WC Qualification Special: Europe's Just Starting? Asia's Almost Finished...

CelticKing · Sep 4, 2008

WC Qualification Special: Europe's Just Starting? Asia's Almost Finished...

This weekend sees teams all over Europe start their journey towards South Africa. In Asia however, we have been at it for almost a year and over 30 nations have seen dreams of 2010 already extinguished. Ten remain and they are about to start fighting it out for the four and a half places available at the global footy fest.

The ten are split into two groups of five. The top two from each automatically qualify. The two third-place nations play-off against each other for the right to meet Oceania’s representative in a two-legged winner takes all affair.

Australia are the top seeds in Group A and as such are not in action in the first weekend. The Socceroos don’t have long to wait however as they are in Uzbekistan four days later. Fortune has perhaps smiled on the Aussies as the Central Asian match represents a difficult trip and a tough test on the pitch. Squeezing such a game between weekends during the European season would not be welcome but the team has time to train and adapt.

Before that however, Uzbekistan are action in Qatar. Like any of the hopefuls, the first is a vital match but a poor result in Doha against the team that is, on paper, probably the weakest in the group will put the pressure on the for the visit of the Socceroos. Uzbekistan, impressed at the 2007 Asian Cup, did the same during the third round of qualification earlier this year. Now comes the real test and while two games out of ten will not spell success or failure, Rauf Inileyev’s men need a good start to unsettle the two favourites.

That includes Japan. The three-time Asian champions are aiming for a fourth consecutive World Cup spot and kick-off with a familiar trip to Manama. Japan lost 1-0 in Bahrain in the previous round and are itching for revenge – the meaningless win in the Land of the Rising Sun in June didn’t cut it . This time no chances will be taken and no European stars such as Shunsuke Nakamura will be left behind.

Bahrain came so close to the 2006 tournament, losing to Trinidad and Tobago in a play-off. Then they didn’t have Milan Macala. The wily Czech tactician is a well-respected coach in the region and steered the team through a potentially tough third round with some comfort. It goes without saying that what comes next is going to be a good deal tougher but no team will relish a Manama match. That is no surprise –the team often struggles overseas and needs all the points possible at home.

Qatar scraped into the last round with no room to spare and there isn’t much love to spare either around Asia regarding the Gulf State’s penchant for naturalising talented South Americans to strengthen their team. It still may not be enough. Qatar lost convincingly to Australia at home and especially away and do not travel well even elsewhere in the Middle-East. Trips to Tashkent, Tokyo and Sydney are daunting ones.

Daunting is an apt description of Group B. As the quintet in Group A have five World Cup appearances between them, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea and UAE have a grand total of 16.

South Korea had few problems result-wise in the previous round of qualification but performances were far from satisfying. Coach Huh has made a few changes since June and it could be a new-look, fresher and younger team that faces North Korea in Shanghai on September 10. The opening weekend sees the Taeguk Warriors inactive.

The tie of the round is undoubtedly the match between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The hosts are going for a fifth consecutive World Cup appearance while Iran seek number four. The Saudis looked good at the Asian Cup and a convincing defeat in Tashkent apart, were fine in the previous round though Helio Dos Anjos became the latest coach to suffer the famous Saudi sack. 2002 World Cup coach Nasser Al Johar is back in the hottest of hotseats and knows that if stars such as Yasser Al-Qahtani and Malek Maaz deliver, South Africa will not be too far away.

Iran wouldn’t be Iran without off the field issues going into a big game. Coach Ali Daei has asked the nation’s mischievous media to lay off the team and not make a big issue of the omission of Mehdi Mahdavikia. The former Bayern Munich striker knows that he may as well ask Persepolis and Esteghlal fans to switch allegiances.

North Korea make the long trip to Abu Dhabi hoping to continue in UAE where they left off in the previous round. Six games and no goals conceded is a testament to the five-man defence employed by the coach. Iran and Saudi Arabia are no Jordan and Turkmenistan however and the 1966 World Cup quarter-finalists will need to show more in attack.On paper the two are the weakest in the group but the visitors will be happy to take the point and rely on their Pyongyang form to take them to a top two finish.

UAE made the World Cup in 1990. Bruno Metsu took Senegal to the second round of the 2002 tournament but only goal difference got the team this far. Trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi are far from easy but not enough to end South African dreams for the big boys.
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M Two One · Sep 4, 2008

Australia, Iran, Japan, South Korea and Uzbekistan for this one.

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WC Qualification Special: Europe's Just Starting? Asia's Almost Finished...

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WC Qualification Special: Europe's Just Starting? Asia's Almost Finished...

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