment a year ago</a>, initial concerns brought up from his previous roles came to fruition. Immediately he bolstered the defence, filing back to a back four (sometimes consisting of four natural centre halves), while cutting out the then inspiring Tristan Do, who has rarely featured under Rajevac since, and clipping Theerathon’s attacking performances, sometimes deploying him in midfield.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The set up is now reminiscent of where we used to pit Thailand. A stubborn side on the fringes, looking to make best off infrequent attacking opportunities, but crucially keeping the door shut behind them. Out have gone the exuberance and invention of old, in came stability, to manage attacks patiently and minimise risks. Perfect for a technical disadvantage that may have come later at the Asian Cup, but something that has slowly saw them lose ground regionally, a place where they have regularly bossed proceedings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A semi-final exit in the last few weeks to Malaysia in their Suzuki Cup title retention bid was nothing short of humiliating for a nation that has dominated so much recently. They weren’t just beaten, it could have been by much more. A competition Thai fans had grown accustomed to winning, has now been set back to yet another tournament Thailand were struggling to exude their influence on. While Rajevac was hamstrung somewhat in not being able to select the Japanese based trio, Thailand managed to cobble together a squad stiff enough to mount a serious challenge that regrettably didn’t occur.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of the few positives that came from the tournament, defensive stability was clearly on show, one area Rajevac and his employers can point to as a step up from that under Kiatisuk. Individually, the performances of 20-year-old forward Supachai Jaided will have also caught the eye. Even if he does only offer a substitute option in the Emirates, the Buriram forward, proved to be an unpredictable option out wide, that worked nicely to balance the side’s structured approach towards goal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Similarly, the goalscoring exploits of Adisak Kraisorn were back on show. The lone front man remains an underwhelming prospect in Asian football, that promised so much early on, to go on to suffer from countless injury setbacks and a lack of form that has hampered his progress to date. The change of management may in the end prove beneficial for him, excelling more in individual moments rather than attacking flow, the striker’s aerial ability and initiative to come alive in the box has already proven to be a successful starting block for Rajevac’s attacking play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thailand travel to the UAE, in a group they should be progressing from – already framing this as potentially their most successful tournament away from home in their history. Drawn alongside the hosts, India and Bahrain will see Thailand start as considered favourites along with UAE for progression, yet with the last month lacking energy and attacking thought, could Thailand become the first of the shock casualty of the Asian Cup?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Milovan Rajevac (SRB)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stepped into the breach of legendary player and coach Kiatisuk Senamuang to restore parity in qualification but failed to clinch a victory to end the cycle. Has returned Thailand to a typical 442/4231 formation, setting up in a more defensive approach than in previous years. Has a chequered managerial past, including short spells in charge of Qatar and Algeria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Chanathip Songkrasin</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most talented player in recent Thai footballing history, who’s transitioned his home form overseas with a successful move to Consadole Sapporo in Japan. “Jay” has the capability of featuring centrally or out wide, with pace and trickery to out think, rather than out muscle his opponents, given his diminutive 5ft 2in stature. After star of the tournament awards regionally, the Asian Cup marks the biggest test of his quality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Returning to Form - Adisak Kraisorn</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Physical striker, who has wrestled with injury knock backs to come into the tournament in great form but has plenty of critics to turnaround. Top scorer at the recent Suzuki Cup, Adisak recorded a double hat-trick against Timor-Leste in the group stage. A clever out ball, he provides a direct alternative to Teersail at the point of the Thailand attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fledgling striker, who is an unpredictable threat from out wide, was one of the few players to further his case for an Asian Cup call up, with three goals in the Suzuki Cup group stage. The 20-year-old has been in and out since breaking through to the Buriram United first team but looks to have nailed down a starting birth domestically in the last month of the season.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-31340643203852566972018-12-20T16:23:00.002+00:002018-12-20T16:23:46.549+00:00Asian Cup 2019: Australia (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years is a long time in football, and the distant memory of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Australia</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> claiming their debut continental triumph on home turf feels like an eternity ago, given what has followed. While the personnel can still be identified, the changes in managerial structures, with a distinct old vs. new comparison being the hot topic of the day, is this team to be treated as a side in transition, or can it lay claim for successive Asian Cup titles?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The end of the Ange Postecoglou reign upon qualification for the World Cup in Russia brought with it a feeling of emptiness. The progress in style was clear to see, but ultimately the results weren’t in tune. Failing to meet the end of his brief over the summer, Postecoglou robbed himself the chance of putting his tenure to the test. What instead materialised was a watered down after-thought, adequately handled by interim boss Bert van Marwijk, but little more than that. Australia let Asia down, in a tournament where their peers achieved notable gains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we enter a new cycle, Graham Arnold, who despite only taking charge of three matches to date, can hardly suggest he’s a fresh face to the role. Into his second spell as Socceroos head coach, his appointment was confirmed at the start of the year. He’s had enough time to ponder and extract the way forward, and to demonstrate this over to the players, in three separate international window training camps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It remains a question mark however, of what if anything majorly different has Arnold changed from van Marwijk, or Postecoglou before him. He stated upon his appointment, that he’d produce a holistic approach between those before him, seeking to appease both sides of the Ange hero or zero debate. From the first few internationals played, there have been slight differences, but in the main the hallmarks remain as they were.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The criticism from the World Cup surrounded the positivity of the team, something Arnold can quickly change up a gear given the drop in quality of their opponents at the Asian Cup. The personnel question marks have been easily answered too; Mile Jedinak’s retirement, allows Massimo Luongo the chance of starting in the heart of the midfield, which was disappointing not to have been utilised in Russia, while the calls for wonderkid Daniel Arzani to start have been dashed for now due to injury. His ready-made excuses are in, he has little to change in that regard, but is there anything he can truly influence?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One area he, unlike those before him can’t hide from, is the centre forward debate. Tim Cahill’s international retirement was gleefully celebrated by many after Australia’s exit from the World Cup, yet his goals have clearly been the catalyst in keeping the Socceroos ticking along over the last four years. Even the more technical, pace orientated ideology stressed by Postecogloiu, relied upon Cahill to bail them out upon occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In his place, the options remain second rate, a point highlighted by Arnold’s assistant Rene Meulensteen in the build-up; stressing a greater significance on goals scored from across the pitch, rather than signalling out a number 9 for pressure. With Tomi Juric left out altogether, the repositioning of Mat Leckie is probably the most likely selection, given his movement and pace to stretch defences. Alternatively, Andrew Nabbout offers a physical option in counter attacking situations or Jamie Maclaren as a pure penalty box poacher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A further option, emerging as Arnold’s first “discovery” is Martin Boyle. The Scottish born winger-come-forward, who hadn’t set foot in Australia until his home debut in November, scored twice against Lebanon, illustrating pace, ingenuity and courage to lead the line. While he’ll likely take up a support attacking role, his movement off a static focal point could be the regular way forward under Arnold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Centre midfield looks to be another area where we’ll see noticeable change. Jedinak’s retirement is a sea change, in Australian football of old, and his direct replacement of Massimo Luongo, looks to come at the right time, given his successful stint at the last Asian Cup. The fitness concerns of Aaron Mooy provides a hammer blow to the style of play they’ve demonstrated recently, the metronomic midfielder may have made the initial squad cut, but initial scans allude to the player’s extended absence for the duration of the tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With that in mind, a new style of play may be introduced, a concept Postecgloiu struggled to implement away from Australia. Regularly through qualification, and at a home Asian Cup, the Socceroos had a clear identity, yet away from home, in qualification and in World & Confederations Cup campaigns, the symbolism felt lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coming up against Jordan (a side they lost to in Amman at the start of qualification) and Syria (the team they only scraped through against in the World Cup playoffs) early at the Asian Cup will give cause for concern. Australia are the side everyone will look to shoot down. Despite being in transition there will be an expectation that they’re the team to beat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That brings us round to the finer point; what is truly expected of this Australia side? Under Postecoglou, it was criticised that fans desired the unrealistic; to dominate Asia, and to make competing on the World stage their priority. Will such an easy ride be expected in the UAE, or is there a realistic thought, that 2022 is the long-term goal? Arnold, who’s taken up the tandem role of U23 Head Coach along the way to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 has shouldered a large responsibility within the fabric of Australia’s national football. It will be an interesting moment, if Australia were to perceptibly fail in the Emirates come January, how would the fans and FFA react?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Graham Arnold</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Former domestic title winning coach of Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC, with a no-nonsense reputation takes up the role of Australian manager for the second time in his career. Seen as the antithesis of Asian Cup winning coach Ange Postecoglou, “Arnie” is sometimes labelled as a defensively minded coach with little flexibility. Is the father in law to first choice Australian centre back Trent Sainsbury.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Mat Leckie</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having gone under the radar for much of his career, Leckie’s place as one of the Socceroos most essential outlets was all to see in Russia. Impressive speed and industry to offer an easy out ball, but also has the tenacity to win possession back, often in the opposition third. After a sluggish start to the season, has been in excellent form for Hertha Berlin on the run up to the Asian Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Under Pressure - Robbie Kruse</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regularly cited as Australia’s weak link yet continues to find favour under every national team coach. An integral team player, who may lack an individual edge or sustained output, but suits the team balance. With Daniel Arzani ruled out through injury, Kruse’s place remains his to lose, but the pressure will undoubtedly remain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect - Chris Ikonomidis</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A revelation in Perth Glory’s impressive start to the domestic season, the central or wide forward has finally lived up to the billing after years of failed loan moves whilst on the books of Lazio. Offers industry, speed and artistry in the final third, whilst also demonstrating a perfect foil to a lone front man, with his impressive partnership with Richard Keogh at club level.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219806228347872623.post-33292908014443145492018-12-20T13:50:00.001+00:002018-12-20T13:50:40.194+00:00Asian Cup 2019: China (Preview)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyT_Cwy_-FV9NqG8I6DNJVl54JnJhWZTtCG-ERkzmLhQ-RQ5lay7V7GIZNQM5v1tmt78fFplRkqEpCd7DSfhmFtSJ31gA3I4WdthUnHtYszsCHWSn5S6DoOgziw8NN-NT6aqtbmomB5M/s1600/yu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="899" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyT_Cwy_-FV9NqG8I6DNJVl54JnJhWZTtCG-ERkzmLhQ-RQ5lay7V7GIZNQM5v1tmt78fFplRkqEpCd7DSfhmFtSJ31gA3I4WdthUnHtYszsCHWSn5S6DoOgziw8NN-NT6aqtbmomB5M/s320/yu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is it finally the end of a bleak few years for<b> China</b>, or merely just the beginning of another stagnant chapter? While stability is hardly a word you’d affix to the Chinese football landscape, the national team has remained consistently below par for some time now. The rushed appointment of Italian legend Marcello Lippi steadied a ship in qualification, that in reality needed a complete rebuild. The months and years that later passed, have seen little improvement, leaving few with any positive hopes for Asian Cup progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Come January, Chinese football can look back on the last 12 months in with mixed feelings; the league season was one of the most enthralling for years, the CSL contributed to two teams in the last 16 of the Champions League and general quality of Chinese players featuring domestically saw a noticeable increase. At direct opposition to this however, the national team looks to have been severely left behind, devoid of any relation with other CFA initiatives, leaving a worrying chasm going into another hopeless World Cup qualification campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two of the most talked about and most controversial news stories of the last year, involved top down directives intent on improving the domestic stock. While the introduction of stricter U23 rules on the CSL followed by a bizarre military U25 camp to end the season were widely criticised, the ambition (however it was done) was agreeable – how do we build a stronger, younger national team? You’d be forgiven in the thinking that Marcello Lippi missed the memo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lippi, who was sworn in to ultimately save face at the end of World Cup qualification, has slowly looked a man disinterested or simply unequipped to take up the role of national team coach. The team remains stagnant with the same old faces that crept by in qualification only to crumble in the big matches, fleetingly introducing younger players who have come on in progress since the introduction of the U23 rulings, but rarely demonstrating his full trust.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has come to pass has been mediocre, blind testing but ultimately ineffectual preparation, only managing to pick up one victory in their last five preparation friendlies, including reputation damaging home draws to India and Palestine. Lippi remains at a loss to get the best out of the players he’s loyal to, tinkering with styles of play, formations and personnel, without really going the extra yards in scrapping the vast majority of this generation altogether.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His loyalty, borne out of his time with Guangzhou Evergrande may be the sticking point. Lippi has already agreed to walk away after the Asian Cup, so to him, bringing in untested younger players would not benefit him personally in in the immediate short term. The likes of Zhang Linpeng, Feng Xiaoting, Zhang Zhi and Gao Lin are all consummate pros, arguably the finest selection of the last decade, yet the signs are already there that something isn’t clicking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one piece of the puzzle that Chinese fans will hope to slot into place, is that of Shanghai SIPG striker Wu Lei. Having led the domestic goal scoring charts for Chinese players over the last few years, Wu has gone one step further in topping the lot this term, in his side’s first title success. Blossoming in an attack featuring Brazilian internationals Hulk and Oscar, Wu has not merely acted as backup, but the spearhead, developing his all-round game, into a player that could easily make the transition to European club football.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting the best out of him in a Chinese shirt however, is proving a galling task. Without a clear plan, or the suited personnel around him, Wu has been squeezed into a number of positions, all failing to best utilise his talents. His combination play with Gao Lin, has yet to provide fruit, while acting as a foil off a target man, such as Yang Xu or Yu Dabao hasn’t worked either. In the end, a move back to a defensive, counter game with Wu as an isolated leading figure may be the opening gambit set for the UAE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without that additional spark from a dearth of experience outside the domestic league, Wu and China look set for a frustrating run in attack. While this is a worry, one redeeming feature seems to be their improving defence. Amongst the Evergrande heavy set up, SIPG keeper Yan Junling and Beijing Guoan central defender Yu Yang, demonstrate the one area the national team has improved in over the outgoing cycle. While initial expectations are thin on the ground for progression, low scoring draws are at least a starting point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having drawn South Korea, alongside two dark horses with little expectation on their shoulders in Kyrgyzstan and Philippines, China couldn’t have imagined a tougher group to go into. Casting an eye over the tournament as a whole, the fact teams can progress from the group stage in third spot, few shock exits are predicted; yet China’s star will no doubt be the first to fall. Lippi’s farewell tour, that many expected being constructing the dawn of a new generation of Chinese football, looks more to be the lowest ebb of their modern-day progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Head Coach - Marcello Lippi (ITA)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Highly experienced coach, who has won the World Cup, European & Asian Champions League trophies across an illustrious career. The man behind, the most successful Chinese side of all time; Guangzhou Evergrande, winning three titles in a row with them. The Asian Cup will bring to end his time in China, and almost certainly bring down the curtain on his illustrious managerial career.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Star Player - Wu Lei</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wide man or centre forward, peaking at the right time, after finishing as the domestic league top scorer (with 27 in 29) in Shanghai SIPG’s title triumph. Has developed his all-round attacking game, his speed to run in behind, aerial ability to contest for headed goals and initiative to force tap ins. Has generally underwhelmed for the national team thus far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Under Pressure - Zhang Linpeng</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swashbuckling right full back or centre half, who has all the talents to be a legend in Asian football but has failed to provide his A-game for some years now. One of the few Evergrande players that Lippi puts his hat on to perform at the Asian Cup, much will depend on Zhang and his Guangzhou defensive partners, to see how successful a send off it is for his Italian boss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Young Prospect - Wei Shihao</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of only a few under 23-year-old players to break the national team with any sort of regularity. Has already made a name for himself at national tournaments, starring at the East Asian Cup last year and the Asian Games this. The unpredictable striker has European experience of playing in Portugal but is now back in the CSL with Beijing Guoan.</span></div>
Martin Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983909333387121688noreply@blogger.com0