Asian Cup 2019: Iraq (Preview)

Four years of favour, misfortune, controversy and frequent managerial change. Through the usual chaos of Iraqi football, develops a national team squad of talented players ready to make a sustained challenge on the Asian Cup, a competition they regularly over-performed in. As we near January however, the usual ills of Iraqi football; politics, squabbles and corruption do their worst to subdue expectations.

When dissecting the state of the Iraq national team, it’s often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, or even to separate off the field matters with those on it. The last four years of qualification have only emphasised the mess the IFA and the national team set-up has been in for generations, but crucially despite this the performances on the pitch usually come out fighting.

The current incumbent of the hottest of managerial hot seats going, Slovenian Srecko Katanec, after promising sound bites to the media upon arrival, could be heading down a similarly destructive route. While preparations have been far from ideal, the raw product at his disposal is enviable to say the least. But of course, talent is very much only a starting block in Iraqi football, that rarely correlates with its achievements.

Through qualification, talent and performance apart, their campaign relied a whole lot on luck. Good luck, in the way they scraped through a rather middling Round 2 group phase, where they entered the cycle as the seeded nation, only to see their fortune reverse in Round 3, leaving them in arguably an undeserved lowly position.

Running through six managers since the last Asian Cup can’t have helped matters either, very few of whom exited with any sense of achievement. Yahya Alwan, while forcing the results on the board, couldn’t get the very best out of a transitioning squad, while Radhi Shenaishil, despite overseeing an upturn in performances, couldn’t achieve the type of results he forged in his last spell, leading Iraq to the semi finals of the Asian Cup in 2015. 

The transition has been arduous, but the semblance of youth that runs through the current squad is testament to the persistence of all coaches through this spell. Out has gone the highly influential captain and striker Younes Mahmoud, in came the heir in waiting Mohanad Abdulraheem who starred in front of goal throughout qualification. Out went the volatile talent of Yaser Kasim, in came the youthful exuberance of Bashar Resan.

The squad on paper is demonstrably fresher for it; nearly a dozen of the current squad are under 23, a cohort of young players who have developed together through Iraqi youth team successes, including fourth place at the 2013 U20 World Cup, two medal winning campaigns at their last two Asian Games, an unbeaten Olympic campaign in 2016 and an Asian U16 title. A nucleus of players, developed together to succeed at knockout tournaments, indicates the perfect breeding ground to dominate regional football over the next 10 years, surely? Or so it was believed.

An internal investigation earlier this year dug up a number of falsified documents, casting doubt on several of Iraq’s most talented young players’ ages, thus tarnishing their recent youth successes, to the extent that Iraqi youth football has been thrown into the abyss. One pertinent example, that of Mohammed Dawood, the top scorer at the U16 Championships two years ago, is set to be selected at the upcoming Asian Cup, reportedly playing under a date of birth three years younger than his real age.

While youth football has been hit hard, with the players involved potentially skewing the age profile of the squad heading to the Emirates, the fact remains that they do possess the same talent potential, never mind their age. Centre midfield duo, Basher Resan and Amjad Attwan (both “officially” 21) are two players to watch out for in January. The former has arguably been the form player in his position over the Asian club season, featuring in Iranian champions Persepolis’ run to the Champions League final.

While there’s a lot of buzz around the squad’s personnel, if not just speculation over their ages, it’s undoubtedly a concern that this side lacks experience. Along with their key retirements, Katanec’s injury list continues to grow on the eve of the tournament; snaring another two key starters in Saad Abdul Amir and Justin Meram in the last month, leaving the side’s spine in an uncomfortable position.

Another issue that has regularly thrown a spanner in the works on in the build up to a tournament is that of squad harmony. The soap opera that pitted home based players against European based Iraqis on the run up to Australia, in the end saw the friction unify on the pitch, while this time the concern may instead be between the coach and his players. Outspoken and tactically erratic, Katanec has a reputation for rubbing up his playing staff in the wrong way, something that is noticeably simmering after recent poor performances 

A lack of a clear vision may consequently be his side’s undoing. Katanec has regularly tinkered between a 352 and a more typical 4231, with similarly poor friendly results. Being pitted against Iran and Vietnam in the group phase, will bring back positive recent memories, yet both sides are more than a match for a tactically transitioning Iraq at present. Structure and unity is paramount for any hopes of early progression.

Painting a picture of a unified Iraqi national team remains a difficult ask. However smooth the lead-up is, someone, be it from the media, the IFA or within the camp itself, will do their best to create tension. We’ve all seen before how little this can affect their performances however, this is a side that went on to win the 2007 Asian Cup whilst their home nation was ravaged by war. As always with Iraqi football, expect controversy but also expect a noble performance.

Key Men

Head Coach - Srecko Katanec (SLV)

Former UAE and Slovenia boss, who talks a good game but has struggled to date to get the very best out of this Iraqi squad. Has a reputation for fractured relationships with the team’s star players, which saw his time with Slovenia and Macedonia cut short. Has shown tactical flexibility in his early days in charge, switching between a back three and four in recent friendlies.

Star Player - Hussein Ali

Diminutive playmaker, who is crucial in dictating play if we are ever able to see a successfully functioning Iraqi side. Can play on either side of the front attacker but is likely to play the number 10 role under Katanec. Has become ever more valuable, with the withdrawal through injury of Justin Meram on the eve of the tournament.

Point To Prove - Mohanad Abdulrahman

Striker who showed so much promise in his early career, excelling at U20 and U23 level for his country, has failed to kick on after unsuccessful spells in the UAE. Finished qualification strongly, scoring five goals in the latter World Cup rounds, yet has recently fell out of favour for the starting striker spot since returning to Iraq.

Young Prospect - Mohanad Ali

Physically strong leading striker, who offers pace, touch and a goalscoring eye to the Iraqi strike force. A revelation domestically and in youth competitions, his age has come under heavy scrutiny of late, having reportedly been playing at three years younger than his actual date of birth. Even at his older age of 21, increasingly looks a continental star in the making.

Olympics 2016: SFG Team Previews and Coverage

The Rio Olympics football tournament kicks off tomorrow in Brasilia ahead of the games’ official opening ceremony on Friday. While football isn’t widely accepted as an Olympic sport by European audiences, Asia go into the games hoping to live up to the challenge of the rest of the world, as they achieved in London last time around scooping a Bronze medal for their troubles.

Along with the lovely people at Sandals for Goalposts, we’ve put together a team-by-team preview of the African and Asian participants and will keep you up to date with up to date coverage, reaction and digest from the tournament over the coming weeks.

SFG RIO OLYMPICS COVERAGE

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AFC International Week Focus (March)

The new International Cycle for Asia kicked off in unspectacular fashion this week with a final round of friendlies ahead of the real bread and butter which begins in June when the joint World and Asian Cup qualifiers continue in earnest. While much on display meant little, there were a number of interesting subplots as some nations kicked off their campaigns with new coaches in play, others tested themselves out against some of the finest squads from around the globe, while some were playing their way into relevant seeding pots ahead of April’s qualifying draw. Here’s a look back over preceddings involving those who will likely fall in the top two seeding pots.

First Seeds

Stability is an assumed given going into a new international campaign, a fresh start to put to bed any unknowns that previously had stood in your way, however this was never going to be the case in Iran. A good year now into a war of words between coach and federation has seemingly come to a head with long term manager and firm national hero Carlos Queiroz expected to leave in the coming week. I say expected, he's confirmed he will leave, however this isn't for the first time, so no one really can tell. Either way, going forward Iran aren't going into World Cup qualification with any sort of cohesion.

As far as the action on the pitch is concerned things are a whole lot rosier. Back to back testing friendlies in Europe is a world away from the last couple of years when Iran barely organised the odd local friendly against sub standard opposition. For the time being at least the IFF have upped their game. The encounters were competitive and for the most part rewarding, especially a 2-0 win victory over a pretty much full strength Chile team. In one of Iran's best performances during Queiroz's time in charge, they took the game to the South Americans and finally showed some valuable attacking intent. Their second tie in Sweden didn't see them return to the same level of performance however, as the inevitable exit of Queiroz loomed large.

Alongside Iran, Australia chose to test themselves in Europe against improved opposition. Two months off the back of clinching their first Asian Cup title on home soil, the Socceroos travelled to Europe for two rather differing challenges. First up, the World champions Germany, a test of Australia’s capabilities to break up and counter against an opposition that dominated possession. The Socceroos’ passed with flying colours and could have clinched a victory in Kaiserslauton, all but for a late German equaliser. Ange Postecoglou’s positive tactics impressed from the start, leaving three mobile forwards high up the pitch to punish the home side on the break.

Their second encounter was a completely different one, that of travelling to face FYR Macedonia. Australia expectantly dominated possession but lacked the injinuity to create many promising openings. The fluid attacking trio that had impressed only days before were left frustrated, and while their defence were rarely troubled, they came away frustrated with a goalless draw to boot. The 2-2 draw in Germany will capture the headlines but in truth the match in Skopje may prove the most useful. The Socceroos have pace in attack to counter most teams, it’s their general build up play that needs assessing especially against weaker opposition.

While their peers tested themselves in Europe, the East Asian giants of Japan and Korea Republic stuck to home comforts with two lower key ties a piece. Japan kicked off the new reign of Vahid Halilhodzic in solid and at times encouraging fashion, putting away visiting Tunisia (2-0) and Uzbekistan (5-1) without too much worry. It’ll likely be a while before we finally see the true “Haliljapan” in all its glory. Korea Republic also had a solidly successful week, drawing against Uzbekistan (1-1) before narrowly beating New Zealand (1-0). Nothing special was really on offer apart from their continual solidity which Stielike’s side are now becoming known for. For the Uzbeks it continues to be a work in progress with plenty of experimentation on show from Qosimov in a regenerating squad.

One of the most anticlimactic weeks on offer was from China PR, who off the back of a surprising campaign in Australia, disappointed with two draws in friendly competition at home to Haiti (2-2) and Tunisia (1-1). The former was the most displeasing given they started with much of their “A” team before salvaging a draw from two losing positions. One man who will come out of this week in highspirits however will be Beijing Guoan striker Yu Dabao, who despite a hardly prolific goalscoring record domestically, notched a goal in each tie to bring himself into Alain Perrin’s plans.

Iraq were amongst the biggest winners of the week with back to back wins over DR Congo going someway to securing their place as the final top seed. There had been some real concerns over the appointment of Akram Salman after such a promising Asian Cup campaign, but at least on the face of it the ship is steady going into World Cup qualification. The real highlight came from in-form Iraqi midfielder Yaser Kasim who powered home the winner on Tuesday. A new, young and exciting Iraq side has peaked at the right time which should ease their passage through qualification. Joining them as top seeds will be UAE, who sat out from official friendly action this week.

Second Seeds

There was little to cheer from the “second tier” of Asian footballing nations, however one side continues to stand out as they regained some of their lost form from January’s Asian Cup. Qatar recorded back to back home victories over Algeria and Slovenia in a professional manner, the latter a 1-0 win over a side who had banged in 6 only days before in their midweek European qualifier. While both matches were played in the hardly partisan Al-Sadd Stadium in Doha, credit needs to be flung the Qataris way given their pointless exit from Australia. The highlight over the two ties can only be attributed to left back Abdelkarim Hussain who hit a stunning winner against the Slovenians.

Elsewhere there were only a few victories to shout about. Saudi Arabia edged past a poor Jordanian side 2-1 thanks to a late brace from in-form Mohammad Al-Sahlawi. Bahrain may have tasted a humbling defeat at the hands of Colombia, going down 6-0, but did get back to winning ways with a narrow win over the Philippines. Marjan Eid’s early reign as Bahrain coach has been up and down but the signs are there of improvement in some key areas. Thankfully the Bahrain FA remain fully behind their unfashionable home coach.

There were a number of miserable weeks to choose from but one sticks out as the worst given its longer reaching impact That being of Oman, who had started so well with an impressive 6-0 win over Malaysia to kick start the week. However, it was always known that given Iraq’s performances at the weekend, they were in need of the maximum points over Algeria to have any chance of clinging onto the final top seed spot. They predictably didn’t live up to it, losing 4-1 to a rejuvenated Algerian side seeing them plummet out of the top 8 and into a perilous position ahead of April’s draw.

As far as consistant failings go Jordan will have more to be depressed about as they lost another two games to West Asian neighbours. While a late penalty for the Saudis seeled their fate in their 2-1 reverse on Monday, their 1-0 defeat to Syria earlier in the week was yet another failing of the squad and in particular manager Ray Wilkins' early campaign. The Englishman has now been in charge 7 months and has only won 1 of his 14 matches in charge. His days are surely numbered. One crumb of comfort is that Jordan couldn’t slip from a second seeded spot, and in the end neither could Kuwait, who despite a plucky performance but ultimate defeat to Colombia remained in the top 16.

Elsewhere the FIFA calculaters came into play, often punishing those who had organised friendlies over those who had opted out all together. Defeats for the Philippines and the Maldvies proved immensely costly as they dropped out of the running for a second seeded spot. Both impressed in last year’s Challenge Cup but will likely be looking ahead to two big sides ahead of them when they start their qualifying campaign in June. With two sides losing out, two have consequently benefited. Vietnam were already in pole position to remain in the top 16, but will likely move up a spot despite not featuring this week. As will Afghanistan, who instead concentrated their efforts on their Under 23 side this week, moving in at expense of the Philippines without kicking a senior ball. How ironic that in qualification, the biggest movers could have benefited after not even being on the pitch.

Asia kicks back into gear for a new international cycle

Some two months after Australia lifted their first Asian Cup title, it all gets going once again in Asia for a new international cycle which will be welcomed by some but not by many in a broadly depressing environment for the continents footballing nations. Asia’s international calendar is one of extremes, packing in two major tournaments (World & Asian Cups) within a narrow 9 month corridor before embarking on a 2 year long qualifying procedure for both competitions, dragging out and rarely producing any real quality until its climax.

 

For many in search of redemption this offers valuable experimentation and possible improvement, most pertinently felt by Asia’s standout underperformers of the last year; Japan. A winless exit in Brazil last summer which saw Alberto Zaccheroni lose his previously secure seat was miserably followed up with a listless quarter final exit in Australia. Another tournament down, another manager, in this case Javier Aguirre exited under a black cloud of controversy given the match fixing allegations being aimed in the Mexican’s direction.

 

The new incumbent of the hotter than most seat is the widely admired Vahid Halilhodzic, who performed admirably with Algeria at the last World Cup. Whether he can truly turn around the fortunes of arguably the continent’s most talented squad is unlikely to be seen for years but on paper at least it looks a favourable appointment. In all likelihood the next 12 months are going to be spent at a pedestrian pace given the lack in quality of opponents lined up, offering Halilhodzic the perfect opportunity to blood a new generation of players ahead of Russia’s World Cup in 2018.

 

Nothing could be further from Japan’s plight than that of Australia. A nation who despite a miserable lead up, stuck firm with their coach Ange Postecoglou in promise of a marked improvement at their home Asian Cup, and how that improvement was delivered. While Japan are seeking to appease their demanding fan base, Australia are already looking forward at going one step further and markedly make an impression against Europe’s finest. They kick off the cycle with a friendly tour of Europe including one of the highlights of the March international window, facing World champions Germany in their own backyard.

 

Postecoglou’s response to earlier concerns over form was that his side were still developing, which in hindsight looks calculated and now heavily beneficial given his side goes into the new cycle hungry and in little need of refreshing. The new Socceroo structure starting with Mat Ryan, through Trent Sainsbury and Massimo Luongo to Matt Leckie is now well developed to suceed at the next World Cup, however centre forward remains an area that needs to be refreshed in the coming year. Tim Cahill continues on for now, but focus will shift onto the likes of Tomi Juric and Nathan Burns to grasp their opportunity in the limelight.

 

Australia’s performance and ultimate result in Germany on the face of it may be seen as an isolated foray into Europe but should be cheered on not just back at home in Oz, but across the whole of Asia. A winless World Cup for all Asian nations in Brazil won’t have gone by unnoticed by the FIFA hierarchy ahead of a roughly contested presidential battle. In simple terms Asia need to make an impression on the outside footballing community sooner rather than later if they’re to continue to cling on to their valuable 4.5 slots for World Cup qualification. 

For years Africa have petitioned for a greater number of slots, while the emergence in form of CONCACAF in Brazil has led many to believe that the AFC would be the federation to be hit the hardest by any changes to FIFA’s World Cup portion control. News coming out of UEFA in the last week suggesting Europe’s number of slots could be raised ahead of Russia has rung alarm bells that this could be a much quicker change than any Asian football observer had ever considered.

 

One criticism behind AFC nations going into worldwide competitions has always been the organisation behind the scenes of the federations, which yet again has reared its ugly head in Iran. The IFF are once more engaged in temperamental talks with their Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who not for the first time has threatened to leave his post due to “external pressures”. Another nation in a managerial crisis of their very own is neighbouring Iraq, who appointed Akram Salman as their new coach to widespread condemnation in succession to the popular and forward thinking Radhi Shenaishil who led them to the Asian Cup semi-finals. Salman’s introduction has many Iraqis believing that their impressive young squad is bound to take a backwards step after such a promising couple of months at the start of the year.

 

It’s not all doom and gloom across the board by any means; China PR came out of the Asian Cup in high spirits and have also made great strides into the club game, with their clubs sides progressing well at the start of the AFC Champions League group stage. Similarly UAE are starting to build their reputation outside the region and have committed their in-demand coach Mahdi Ali to a long term deal in hope and growing expectation of their first World Cup appearance in over a decade.

 

While sights are firmly focused in the future for most, there is still plenty to fight for in the short term as the final seeded spot for World Cup/Asian Cup qualifying goes up for grabs in the coming weeks. Oman, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are all possible candidates in need of crucial ranking points to sneak a favourable rank for next month’s qualifying draw, however none go into this month’s international window in the greatest of mind sets. Saudi Arabia have been particularly subdued. Cosmin Olariou’s departure from his temporary charge after the Asian Cup leaves them without a full time leader going into a crucial week of point chasing.

 

Elsewhere Korea Republic are looking to gain a head of steam after an almost faultless Asian Cup campaign. Ever since taking over, Uli Stielike has cemented a rigid core to the side which has provided defensive stability but may need an extra flourish in attacking areas to make a real impact outside the region. Attempts to get the best out of talisman Son Heung-Min remains an obvious target, however focus should be shone on leading forward Lee Jeong-Hyeop, with many questioning whether his surge in form from Australia can be anything more than a flash in the pan.

 

This coming week in general offers a first glimpse of the future of Asian international football after what has been a pretty disastrous outgoing cycle. It does however give the elite AFC nations at least, their final chance of facing opponents from outside Asia for another 12 months. While Japan and Korea Republic have decided to sidestep the opportunity to test themselves fully, the likes of Australia, Iran and Qatar should be praised for putting themselves out there in pursuit of improvement. Let’s all hope in four years’ time we’re talking about the rapid rise of Asian international football rather than it’s meagre decline that’s currently on display for the whole world to see.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Quarter Finals)

Kicking off the knockout stages, the Asian Cup has finally burst into life. While in the group stages, shocks remained confined to the impressive pursuits of China PR, the quarter finals proved less predictable with Iraq and UAE overcoming the odds against the bigger boys of Asian football. Joining them in the last four are hosts Australia and fellow Group A side Korea Republic who overcame China and Uzbekistan respectively. Time for a look back at who made the stories over the last couple of days of action.

The Player

“He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants! Oh Timmy Cahill, he scores when he wants!” An apt chant for an Australian hero that once again saved the Socceroos, as the hosts make it through to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup. His two goal haul showed both sides of his game, first a typical header from an unenviable range, his second a master class in technique to put the game to bed and away from a shocked Chinese side who had no answer to his play throughout the encounter.

Tim Cahill’s goal scoring continues to define Australian football, at odds to the vision that manager Ange Postecoglou continues to stress. A fan of neat, flowing football, played on the ground, Cahill’s monstrous aerial ability hasn’t always been the national coach’s cup of tea. On a number of occasions he’s tried to reinvent his attack, using a number of more mobile attackers in place of a typical number 9 figure. However inevitably, he’s always been swayed back to the Australian talisman, most pertinently against Japan in Australia’s final warm up match, climbing off the bench to rescue some pride with a late consolation. Unsurprisingly, Cahill’s place in the starting XI hasn’t been in doubt ever since.

The reliance on one man’s goals has however becoming a worry for some fans, maybe not in the short term but looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers at the end of the year. The oldest player at the Asian Cup, Cahill continues to defy his age by coming up with not just regular goals but skilfully impressive goals. Coming into the tournament, he was the only man to have scored from open play during Postecoglou’s tenure and while the gaining confidence in front of goal of his colleagues has gently improved, Cahill continues to encourage a better quality of finishing from Australia while he’s on the pitch. His menace and ability will once again be crucial as Australia aim to overcome UAE in the semi-finals.

The Team

While many worried (myself included) that the Asian Cup semi-finals would see the same four representatives that had failed so miserably at the last World Cup, along with dark horses UAE, Iraq pulled off the shock of the round as they overcame bitter rivals Iran. One match that will go down in Asian Cup folk law, as the game swung one way then the other, finishing 3-3 after extra time, before Iraq clinched their progression with a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory.

Coming into the tournament, any side on the back of form Iraq had suffered would’ve been written off. However, a favourable group and run of fixtures allowed Iraq to ease themselves into the tournament, building confidence as they played and working out the best setup to adopt under their new coach Radhi Shenaishel. While Iraq have had elements of luck during the tournament, including the late winner v. Jordan and the Pooladi sending off for Iran in the quarters, they have recovered well and progressed on their merits.

The match against Iran was their ideal peak, going behind in the first half, they looked out of ideas and confidence. However, a commanding second half display aided by the sending off, illustrated to everyone what they can possess on their day. Their full backs raced forward continuously, while Shenaishel enabled better support for the lone Mahmood, Iraq looked a more fluid outfit in attacking areas, as they continually threatened the Iranian defence. The one symbol of the shoot-out win however has to be Younes Mahmood, who’d previously missed a “Panenka” style penalty against the Iranians in a warm up match prior to the tournament. The legendary striker again strode up with the same intent, this time sending Haghighi sprawling and Iraq onto victory. They now have a more than realistic chance of making the final, when they face Korea Republic in the semis.

The Talking Point

When the Quarter-Final draw was finally realised, one game stood out as the possible highlight of the tournament. Japan v UAE, the reigning champions vs. the attractive outsiders was billed as one of the ultimate clashes that could have the largest effect on where the title would end up. Some 150 minutes later, UAE were dancing, leaving Japan abject after the match went all the way to penalties, with the Emirati players taking the plaudits for a well-executed game plan from the get go.

A defeat in these set of circumstances is hard to stomach, however Japan’s dominance from early in the match will have many back home scratching their heads about how they snapped defeat away from the jaws of victory. Ever since Ahmed Ali Mabkhout’s early goal, UAE sat deep, inviting pressure and for the most part rarely threatened on the break. In typical Japanese fashion they controlled possession, conjured a number of openings but failed in their pursuit of an equaliser until late on. It takes me back to the late night/early morning encounter of Greece in Natal some 6 months prior, where Japan looked out of ideas, spark and interest despite their clear man for man advantage.

It’s long been the problem for Japan, that no one individual player can step up and seize the day. Keisuke Honda had been impressive during the group stages, but so had his colleagues around him. It seems if Japan have an off the day, the whole squad has an off day. That isn’t confined to those on the pitch, as Javier Aguirre pulled off an Alberto Zaccheroni, hopelessly trying to fling substitutes on from the bench without any real purpose. His future, like his predecessor could be short lived with match-fixing allegations continue to burn his neck, while the history of Japanese football adds another missed opportunity to its record books.

The Sandal for Goalposts Asian Cup 2015 Preview

The Asian Cup in Australia is now only weeks away and over at Sandals for Goalposts we're planning on keeping you up to date with every bit of action down under.

A big thank you for the efforts of Amro Alkado and Tom Daníček, for helping to put together a downloadable preview for the tournament. At present with only a few squads being announced before Christmas, we’ve gone for broadly probable squads but aim to update them in the new year once finalised.

THE SANDALS FOR GOALPOSTS ASIAN CUP PREVIEW 2015 – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Keep an eye out on the Sandals for Goalposts website and on their twitter page as we endeavour to increase your enjoyment of this great continental tournament.

@Sandal4Goalpost

sandalsforgoalposts.com

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.

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.

Third time lucky for Al-Qadsia as Kuwait’s AFC Cup dominance continues

Kuwaiti champions Al-Qadsia clinched the AFC Cup crown for the first time in three final appearances after a tight goalless contest against Iraq’s Erbil was settled on penalties. Qadsia’s talismanic Swiss striker Danjiel Subotic converted the winning penalty, confirming Kuwait’s soul dominance of the trophy over the past three seasons and Qadsia’s place in next year’s ACL.

 

Qadsia’s conquest was a well-deserved one as they thoroughly impressed throughout the tournament, peaking in the knockout stages where they scored plenty against decent opposition. Their attacking talent has been there to see for many years, after making the final on two previous occasions, but this time they weren’t to be disappointed in their crowning moment. Skippered by the ever improving central midfield talent of Saleh Al-Sheikh, the attack was further bolstered by striker Bader Al-Mutawa and eventual MVP winner Saif Al-Hashan, finishing with 5 goals apiece over the tournament.

 

However, it was the arrival of Subotic that ensured Qadisa’s progression after his mid-year switch from Europe. Not necessarily the most talented amongst Qadsia’s attacking setup but crucial in spearheading their assault on the title, after losing Syrian striker Omar Al-Somah to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli after the Round of 32. Their former striker contributed 7 goals in 7 matches before exiting to continue his fine form in the SPL, further underlying how well Subotic has performed since being brought in to continue Qadsia’s impressive form in front of goal.

 

Qadsia’s route to the final in the latter stages of the tournament was emphatic with plenty of goals scored at both ends of the pitch. A 3-3 draw on aggregate with Al-Hidd, saw them safely through the quarters on away goals, despite looking destined for an exit; going 3-1 down away in Bahrain before mounting a revival. The semi-final was even more of a spectacle, after again coming from behind to lead the tie 4-2 against Indonesian side Perispura Jayapura, the Kuwaitis went on to smash them 6-0 away in the second leg to send out a dominant message to the rest of the competition.

 

The tie wasn’t just littered with an abundance of goals, but also with a high amount of quality goals. Saif Al-Hashan’s goal in the first leg was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp’s wonder goal against Newcastle United, bamboozling the defender with a creative flick before neatly placing it past the Perispura keeper. In the second leg, Al-Hashan was at it again this time with a perfectly met volley, before Al-Sheikh, with a clever lob and Al-Mutawa with a drilled shot tore through the Indonesian defence.

 

The final itself was a much tighter affair than what had come before, but Qadsia remained in control of possession throughout. Half chances for many of their attacking talents were limited, with their Iraqi “hosts” Erbil creating their very own isolated chances on the counter. The tie was destined for penalties, and that’s the way it proceeded. Qadsia keeper Nawaf Al-Khaldi, who had been pretty shaky for much of the tournament, upped his game at the right point saving Erbil’s final penalty before Subotic clinched the title for the Kuwaitis.

 

Qadsia’s dominant display throughout the tournament was in stark contrast to Erbil who edged it through on a couple of occasions on route to the final, relying on defensive solidity to progress through to their 2nd final in three years. They were handicapped with playing their home games at neutral venues, notably the “home” final in Dubai which had to be played away from Iraq due to the continued unrest in the region. This in the end didn’t affect their eventual results on their run to the final, as Erbil only lost 1 match throughout the whole tournament, but notably didn’t give them the advantage in the final.

 

Some key names in the form of striker Amjad Radhi who proved a decent finisher and Jalal Hassan Hachim in net impressed during the tournament but the real star was Ali Faez Atiyah in defence. The 20 year old Iraqi is already cementing himself in both club and country’s starting line-up and offers a decent attacking threat from direct set-plays, a key player to monitor in the upcoming Asian Cup.

 

Both finalists are now granted, if eligible for a qualifying birth for the Asian Champions League, something Qadsia have already tasted last year after reaching the AFC Cup final in 2013. Iraqi clubs’ struggles to meet the AFC requirements could see Erbil miss out, but further analysis of their situation is promised by the AFC before the end of the year. This continues to be a thorny issue within the federation, as some clubs are eligible for some continental competitions but not for others.

 

Another talking point is the continued success of West over East. Ever since the ACL split to ease travel over the continent, the West has seen to have had the rougher end of the deal with much more of their representatives going deeper into the ACL and AFC Cup competitions on a regular basis despite the even number of slots given to each area. Kuwait’s third AFC Cup title in a row promotes many to ask why they aren’t granted immediate qualification spots in Asia’s premier competition, but the truth remains that the Kuwaiti Premier League is still a clear distance behind the top five leagues in West Asia.

 

The East’s contribution in this year’s AFC Cup was far from weak however, with Kitchee of Hong Kong and the aforementioned Perispura flying the flag for the region. Both scored plenty, especially in the knockout stages but struggled in defence against explosive opposition. Kitchee’s Spanish striker Juan Belencoso headed the golden boot list with 11 goals, while Perispura recorded 9-2 and 6-0 victories on their way to the semi-finals. The latter ended reigning champions Al-Kuwait’s chances of making it two from two, a score line which was emphatically reversed by Qadsia in the semis.

 

"A club like Al Qadsia should be playing in the AFC Champions League, not in the AFC Cup.” With an inventive attack and scope to improve on the continental stage, Qadsia striker Al Hashan’s words directly after the final may ring true to many. Early 2015 will offer the answer to see whether Kuwait’s impressive displays over the past few years in the AFC Cup merit a permanent seat at Asia’s top table.