Asian Cup Matchday Review (Final)

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.

The Player

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, Akram Afif 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.

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.

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?

The Team

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, Qatar 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.

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

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.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Semi-Finals)

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.

The Player

“Flat track bully turned big match hero.” Depending on your point of view I may have undersold Almoez Ali’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.

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.

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.

The Team

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, Japan 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

As suggested in my tournament preview, 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.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Quarter-Finals)

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.

The Player

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 Ritsu Doan’s performances of late suggest all is not lost for Hajime Moriyasu.

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.

The key moment came, as Doan showed his inventiveness and wiliness to take on his marker, drawing the first VAR penalty awarded at the tournament. 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.

The Team

The third quarter final between South Korea and Qatar 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.

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.

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.

Some have already sought to compare this Qatar team to the UAE side of four years ago. 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.

The Talking Point

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?

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.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Round of 16)

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.

The Player

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 Mat Ryan 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.

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.

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.

The Team

Coming up against the surprise package of the tournament thus far in Jordan, Vietnam 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?

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

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.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW3)

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.

The Player

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 Hamad Al-Shamsan may not be necessarily making the headlines, but his presence has been integral in his country's knockout progression.

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.

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.

The Team

There have been few teams to demonstrate the consistency and freshness that Kyrgyzstan 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.

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

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.

His unwavering view of Mark Milligan's obvious looking handball was brushed off before "making amends" 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?

For those of you who will point to VAR's implementation upon the quarter-final stage, you've come to the wrong person given my considerable views on the subject. Irrespective of the technology being treated as a silver-bullet to those so called clear mistakes, an area even Western Europe is starting to awake to in the last 24 hours, 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?

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW2)

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.

The Player

Long been touted as the breakout star of this generation of Chinese players, Wu Lei'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.

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.

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?

The Team

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 Jordan. 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.

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW1)

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.

The Player

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 Abdulaziz Al-Bishi, 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.

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.

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.

The Team

With Australia, South Korea and Japan all experiencing varying degrees of scares in the first round of matches, pre-tournament favourites Iran 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.

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.

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.

The Talking Point

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.

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.

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.

Asian Cup 2019 (Preview)

The 18th AFC Asian Cup 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Links to Previews

Group A - UAE (Hosts), Thailand, India & Bahrain

Group B - Australia, Syria, Palestine & Jordan

Group C - South Korea, China, Philippines & Kyrgyzstan

Group D - Iran, Iraq, Vietnam & Yemen

Group E - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, North Korea & Lebanon

Group F - Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman & Turkmenistan

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With no further ado, utilising the official team bus slogans;

“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).

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).

All roads lead to Abu Dhabi, enjoy!

Asian Cup 2019: Palestine (Preview)

Running up to their second successive Asian Cup campaign, the improvements made by the Palestine 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Key Men

Head Coach - Noureddine Ould Ali (ALG)

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.

Star Player - Rami Hamadeh

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.

Cult Hero - Abdelatif Bahdari

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.

Young Prospect - Oday Dabbagh

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.

Asian Cup 2019: Vietnam (Preview)

Vietnam’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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Key Men

Head Coach - Park Hang-Seo (KOR)

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.

Star Player - Nguyen Quang Hai

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.

Rising To The Occasion - Dang Van Lam

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.

Young Prospect - Doan Van Hau

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.