Gulf Cup Review (Saudi Arabia 2014)

Qatar completed a memorable year on the pitch as they defied the odds to comeback and beat hosts Saudi Arabia in this month’s Gulf Cup final. With the world’s eye firmly fixed on the ongoing soap opera being the 2018 World Cup, Qatar have quietly gone about their business to terrific effect in 2014, impressing in a number of regional competitions before romping to victory in Riyadh.

The final illustrated the true grit in which Qatar had possessed throughout the tournament, bouncing back from an early Saud Khariri header for the hosts, to level almost immediately through centre back – and captain for the final – Ibrahim Majid in similar fashion. To complete the comeback, a fine winner from Boualem Khoukhi, who’d been kicked off the park all match only to come up with the goods to seal Qatar’s first Gulf Cup title in 10 years.

Khoukhi personally had an eventful tournament, going into the tournament on a wave of hype after an impressive run through the national ranks before, being selected ahead of the injured national hero Sebastian Soria, firmly thrusting the nation’s expectations onto his young shoulders.

In truth, Khoukhi didn’t have the worst of tournaments, but at times such a great step up in class had him looking lost and fragile as a lone forward. After flitting in and out of the team, he finally showed his worth netting in the final match, going on to guide the team home into victory in a special second half showing.

The Qataris were far from unexpected victors, but they battled against injury with influential playmaker Khalfan Ibrahim joining Soria on the treatment table before the tournament, and regular captain Bilal Mohammed being struck down before the final. They also had to come up against the hosts, not only in the opening match of the tournament but also in the final, where they emerged unbeaten over the two ties.

They started with a 1-1 draw against the Saudis in what was a cagey opening contest, the hosts’ nemesis Majid scoring his first of two against the Falcons, before they continued to stutter in subsequent 0-0 draws against the unfancied Yemen and Bahrain. With that they crawled through against the odds, not picking up a single win and only scoring a solitary goal in the group stage.

The semi-finals finally saw Qatar wake up. After going one behind to Oman, an Al-Haydos penalty before half time followed by the introduction of Ali Assadalla turned the contest and their whole tournament around, finally illustrating their attacking capabilities on the counter in a 3-1 win, breezing through to the final stage against their initial group opponents Saudi Arabia.

While Qatar hardly pulled up any trees on their route to the final, Saudi Arabia revelled in their position as hosts, exploding after the cautious 1-1 draw with Qatar, beating Bahrain easily 3-0 before edging past Yemen 1-0. Goal poacher and Asian Player of the Year nominee Nasser Al-Shamrani was at his clinical best, as was eventual MVP winner Nawaf Al-Abid who joined Al-Shamrani on the score sheet in the semi-final classic encounter with UAE.

The Saudis strolled into a 2-0 first-half lead before the Emirati’s hit back with two second half goals sending them seemingly into an enthralling extra-time contest. That was before Salem Al-Dawsai thrashed home a long range effort to send the stadium and nation into raptures, setting the path through to the Gulf Cup final.

As hosts, a final appearance was expected by the nation with what had come before a realistic shot at the title ahead of travelling to the Asian Cup in January. While the talents of Al-Abid have seen him all but cement a place in Saudi’s starting line-up for the competition, a couple of their regular stars failed to light up the final, leaving a disappointing after taste for those home supporters who had attended the final in Riyadh.

Further fan disappoint was felt in the semis, as reigning champions UAE exited earlier than expected. The Emiratis failed to ever remain at their attacking best; while there were clear bright spots through golden boot winner Ahmed Ali Mabkhout, who is starting to look like a real continental star, and through playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, whose genius in the UAE midfield was cut short through injury, UAE overall looked short of their best. UAE will go into 2015 with high hopes, but added consistency is still needed to successfully compete in Australia.

Fellow semi-finalists Oman conversely performed above what was expected after a slow start to their group phase. Back-to-back draws were followed by a spectacular 5-0 victory over Kuwait to make their way through to the semis. A hat-trick through Said Salim stole the headlines, but great work during the tournament from Mohammed Al Seyabi and Raed Ibrahim Saleh, who conjured a stunning volley in the semi-final defeat to Qatar, offer greater hope for the national team going into the new year.

Of those who exited through the group stage it was the familiar tale of frustration and disappointment. Yemen arguably came out of it the best as the lowest rank side in the competition after defying the odds to hold Bahrain and Qatar before only narrowly losing to the hosts. It was a similar story for fellow Group A opponents Bahrain who also picked up two 0-0 draws either side of a comprehensive 3-0 loss to the Saudis.

In Group B it was a much more enthralling contest, as Kuwait, our underdogs for a final push started well, beating Iraq in the final minutes courtesy of a stunning finish from Fahad Al-Enezi before an impressive 2-2 draw with UAE. However, in need of only a point from the final match, the Kuwaitis collapsed going down 5-0 to Oman and finished the tournament with the Gulf’s worst defence.

The biggest disappointment came in the shape of Iraq, who were completely off the boil throughout despite fielding a strong on paper, youthful line-up. They didn’t ever seem to get out of first gear, only registering one point over Oman and finishing bottom of the pile in Group B.

The Gulf Cup grows in popularity with every edition. Its 22nd hasn’t broken with tradition, with some real glimmers of quality being beamed around the world. For observers it also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the region when it comes to competing for the Asian Cup in January.

While individual brilliance was on show with a number of sensational personal and team goals, attacking flair was often stunted by some cautious and, at times, brutal defensive tactics. It remains to be seen if this year’s Gulf champions Qatar can reassemble with their absent stars and make a real fist of toppling the established order in Australia.

AFC International Week Focus (November)

For many, November’s international window hosted their final preparation matches before January’s Asian Cup in Australia. With no official break scheduled for December, the established nations of Asian football will only return at the turn of the year for their pre-tournament training camps, while other nations (mainly West Asian sides) have organised unofficial preparation outside the FIFA calendar for the end of the year. This month also saw the participation of the final regional tournaments of the year with West Asia’s Gulf Cup and the EAFF East Asian Cup qualifiers taking place.

 

Good Week

 

The period’s biggest winners were undoubtedly Japan, with the Samurai Blue recording back to back home victories ahead of their Asian Cup crown pursuit. Javier Aguirre reverted back to much of the World Cup squad that had failed under Zaccheroni, and they repaid the faith, starting with an impressive 6-0 victory over Honduras before comfortably beating Asian Cup host’s Australia 2-1. Returning veterans Yasuhito Endo and Yasuyuki Konno claimed goals to push forward their squad contention hopes, while diminutive winger Takashi Inui grabbed a brace against the Central Americans.

 

Iran took to the international stage for the first time officially since the World Cup and impressed with a solid 1-0 home victory over Korea Republic. A late Sardar Azmoun goal sank the Korean’s after a bad tempered affair in Tehran. Carlos Queiroz, who signed a contract extension last month tinkered with the shape of the side and promised a more attacking outlook when they travel to Australia. The approach is likely to take time to embed but the introduction of Alireza Jahanbakhsh from the start and Rubin Kazan’s Azmoun off the bench points in the right direction.

 

Seven West Asian qualified nations kicked off their Gulf Cup campaigns this week, and prior to the competition were broadly successful in their preparation matches. Hosts Saudi Arabia overcame Palestine 2-0, while fellow Group A nations Qatar and Bahrain eased past Korea DPR and Singapore in their respective friendlies. Reigning Gulf Cup champions UAE also went into the tournament on a high with a narrow 3-2 win over Lebanon while Oman beat Yemen 2-0 in Muscat.

 

Average Week

 

Only in his second month in charge, Uli Stielike took his Korea Republic side to West Asia to face Jordan and Iran. Despite a narrow victory over the Jordanians, Korea went down 1-0 to a late winner in Iran. Complaints over the officiating of the match and the winning goal in particular riled the German coach after the match. Stielike suggested that Iran’s over-physical tactics weren’t punished sufficiently over the 90 minutes but reflected that the trip had been an overall success despite the defeat with a number of returning internationals such as Kwak Tae-Hwi and Yoon Sun-Young bringing themselves back into January’s squad contention.

 

After a couple of promising months China PR were frustrated in November picking up two home draws over the week. Letting slip a late equaliser to New Zealand after Wu Lei put them in front was disappointing after the Chinese equipped themselves well, while the second encounter against Honduras was a stiffer contest against a side on the bounce back of a hammering to Japan, the game eventually ended in a stalemate. It was similarly bitter sweet for Palestine, who despite defeat to Saudi Arabia recovered to ease past Vietnam 3-1 courtesy of a debut goal for centre forward Mahmoud Eid.  Both sides have time to finely tune their squads, and will face each other in mid-December to further cement their Asian Cup starting line-ups.

 

Elsewhere, Kuwait’s preparation for their Gulf Cup campaign ended in anti-climax after being held to a 1-1 draw with Yemen. A result that previously would have been considered a disappointment, has looked better in hindsight after both sides started promisingly in Saudi Arabia. Similar fortunes for Korea DPR who were defeated by Qatar 3-1, before going on to record two victories and a draw as they ensured qualification for next year’s EAFF East Asian Cup.

 

Bad Week

 

Asian Cup hosts Australia continue to struggle to pick up results in the run up to the competition after they lost for the 8th time in 11 matches against rivals for the crown Japan in Osaka. Manager Ange Postecoglou ringed the changes after a disappointing camp in West Asia last month but were again thankful of their usual talisman Tim Cahill rescuing some pride from the bench in the 2-1 reverse. A handful of areas remain a concern, but what Postecoglou’s side needs is confidence, something the Socceroos will have to develop on the training pitch ahead of January.

 

Similar struggles are being felt by Jordan at the moment, who have failed register a win since qualification for the Asian Cup, some 7 months ago. Little tangible change has been felt since Ray Wilkins took the helm last month, and with back-to-back defeats to Korea Republic and Estonia, Jordan can expect another drop in the FIFA’s world rankings. They do however have time to improve ahead of the Asian Cup with friendlies scheduled in December and early January, as will Uzbekistan and Iraq who sat out this month’s friendly window, the latter have subsequently begun slowly in their Gulf Cup campaign.

Gulf Cup Preview (Saudi Arabia 2014)

The 22nd Gulf Cup competition kicks off in Riyadh next week with many seeing this as a mini-dress-rehearsal of January’s Asian Cup for 7 of the West Asian qualifiers. Hosts Saudi Arabia, reigning champions UAE alongside an in-form Qatar look the likeliest contenders for this year’s crown, while a recent return to winning ways for Kuwait casts them as dark horses for a shot at upsetting the usual balance. Here’s a preview of each side competing, with the final set to take place on Wednesday 26th November.

Group A

 

Saudi Arabia

 

Hosts with plenty of support in the nation’s capital will be under pressure to clinch a fourth Gulf Cup title and their first in over a decade. Realistically one of three sides that will also be expecting a strong run to the latter stages in the Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia have recorded some erratic results over the past few months including an impressive draw against Uruguay followed by a miserable draw with Lebanon. Immensely experienced across the pitch, a high number of their squad gained rave reviews for their performances for Al-Ittihad and eventual finalists Al-Hilal in this year’s Asian Champions League.

 

Key man; Nasser Al-Shamrani – Predatory centre forward, who has performed emphatically as a penalty box poacher over the past year. At times temperamental and criticised for sly tactics against opponents.

 

Qatar

 

Arguably the most in-form squad at the competition after impressive victories over Uzbekistan and Asian Cup hosts Australia in the last month. Organised line-up with flair on the flanks, they are spurred on by centre forward and skipper Sebastian Soria who has been at the focal point of much of Qatar’s good work. Crashed out miserably of the group stage last year but will be one of the favourites to make it all the way to the final this time around.

 

Key man; Khalfan Ibrahim – Creative winger who causes havoc with his technical ability to twist opposing full backs left and right. Asian player of the year in 2006.

 

Bahrain

 

The least successful of the established nations from the Gulf region. Apart from relative newcomers Yemen, they’re the only nation not to have won the regional title in their 21 previous appearances. Their form has drastically picked up in the past year remaining unbeaten since January, notching up decent draws against Uzbekistan and Qatar. Relatively cautious in their approach, Bahrain have proved tough in defence but lacking in attack.

 

Key man; Ismail Abdulatif – One of Bahrain’s greatest attacking products who has recently moved to the Saudi Pro League. Scorer of the winning goal that sent Bahrain to their World Cup playoff in 2010.

 

Yemen

 

The only side in the Gulf Cup competition not to have qualified for January’s Asian Cup, Yemen are unsurprisingly considerable underdogs for glory in Riyadh. Ranked below the likes of Guam and Bangladesh in recent FIFA World Rankings many will be writing them off causing a stir in the group stage. Despite losing every Gulf Cup group match last year without scoring, an upturn in performances since then has seen them push some established sides in recent friendlies including a narrow 3-2 defeat and draw against Iraq.

 

Key man; Ayman Al-Hargi – Raw attacking talent who holds the hope of the nation’s regional progress. For someone so young, he’s already been stationed at a number clubs across the Gulf region, most recently in Bahrain.

Group B

 

United Arab Emirates

 

Reigning champions who are piggy backing on the success of their domestic league in their hope of Gulf Cup retention and decent progress in January’s Asian Cup. Impressively tight defensively, the Emirati national side has struggled for goals of late but are starting to produce a couple of notable young striking talents in the form of Ahmed Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Ismail who impressed at the 2012 Olympics. UAE have only won one of their last seven friendly matches this year, frustratingly drawing four in a row at the end of the summer.

 

Key man; Omar Abdulrahman – Technically gifted playmaker who is imperative to any attacking exploits UAE can garner. Struggling to be fit to make the competition with a knee injury that kept him out of the October internationals.

 

Iraq

 

One of the youngest squads in the competition, Iraq are building on their success at the last U20 World Cup which saw them reach the semi-finals. Their talents stretch across the globe with players playing in England, Sweden and various West Asian leagues. One of their strongest aspects is the attacking tandem of youngster Mohannad Abdul-Raheem and veteran Younis Mahmoud. Mahmoud remains Iraq’s most likely route to goal despite being without a club for over a year. Troubles in organising friendly competition in the last year has seen them go 7 months without a victory.

 

Key man; Ali Adnan – Attack minded left back who rose to prominence at the Under-20 World Cup before moving to Turkey with Rizespor. Famed for accurate delivery and direct attempts from dead ball situations.

 

Oman

 

After being one of West Asia’s leading lights a few years back, Oman have struggled in the run up to this competition. Oman’s golden period in the Gulf Cup came in the last decade where they reached the final three times in succession and clinched the trophy as hosts in 2009, since then they’ve struggled to make a real impact in the early stages. Defeats to two leading lights of World football; Uruguay and Costa Rica in recent months are hardly disastrous signs, however some have questioned why they haven’t tested themselves against similar strength sides in their Gulf Cup preparation.

 

Key man; Ali Al-Habsi – Legendary goalkeeper who had a short stint in the English Premier League with Wigan Athletic remains the only prominent overseas based player in the squad. Famed for his exceptional penalty saving abilities.

 

Kuwait

 

Lowly ranked in comparison to their competitors, it would be foolish to write off the Gulf Cup’s most successful nation with their domestic game continuing to succeed on the continent. Champions for three years running, Kuwaiti clubs Al-Kuwait and Al-Qadsia have dominated the AFC Cup scene, with much of their success being built around players who have broken through to the national team picture. After excelling for three decades in the Gulf Cup, Kuwait have only won one of the last seven editions of the competition, but will be looking to make at least the semi-finals this time around.

Key man; Bader Al-Mutawa – Experienced goal scorer who was instrumental in Al-Qadsia’s AFC Cup triumph this season, often provides his greatest threat drifting in from the flanks.