When tens, maybe hundreds of millions of people – okay, many of them came from China, hoping for a miracle – breathlessly tune in to what’s happening between Tajikistan and Lebanon and see something historic, heartbreaking and downright dramatic, then you know it well. that something is going well. No one knows what will happen in this wild, exciting and dramatic Asian Cup in Qatar. It’s already been emotional – the Syrian translator broke down after coach Héctor Cúper reached the second round for the first time – and the group stage will go down in history as the best the tournament has produced in a long, long time. Only eight of the 24 teams went home, but they all did their part.
Some did this by being historically evil. China didn’t even score a goal, but it looked like their apparent plan to push through with three draws would go well. After two points from the first two, they were shocked by an absolute winner from Hassan al-Haydos from Qatar. Team Dragon returned home with a mix of contempt and apathy. They had hoped that Tajikistan and Lebanon would end on a good note, but there were three great goals in that match, with the Central Asians scoring in stoppage time to advance to the second round for the first time, leaving a desperate and devastated Lebanon was deprived of doing the same. .
China’s misery added to the misery in East Asia. As political and financial power has shifted westwards across the continent in recent years, the great football talent was thought to be in the Lands of the Rising Sun and the Morning Calm. That’s still true, but Japan and South Korea, clear favorites before it all started, are having problems.
Indeed, it seemed that the expected meeting between the two, scheduled for the final, would take place in the second round. Japan’s defeat to Iraq, in which the defensive problems and goalkeeping errors evident in the 4-2 opening win against Vietnam were punished by talented and determined opponents, ended an eleven-match winning streak. Japan’s mixed-heritage goalkeeper Zion Suzuki reported racist abuse from fans at home. Finishing second in Group D, the Samurai Blue sat back and waited for the Koreans to win their group and book the biggest match in Asian football.
Ultimately, South Korea failed to do so and almost finished third in Group E before finishing second behind Bahrain. A 2-2 draw against Jordan was achieved thanks to a final own goal, but never mind that their last match was against lowly Malaysia, who had not scored in their first two matches and had not won a match at this level since 1980 stage. But after falling behind, the Southeast Asians scored twice in quick succession to take a 2-1 lead in the second half. South Korea’s coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, hasn’t made much of an impact – or seemed all that interested – since arriving in Seoul almost a year ago, but a loss to a team 107 places below his squad at 130 would be a big has been humiliation for both the coach and the players. . Lee Kang-in intervened again with a spectacular free kick and then Son Heung-min scored a penalty, but Malaysia, led by a Korean coach in Kim Pan-gon, grabbed the equalizer in the 105th minute for a famous 3-3 draw. .
It meant that Klinsmann would face Roberto Mancini and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The Italian started by claiming that three regular players wanted to choose their matches and left them out of the squad. The knives were sharpened after 78 minutes in the opener against Oman, but then came an equalizer and a winner in the 96th minute, and things have calmed down since then. Saudi Arabia versus South Korea is the first meeting of traditional continental powers in the tournament and, both because of the format and the large and loud Saudi contingent of fans, it is anyone’s game.
Shin Tae-yong, a former Korea coach, has taken Indonesia to the second round for the first time thanks to a hard-fought victory over their regional rivals Vietnam, who disappointed under Philippe Troussier and went home early after finishing bottom of Group D. It was Shin’s reward for trusting both youth and naturalized players, a policy criticized by some domestically. Of the Southeast Asian quartet in the tournament, Thailand also advanced, in second place behind Saudi Arabia in Group F.
There was joy in Central Asia as Tajikistan came through, led by effervescent German coach Petar Segrt. A second round draw against a United Arab Emirates team that has failed to impress is a winnable one. Uzbekistan probably should have won all three matches, but ended up finishing level with Australia – the Socceroos going relatively unnoticed, although that’s not a bad thing considering the problems South Korea and Japan were having. Injuries could cost Uzbekistan, but given how open it all is, who knows? Kyrgyzstan gave a good impression of themselves on their debut in 2019, but slumped to three defeats this time. India also disappointed with no goals and three defeats.
So far the West has been the best, with Qatar, Iran and Iraq winning all three group matches. Qatar, the hosts, did not relent and looked very smooth indeed, with Akram Afif returning to the levels of 2019 in which he helped the Maroons to an impressive title. The demons of the 2022 World Cup are being destroyed as each match passes. Iran fans weren’t keen on their coach, Amir Ghalenoei, even before he demanded they be nicer, but striker Mehdi Taremi could be the man who takes the team all the way forward. Iraq has been excellent, teaching Japan a real lesson and bringing back memories of their 2007 victory.
Bahrain, who topped their group over South Korea, and Jordan also looked decent. Palestine made headlines just for being there, and then delighted everyone by winning a first-ever match and then progressing to the next stage. Oman underperformed – just two points from a team that promised a lot – while Lebanon fought hard, could easily have come through, but just didn’t quite have the quality.
They still contributed to an exciting group stage and if it all continues, this could well be the best Asian Cup yet.