AL-AIN, United Arab Emirates (AFP) - AFP Sport looks at five things we learnt from the opening round of group games at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates:
1. Home advantage countsÂ
It has been a long time since Iran or Saudi Arabia were kings of Asia but with the tournament back in the Middle East, they have looked in ominous form.
Iran, Asia's top-ranked team, swamped Yemen, the lowest in the competition at 135 on the FIFA listings, 5-0 in the biggest win of the first round. Iran haven't lifted the trophy since 1976, when they completed a run of three straight victories - two of them on home soil.
Three-times winners Saudi Arabia, who last won the title in UAE, a short hop over their shared border, in 1996, were also impressive in their 4-0 win over North Korea.
After Jordan stunned defending champions Australia, and Uzbekistan became the only side from outside the region to beat a Middle Eastern team, it's tempting to think that home comforts count for much.
2. Don't mind the gap
Reputations increasingly mean little in international football but when Turkmenistan and the Philippines are playing the continent's best, expectations are understandably low.
However, a thunderous first-half strike put Turkmenistan 1-0 up against four-time winners Japan, who eventually escaped 3-2, while the Philippines repeatedly troubled South Korea, runners-up in 2015, before narrowly losing 1-0.
They were far from isolated incidents: Jordan dealt a heavy blow to Australia's title defence with a 1-0 upset win, and Kyrgyzstan were 1-0 up against China before an own goal put Marcello Lippi's team on course for a face-saving 2-1 victory.
Meanwhile, India's 4-1 win over Thailand rocked the record five-time Southeast Asian champions so much that they promptly sacked their coach, Milovan Rajevac.
3. Bring me Son-shine
Despite the surprises and moments of quality so far, a dash of star power would not go amiss and it's not just South Korea who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Son Heung-min.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward will significantly boost the Korean front line when he joins the competition after Friday's game against Kyrgyzstan, under a deal struck with his Premier League club.
Son led South Korea to the Asian Games title last year, and memorably struck their second as they knocked holders Germany out of the World Cup in Russia.
He will also help raise the profile of a tournament which is not blessed with a great number of personalities well known outside of Asia, apart from some of the coaches who include Lippi, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carlos Queiroz and Hector Cuper.
4. It's not just cricket
Indian sports fans have a new idol to love - and he's not a cricketer. When Sunil Chhetri plundered a brace in the shock win over Thailand, he moved past Lionel Messi and behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the goal-scoring charts for active international players.
Chhetri's achievement added extra excitement as India celebrated their first Asian Cup win since 1964. A strong run in the tournament will do India's burgeoning football scene no harm at all but despite the success, headlines remained dominated by cricket as it coincided with India sealing their first Test series win in Australia.
5. Politics never far awayÂ
Qatar's journey to UAE in the middle of the Gulf blockade was never going to be easy but so far they have dealt with the situation admirably, shrugging off any outside distractions to beat Lebanon handily in their opening match.
It is the first time Qatar's national team has visited UAE since the start of the crisis in the middle of 2017, when neighbouring countries cut ties and enforced a blockade of the resource-rich state which will host the 2022 World Cup.
Sanctions-hit Iran also complained of a variety of problems in the build-up to the tournament, while Yemen are in the midst of a full-blown war and humanitarian crisis, Syria have long been wracked by conflict and Iraq's situation remains turbulent.
Everton avoided a third consecutive Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory against Bournemouth at a rainy Goodison Park on Sunday.
Soccer: Everton ride luck for 2-0 home victory over Bournemouth
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates - pressure comes with the territory Japan captain Maya Yoshida wants his young teammates to take advantage of the opportunity in the UAE to
Pressure comes with the territory warns Japan's Yoshida
A crackdown on booming MTA overtime costs is coming — and carrying a whiff of labor unrest from transit workers. "The company brought this problem upon themselves and now they're trying to blame the workers," John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union, told THE CITY on Thursday.
The Ticking Clock of Leicester City's Youth Movement
NICOSIA (REUTERS) - Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday (March 24)..
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
May 13, 2019 · Manchester City have retained their title through a manager persuading players to reach into areas of unexplored potential put four past Brighton, they were providing the climax to the run of
Liverpool's great hope is that Manchester City are not only
ABU DHABI (AFP) - Yuya Osako netted a quickfire double as former champions Japan survived a scare to beat Turkmenistan 3-2 in their Asian Cup opener on Wednesday (Jan 9). The Blue Samurai reached
Osako double sparks 3-2 Japan win at Asian Cup - Khaleej Times
Spanish girls shine. The girls' team from Atletico Madrid celebrating after being crowned the inaugural JSSL Professional Academy 7s girls' champions yesterday. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE.
Spanish Girl - YouTube
Guardiola isn't thinking that far ahead just yet and he urged his players to take it one game at a time. "Liverpool and Man City have done incredible so far so deserve the credit. We will have 80 points with six games to play if we win next week," he said. "We are going to do everything to win. No matter the next competition, we will win the game."
Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City
pembrokeexpress.com/2019/04/02/guardiola-salutes-incredible-manchester-city/
Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City Posted April 02, 2019 "I just think that whereas City when they are one up can get the football, pop it about and keep it for fun if you want, I don't think Liverpool with the trio of midfield players that they have can do that as well".
Pep Guardiola salutes gritty Manchester City | Football News
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo should be fit for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Ajax this week. The Portuguese star has
Ronaldo fit for Juventus clash with Ajax - Allegri - Reuters
Yet in that time Newport have beaten Wrexham, Leicester and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup to reach the fifth round for the first time in 70 years. "Of course there is," Flynn replied when asked if a shock to end City's hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple was possible.
Amond's late penalty gives Newport County shock FA Cup win
MANCHESTER: Manchester City will play a pre-season match in Japan for the first time when they take on J League side Yokohama F. Marinos on July 27, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday. City Football Group (CFG) own a majority stake in City and a minority stake in the Marinos, and the two teams will play in the inaugural EuroJapan Cup.
Manchester City to play pre-season match in Japan
FIFA has revealed that almost half of the world's population tuned in for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. According to a report from Publicis Media Sport & Entertainment, an estimated 3.57
Record-breaking FIFA Women's World Cup tops 750 million TV
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with Pochettino football is difficult but always it's about time. You can learn a lot from these difficult moments," Pochettino said. "The
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen