Asian Cup 2019: UAE (Preview)

Bookended by their most successful Asian Cup on foreign soil and their hosting of the competition in January, UAE’s golden generation was supposed to be set to dominate over the last four years, only to come up short in their pursuit of returning to the World Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years. With their glowing stock grinding to a halt through injury and lack of form, their proposed triumphant house party looks to be this generation’s grandest of all missed opportunities.

2015’s Asian Cup third place run from the United Arab Emirates was a delight to witness. A side, full of exuberance and talent, hitting their peak all at the same point, under a manager that knew them inside and out. The feelgood factor on display, especially upon culmination of that emphatic penalty shoot victory over Japan in Sydney has given them a special place in Asian football history. What was supposed to follow, was a dominant four years of progress, where they’d grow from strength to strength. In the end that really hasn’t materialised.

A limp progression through Round 2 of World Cup qualification, trailing behind Gulf neighbours Saudi Arabia, Round 3 rounded off their cycle by truly illustrating their squad's deficiencies. The tried and trusted formula implemented by former boss Mahdi Ali had run its course, the nation’s depth or lack of rotation at key points of the campaign left them way off their primary aim of making it to Russia.

Since then, over a year has passed, onto a third manager in that time (Edgardo Bauza’s stint was brief and irrelevant), with former Japan boss Alberto Zaccheroni stepping in to set up the national side for their hosting of the continent’s biggest prize. His tenure has barely got going in truth; sixteen matches in, he’s only accrued four wins, whilst only scoring nine goals (three of which were against Laos). A more than fortunate run to the final of last winter’s Gulf Cup apart, masked what has been to date an uninspiring struggle.

A fair question, would be - who could do a better job? Zaccheroni is a coach with a wealth of experience in Italian football, and while his spell as Japan manager emphatically collapsed in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, his preparation for the tournament was widely held as a success. He’s tinkered with the Emirati tactics, ran through vast waves of players, widely disregarded by the previous coach, and trusted youth where he can, but little seems to be working.

UAE’s reliance for too long now has focussed on the holy trinity of Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout. One being the best Asian player still playing on the continent, two of them former winners of the AFC Player of the Year accolade in the last four years, whilst the other has scored 90 league goals over the last four years since collecting the golden boot at the last Asian Cup. Three players whose rise through the youth ranks side by side promised so much, but over the last cycle has rarely come to fruition in Emirati white.

Despite heavy pressure from an expectant Asian football fanbase post their 2015 success, none made the move to Europe. A wider problem in Emirati football, but keenly felt here when the three best footballers of a generation are refusing to test themselves on the grandest stage, you’d be forgiven in asking yourself who ever will? A loss of form, fitness and in the end a hammer blow of an injury to Abdulrahman on the eve of the tournament, leaves the UAE national side heading to their pinnacle event, in potential ruin.

Replacing Abdulrahman is an unenviable task, given his influence on the side. The style of play, often slow in build-up, possession to feet in the final third, all plays to “Amoory’s” strengths. There are very few players with that sort of quality with their foot on the ball, anywhere in Asia, let alone in the UAE. With no real like-for-like replacement, the likes of Khalfan Mubarak and Saif Rashid have been tested in the run up to the Asian Cup, a shift to a more collective and quick attacking approach is a necessity that must be instilled if Zaccheroni is to make use of his options.

Ahead of them, Khalil, who has drastically been in need of minutes, following a number of ill-advised moves, looks to be returning to form of old upon his homecoming to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the last few months. Mabkhout, the focus of the attack (with 44 in 65 caps), has also shrugged off a couple of limp seasons by his own high standards, to start the current Arabian Gulf League campaign in decent form. If both can transition a replica of their 2015 form to this 2019 edition, two out of the holy trio is considerably better than none.

Through Zaccheroni’s tactical shifting, defensively UAE remain solid. Over Zaccheroni’s 16 matches in charge, 10 clean sheets have been secured, whilst boasting an unblemished goal in competitive competition over that time. The personnel has differed, yet the experience of Ismail Ahmed and the returning form of Mahmoud Khamis in front of the enigmatic but increasingly secure Khalid Eisa, makes for a decent set up that should see them through the early stages.

Considering the draw, UAE will hope to replicate a fellow host nation heading into their own tournament in poor form. At this summer's World Cup, little to no one expected anything of Russia, but a lot of it came courtesy of a favourable group stage draw and a buoyant home support. In the first regard, UAE as seeded hosts will back themselves to win out, especially with a potential lucky loser spot available. Progression as group winners, would also leave them on the easier side of the draw. It’s no wonder hosts usually succeed, is it?

The second point however, is much more of an unknown, and a crucial testing ground of this national team’s legacy. Home support is hardly something you think of when considering Emirati football, and with the continental showpiece heading to their shores, Zaccheroni’s men will hope they can count on their backing to be an extra advantage. With subdued expectations of early ticket sales, with little in the way of marketing being pushed on the ground, this remains a moot point in Asian Cup preparations however.

Key Men

Head Coach - Alberto Zaccheroni (ITA)

Well known Italian manager, who had an extensive career as a club coach in his homeland, before moving to Asia with Japan, who he coached at the 2014 World Cup. Has had a mixed time in charge of UAE, struggling for personnel options, whilst tinkering heavily tactically. Was reportedly close to being sacked in the last few months, only to survive for a lack of credible suitors.

Star Player - Ahmed Khalil

AFC Player of the Year in 2015, the Emirati striker has continued to bring his very best performances when playing for the national team despite struggling domestically. Averaging a goal every other game over a near century of appearances, he’s regularly been the player they can rely upon most for goals. Has found club form and fitness hard to come by in recent years but has now returned to where it all began with Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai.

Under Pressure - Ali Mabkhout

The third pivot of the magical trio, Mabkhout’s domestic success has often been his hindrance on the national stage, failing to regularly deliver since a scintillating Asian Cup in Australia. With Abdulrahman out, and Khalil struggling for fitness, can Mabkhout become the Emiratis talisman and replicate some of his stunning club form, in his nation’s showpiece?

Young Prospect - Khalfan Mubarak

Tasked with replicating Omar Abdulrahman’s output, Khalfan Mubarak’s accelerated reputation needs to ramp up yet another level. The 23-year-old midfielder has given the home fans hope he can go some way to deliver that sort of impact, with undoubted vision, quick interplay and a more direct approach to his play, he could be the stand out young player of the tournament.

WC Qualifying Review (Round 3 MD6 & 7)

We’re fully into our stride along the final furlong on the Road to Russia, and the field is notably shortening. Despite a few shocks on Thursday, Tuesday saw a clean sweep of home victories and clean sheets for those best positioned to make an assault for the World Cup 2018 qualification spots. That being said there remains a heavy cloud over much of the Asian elite, with question marks still being squarely pointed at Uli Stielike and Samvel Babayan of Korea Republic and Uzbekistan respectively, after both picked up disappointing defeats. Looking back over March’s window, here is the player, team and key talking point from another eventful international break.

The Player

Returning to World Cup qualification, there was plenty of discussion concerning the raft of quality within the Japanese attacking midfield, with question marks being squarely put against the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda after strong performances from Hiroshi Kiyotake and Genki Haraguchi in 2016. One name that was only discussed briefly was that of Yuya Kubo, who made his debut against Saudi Arabia in November (where he performed adequately), but in turn has had an eventful winter with an eye catching move to Belgium with Gent, where he’s started in red hot form.

When it came to the team sheets in Al Ain, Kubo on the right hand side probably didn’t spark too much interest, as concerns diverted to the recalled Kagawa and the axed Honda. Kubo however was the man inform, and he hit the ground running from the start. After troubling his full back Abdelaziz Sanqour on a number of occasions prior to the breakthrough, Kubo evaded his man as he drifted inside to pick up a slide ball from Hiroki Sakai. An instinctive and crucially early strike caught Khalid Essa unaware, scoring his first national team goal within a blur for the poor Emirati defenders. It was only the start of things, as in the second period, Kubo assisted returning stalwart Yasuyuki Konno with a perfectly flighted cross, granting the Japanese with a crucial three points on the road. 

Again he was the main man upon return to Saitama against Thailand. It was a much easier tie for Japan, but the penetration came through Kubo once more, assisting early for Shinji Kagawa with a pull back, before finding Shinji Okazaki from a more traditional crossing avenue. Kubo capped his week with a stunning left footed drive, again created by his vision for space. It was only a few months ago that we were left concerned for Japan in an attacking sense, but with Haraguchi, Kiyotake and now Kubo all finding form, it doesn’t look too bleak anymore.

The Team

World Cup qualification is starting to fall into place, and no team is in any better position of guaranteeing this than Iran, whose back to back wins this week have effectively put one foot in Russia. Often been portrayed as simply a solid, cautious, tactically sound side, the emergence in form in Europe of a number of attacking players have all been timed perfectly to ensure they make a consecutive World Cup for the first time in their history.

Defensively there is no question that Team Melli have been excellent; still to concede a goal in the final round of qualification, Iran haven’t conceded for some 17 months now. This comes on the back of constant rejigging of the personnel, but little change is visible in their solid performances. Further up-field Iran have gone from one of the shallowest to one of the deepest attacking stocks in the whole of Asia. An embarrassment of riches allowed Carlos Queiroz to effectively swap pairs of strikers across the week. When you’ve got players playing at such a high level such as Sardar Azmoun (Rostov), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos) and Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen), why risk burn out?

The one striker to start both games however was domestic based Mehdi Taremi, a similar positioned club level player who wants to be deployed in the prime number 9 role. With such competition around him, Taremi was forced to develop his game this week, into at times a wide left forward, something he greatly impressed in. A greater work ethic off the ball, both in possession and without it, along with some adept interplay whilst at full speed, made him a perfect fit to the system, and the Persepolis man delivered, scoring the winner in both matches this week against Qatar and China PR. Just over a year until the World Cup comes around and Iran’s players individually and collectively in qualification look set to keep on improving.

The Talking Point

In the last international window, I made the case for Mahdi Ali and UAE, where I urged the Emirati fans to get behind their coach given their still promising position in World Cup qualification. If this week was a positive one, if they could’ve picked up at least a win against Japan and Australia, we’d probably be still be debating the merits of Ali, but instead two losses in the end cut short an arrangement few were still enjoying. 

While Ali deserved to go, in the way Ranieri had lost the dressing room at Leicester, Ali had clearly lost the support of the fans. And with qualification now a distant dream, a new dawn needs to set about in Emirati football. With the coach gone, questions need to now be asked of the players, their ambitions and their share of this missed opportunity. On paper should we think a squad full of players playing in the Arabian Gulf League can really compete with regulars in Europe, which Japan and Australia have in abundance.

This question probably comes at the wrong point, given Saudi Arabia, a side similarly bolstered by universal domestically based player coverage, but where does the difference lie? I believe in the end the Green Falcons won’t qualify for Russia (at least automatically), but the feel good factor instilled by Bert van Marwijk is key to this success. He’s made a good, but still trailing in terms of quality squad, perform that bit better, something the players have forced home personally.

It was clear from this last week, the UAE players had given up taking responsibility. The hope that Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout or Ahmed Khalil could win it alone is severely misguided. Against the lower ranked sides maybe, but rewind to their successful Asian Cup campaign and UAE were playing as a unified squad with a purpose and desire to succeed. The key players need to play their part ahead of a home Asian Cup in two years time, which at present looks like a precarious campaign that needs more than a sound coach at the helm to succeed in.

WC Qualifying Review (Round 3 MD5)

We have reached the half way point of the final round of World Cup Qualification in Asia, and consequently are about to start a long (northern hemisphere) winter break that’ll stretch right through until March. In that regard, there were plenty of manager’s sweating it out, that their employment wouldn’t stretch into the new year, with Mahdi Ali (UAE), Vahid Halilhodzic (Japan) and Uli Stielike (Korea Republic), all in the firing line if they slipped up. In the end all three found the result they were looking for, but that’s hardly a guarantee in two of their cases, given their public image at present.

Back with the football itself, here are my player, team and talking point of the round, ahead of a lengthy 4 month gap. What is for certain, each team will go into this break with at least a few questions of their side going forward.

The Player

This round of matches in the end were all about Thailand. From underneath a solemn cloud following the death of King Bhumibol last month, an emotional draw at home to Australia will universally go down well in the country. Amidst what was by definition a team performance, striker Teerasil Dangda stood out, not only for his two goals that threatened to steal all three points from the Asian champions no less, but for his all-round contribution.

Facing Australia, arguably the best all round team in Asia was their toughest assignment so far, however through the passion and tactical master plan of coach Kiatisuk Senamuang they could’ve easily won, rather than taking just their first point of Round 3. Despite only being 28, Teerasil was the old head amongst an up and coming young bunch of players, and defended from the front immediately. His first goal illustrated his predatory instincts to float offside before pouncing in the second phase, to nip past Maty Ryan and slot home for Thailand’s equaliser.

For his second, showing his cool edge, he slotted away a second half penalty to well up the packed Rajamangala National Stadium. A perfect result tainted later on by the Socceroos equaliser, but this more than a result this was a country coming together through football. The team itself is building up well also, spearheaded by the likes of Teerasil and Adisak Kraisorn, who was absent through injury for this one; they are going in the right direction. Going into next week’s Suzuki Cup, Thailand and Teerasil will look to retain their trophy in the late King’s memory.

The Team

In a round where Thailand hogged much of the positive spotlight, much could be lost around the progression of fellow Group A competitors UAE, who moved within 1 point of top spot with a comfortable win over Iraq on Tuesday. The Emirati national side have won 3 from their 5 matches in this round, but have been highly scorned for being too stuck in their ways, put squarely on the head of coach Mahdi Ali, who finishes the year with yet more uncertainty hanging over him.

For me, Ali has been one of the most consistent coaches in Asia over the last 5 years. Qualification for the 2012 Olympics, an Asian Cup bronze, and as it stands a solid campaign to qualify for Russia in 2018, however fans are looking for more. There were contradictory reports that Tuesday’s match would’ve been Ali’s last in charge, something that has been swiftly denied by the FA, but given where they stand at this current time, would a change really help their cause?

While the match barely saw UAE get out of 3rd gear, the hallmarks of their recent rise were all there to be seen. Ahmed Khalil scored his 15th goal of the campaign, the highest of anyone in qualification, and what a goal it was, thundering past Mohammed Hameed at his near post. There was a well-crafted assist for Ali Mabkhout later on, and a return to his domineering best for Mohanad Salem in defence. All it missed was an Omar Abdulrahman wonder show, but we can’t have that every week, can we?

The Talking Point

It was a strange international week for Qatar, a week where fans of the national team are left thinking whether they should be positive or frustrated. An almost historic 2-1 victory over 2018 World Cup hosts Russia on the previous Thursday was a bolt of light; they played on the attacking foot, controlling possession and offering bodies and plenty of movement in attack. When it came to their qualifier in Kunming against China however, the strategy had changed, which in the long run looks to have derailed any glimmer of hope left in this qualification round.

Going into the match, the press conference talk pumped up a positive approach from the Qataris. They needed the victory, as did their hosts, anything less and they’d continue to be way off the pace going into the second half of Round 3. Instead we saw a return to the defensive 5221 formation that was deployed against Korea Republic in Seoul last month, a worthy set up when going for a draw, but given the circumstances and the shakiness of the opposition, should they have gone for more?

Granted suspensions to Ahmed Yasser and Abdelkarim Hassan in particular meant for a forced personnel shake up, but we were left short changed by the non-appearance of Akram Afif off the bench for the duration against China. It was clear that this result was what was required by boss Jorge Fossati, who will assumingly now return to their former more balanced approach when facing Korea at home next month. While the optimistic bubble created by Fossati’s appointment hasn’t burst just yet, on the back of an uninspiring draw with the group’s bottom side, it’s now a tad deflated.

WC Qualifying Review (Round 3 MD1 & 2)

Last Thursday saw international football in Asia ramp up a gear as we passed through to the final qualification stage along the Road to Russia 2018. Now down to the final 12 hopefuls the matches have clearly tightened up from the often one-sided open affairs which Round 2 was roundly scathed for. That being said, experience and quality continued to be the main catalysts, that alongside some debatable officiating (more of that later). Looking back on the last week of action, here’s the standout player, team and talking point from the Round 3 openers.

The Player

Quickly casting an eye over the opening fixtures in WCQ Round 3 in hope of plotting a path for an upset, Saudi Arabia’s first match-ups looked more than promising. At home to Thailand on Thursday before effectively playing a neutral fixture in Malaysia against Iraq the following Tuesday. In the end the score-lines proved the theory correct and Saudi Arabia top Group B alongside Australia, but it was far from an easy task. Three penalties over the two matches ended up deciding it, leaving Bert van Marwijk in the Saudi dugout owing a large debt of gratitude to Nawaf Al-Abed who stuck all three away.

The 5’6” pocket sized playmaker has become Saudi’s creative hub, now 26 has seemingly taken over the mantle from Al-Hilal team mate Salem Al-Dawsari. In both encounters this week he had bursts of influence, but the set-up of the team wasn’t there to fully harness his potential. He walks out of the week however with 3 goals from 2 games, smashing away three penalties, first the winner against Thailand late on in Riyadh, before the equaliser then winner (which he won himself) against a better on the day Iraqi side.

Questions will rage on, at least over the awarding of one of the penalties, but Saudi Arabia deserve immense credit for forcing six points when they could very easily be sitting only on one. How can they move forward into a credible dark horse for World Cup qualification then? The return of Mohammed Al-Sahlawi can’t come quick enough in attack, while van Marwijk desperately needs to develop a tandem to pair Al-Abed with another creative threat; Fahad Al-Muwallad seems to fit the bill after two impressive substitute cameos this week. With back-to-back home internationals against Australia and UAE in October, they know they can’t always rely on being gifted penalties and Al-Abed’s cool head to stick them away.

The Team

Round 2 was seen at times to be too easy for Australia, to the extent where they let their eye off the ball on a number of occasions most notably the loss to Jordan in Amman last October. But this past week has again shown why they should be considered Asia’s best hope of progressing furthest on the international stage with consecutive victories to start their Round 3 campaign.

Their home opener was widely assumed a given, which it proved to be. However Iraq, Asian Cup semi-finalists in 2015 are by no means pushovers as was evident in their Thursday clash with Saudi Arabia. Australia’s second match of the week however was deservedly put in the spotlight; a 1-0 away win against UAE in Abu Dhabi. The conditions were bordering on unbearable, the humidity was rendering some of the play meaningless, but instead of settling for the draw (which both team’s would’ve taken) the Socceroos clinched the vital winner through the unsurprising source of Tim Cahill, relishing in his new role as super-sub.

With their nearest realistic rival for top of the group Japan slipping up to UAE at home the Thursday before, you could make the case that Australia already look home and hosed after 2 matches. The resilient nature of this squad is a national trait that was instantly imposed by the coach Ange Postecoglou when he joined in 2014, but some of the play on the ball developed from that is starting to rival some of their European or South American rivals. With an away trip to Saudi Arabia before hosting Japan to come, October looks like another month where Australia can continue to write their own headlines.

The Talking Point

Referees and their questionable decisions has been a common topic of conversation over the last week for a couple of reasons; the quality has been highly questionable (which isn’t new) but crucially it has denied one of the so-called elite at least a point. Japan’s home opener against UAE, a broadly one sided affair possession wise, but the Emirates held their own on the counter. From an officiating perspective, there was nothing of note to raise the blood pressure really until the second period where decision after decision seemed to go against the hosts.

Firstly the awarding of UAE's equalising penalty, on first view a clumsy trip, second view a probable trip, but still contestable. Minutes later we had more penalty box decisions to debate; first Shinji Okazaki was seemingly pulled over in the box, on second viewing there was nothing in it. Secondly; Takashi Usami was blocked clearly by Ismail Ahmed just inside the box on the left, this did look clear-cut in retrospect; however both decisions were waved away. Finally the most contentious of them all; as substitute Takuma Asano saw his header clawed away by Emirati keeper Khalid Eisa after it clearly went over the line. With no goal-line technology in place in AFC football at present, this again went against Japan, being deemed a save, with a corner was given.

Now we’ve all been to matches where the referee has had one of those games where every decision seems to go against one team. This is usually contested after the match but broadly seen as a mistake or a lack of quality on the referee’s part. This example was different however, multiple opinions appeared on social media claiming match fixing, and some pointing to the referee because he was Qatari as a potential clash of interests. With no official protest since from the Japanese camp, where have these match fixing grounds come from? Were these decisions beyond the pale that only a crooked ref could make these calls, or is there something much darker in the psyche of some Asian football fans?

I posed the question after the event what differentiates bad decisions from suspicious decisions? Has the fact this has happened against one of the elite nations promoted such outcry? Elsewhere this week Saudi’s late penalty against Thailand appeared extremely debatable, while Bahrain (who in fact had three penalties awarded on the night) were awarded a penalty against Singapore without any seemed offence taking place (I encourage all to dissect the incident). These matches both affected lower ranked teams, while the second was only a friendly, consequently neither has caused much of an uproar.

It was pointed out to me that many East Asian referees have dropped clangers in major matches; the name of Australian referee Ben Williams hardly goes down well in many countries around the continent, but rarely would you hear of match fixing being suggested from them. The general standard in Asia, like the football on the pitch is clearly lower than the refereeing in Europe, even North America, so sadly these sort of decisions are going to occur until we seek improvement. To question the integrity of individual referees or worse individual nationalities does tread a worryingly divisive path however that continues to tarnish the federation's image.

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.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Semi Finals)

It's coming to the crunch time in the tournament where medals will be won and lost as the Asian Cup reaches the final stage. Plucky underdogs Iraq finally exited at the hands of a stubben Korea Republic side who picked up a record equalling 5th consecutive clean sheet, while hosts Australia went one better than favourites Japan by easing past a talented United Arab Emirates side. Iraq will face the UAE in Newcastle in the Bronze medal match, while Australia will host Korea Eepublic back in Sydney on Saturday in the Asian Cup final. Excitement and intrigue is sure to follow, but first a look back at the winners and losers of the competitions semi-finals.

The Player

One thing that's become wholly refreshing about Uli Stielike's early reign as Korea Republic manager has been his willingness to introduce new faces. Goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyeun has starred between the sticks, but it's further forward where a recent impact has been felt more pertinently. A goal and an assist in the semi finals for Lee Jeong-Hyeop has quickly seen his profile rise from relative unknown to potential cup winner since the turn of the year. Lee's initial inclusion in the squad was met with raised eyebrows, but considering his competition for a starting spot, he can't be criticised for choking under pressure.

After clinching his spot in the starting lineup thanks to neat deflected goal against Australia in the group stage, Lee's commanding presence was again on show against Iraq from the first whistle. His goal, illustrated his aieral presence excellently as he nodded in Kim Jin-Su whipped in freekick. Into the second half, he showed his intelligence once more cushioning down a long ball for Kim Young-Gwon to rifle home from the edge of the box. Often seen as a Plan B - long ball weapon, Lee once again lives up to the often rolled out adage of a big man with good feet.

Ever since Park Chu-Young capitulated from view after moving to Arsenal, Korea have continually sought for a new leader in the attacking third. Experimentations with another gentle giant Kim Shin-Wook, the hard running Lee Keun-Ho and a brief spell with Koo Ja-Chol as a false nine, have all turned up more questions than answers. Lee's inclusion has since muted questions over Korea's talents in attack, which one would hope can spur the young forward onto better things domestically. Immediately however concentration shifts to Australia, where their nemesis Lee will be out to notch back to back goals against the hosts.

The Team

Winning only two of your first 11 matches in charge is going to draw a lot of criticism from your own fans irrespective of the team you're managing. However, Ange Postecglou's message has always stayed true; just wait and see, this team will come good. And how he's been proved right as his Australia side romped through in relative ease through to their second Asian Cup finals in as many editions. The hosts now set up as favourites after scoring 12 goals along the way to the showpiece event on Saturday.

It was a sink or swim moment for all involved, their awful preparation didn't matter if they could up their game at their host games. From the start they've continued to answer their critics; can Australia win matches? Followed up with back to back hammerings of Kuwait and Oman. Can they score goals without the aid of national hero Tim Cahill? Yes they can, notching 9 different goal scorers aside of Cahill during the tournament. Finally could they compete with Asia's best? Unequivocally yes, as they eased past UAE without really ever been troubled. An Emirati side that knocked out pre-tournament favourites Japan, were swatted away.

The crucial match however comes into view, their final appearance against Korea Republic. Many comparisons will be made between their initial meeting and the final encounter, but it's unlikely to be anything but a starkly contrasting match up. This time Australia will be fully rebuffed with their attacking trident of Tim Cahill, Matthew Leckie and Robbie Kruse, with more on the line, given the Socceroos had already ensured a quarter final spot before. Postecoglou is finally living up to his words, with Australia playing some of the most riveting attacking football in the competition. Now to break new ground as they attempt to blot Korea's spotless clean sheet record.

The Talking Point

Heralded as the greatest chance of an upset at the tournament, United Arab Emirates have more than lived up to their tag of prime dark horses after making it through to the semi finals. However, many will be disappointed in their rather damp final showing as they limply crashed out against the hosts. Mahdi Ali went against his usual attacking philosophy in the knockout stages, and while they finally edged Japan on penalties, Australia showed the much needed guile to break down the stubban Emirati resistance early on, something Ali's side couldn't recover from.

Opinion was split over the cautious display on show against the Japanese, while some applauded Ali's flexibility to show a new string to the UAE bow, others thought he'd panicked, facing his stiffest opposition yet and ultimately his luck shone on his side to take it all the way to penalties. Either way, observers assumed they couldn't repeat the feat, and expected the Gulf nation to revert back to their attractive attacking game when they headed to Newcastle. Unfortunately it never really got going as numerous avenues were blocked off at source leaving UAE all out of ideas.

Subsequent analysis has focused on the role of chief playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, who despite his wonderful talent and flashing assists this tournament, has come under fire, most pertinently by Aussie centre back Trent Sainsbury, who went on to be one of the Socceroos' goalscoring heroes in the semis. The reliance on Abdulrahman can't be used as an excuse given the great depth and fluidity of the whole side. The collective group, unfortunetly never got going, which we can favourably put down to a bad day at the office. In the end, there once again won't be a West Asian representative in the Asian Cup final, as UAE will have to do with facing Iraq in the Bronze medal match on Friday.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Group Stage GW1)

The Asian Cup kicked off in great style this week, with a number of impressive performances put in by nations and individuals alike. This week, I’ve had a look at the key player, team and talking point of the first round of matches, and what we can expect from the remainder of their group stage campaigns.

The Player

Often overlooked in favour of artistic playmaker Omar Abdulrahman or an inform Ahmed Ali Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil came into this tournament under somewhat of a cloud, with some fans back in the Emirates calling for his starting place to be relinquished in the build-up to the Asian Cup. However, after an explosive start to the tournament, no one will be taking the striker lightly again after a man of the match display was highlighted with a crucial brace to overturn an early deficit against Qatar.

UAE came into the tournament on a wave of hype, despite an initially promising Gulf Cup campaign ending prematurely. Their squad has been honed for years now, after mounting successful under age tournaments and competing at the London Olympics. Khalil has been a key part of their success but has fallen off the boil in front of goal for the past year after losing his starting place for his club side Al-Ahli. However, the national team coach Mahdi Ali has never swayed from his commitment to Khalil, remaining loyal to his main out and out centre forward.

The Emirati side have started emphatically, blowing away Gulf Cup champions Qatar 4-1, going some way to ensure qualification for the knockout stages from their so called “Group of Death”. Khalil’s initial poacher’s effort was supplemented by a sublime curling free kick, sending their fans into joyous raptures. Three points against the group’s weakest side Bahrain in the next matchday should cement progression, while attention will fast turn to avoiding the pre-tournament favourites, Japan in the quarter finals.

The Team

Under mounting pressure and conceding a penalty on the hour mark, many would assume it was all going downhill for China PR. However, half an hour later, the East Asian nation finished with all three points and a wave of admiration for a thoroughly professional performance against one of the tournament’s strongest outfits.

A late deflected free kick from Yu Hai may have been against the run of play against group favourites Saudi Arabia, but it was created on the basis of a thoroughly methodical approach. Built on a solid defence, China restricted the Green Falcons to few real clear opportunities, the first main chance afforded being the penalty the Saudis forced on the break. Birthday boy Wang Dalei in the Chinese goal, profited from a tamely hit penalty from Saudi striker Naif Hazazi, something that was later revealed to be inspired by the ball boy behind the goal instructing the goalkeeper to dive to his left.

While the local ball boy has been appointed as a cult hero back in China, before being subsequently requested to tend the area behind Dalei’s net in their second match, the team itself has been widely praised for their ever improving form that’s peaking at the right point. Coach Alain Perrin hasn’t been universally accepted in the footballing community, however a strong first year in charge has forced people to change their minds. A victory over Uzbekistan later in the week will surely leave no one with any doubts over the direction he’s taking his team in.

The Talking Point

A narrow 1-0 victory would usually be accepted by most national teams at the start of a regional cup competition such as the Asian Cup. However, mounting pressure on Korea Republic to improve aesthetically will unlikely relinquish as they continually fail to impress with their performances. Ever since the appointment of German coach Uli Stielike, Korea have put together a promising set of results, while the performances on display have hardly set pulses racing. This has lead to concerns that the South Koreans won’t make a real impact in the latter stages of the Asian Cup.

In their opener against Oman, Korea found their opponents in a frustrating mood and for the most part impenetrable to their attacking pursuits. The majority of the Korean's attacks were played at arm’s length, distant punts that hardly troubled Ali Al-Habsi in the Omani goal, leaving Oman quite content in their defensive display, aiming to hit Korea on the counter. As has been apparent under Stielike, Korea did enough, forcing the opener through Cho Young-Cheol who had been pretty ineffective for the rest of the proceedings, before languidly hanging on to their slender lead for the second half of football.

Against weaker opposition, Korea’s talent is there to see with little effort or invention needed. While narrow victories at the beginning will satisfy the fans back home, an improvement in the final third is needed if they're going to make a real fist of making it to the latter stages or even winning the competition in Australia. Next up for Korea is another, on paper easier task against an out of form Kuwait side fresh off a heavy beating by the hosts. Stielike has already indicated that he’ll fully utilise the whole of his squad as he desperately seeks that extra spark needed to build up a head of steam.

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.