Asian Cup Round-up

Asian Cup qualifying for Qatar 2011 is reaching the latter stages now, with the latest round of matched this week. For the uninitiated, the Asian Cup has 16 finalists coming from a variety of qualification routes – just to make things easy.

Qatar qualify automatically as hosts, as do the top 3 nations from the previous tournament in 2007, who were Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. India have somehow snuck in with an automatic spot as winners of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, as will the winners of the 2010 equivalent, meaning that 10 spots are available for everyone else. So there are five groups, from which the top two in each would advance. Got it?


Group A

Japan and Bahrain are out in front in group A, both on 9 points, although Bahrain have a game in hand thanks to being otherwise occupied with World Cup matters in recent months. Yemen and Hong Kong provide the opposition to those two, such as it is. Put simply, if Japan and Bahrain fail to qualify, I’ll run naked through Shinjuku on a busy Saturday night.

This week Japan beat Hong Kong 4-0 and Bahrain did exactly the same to Yemen. They switch opponents in early January, and if the big two both win then qualification will be all over with time to spare.

Pl. Pts.
Japan 4 9
Bahrain 3 9
Yemen 3 3
Hong Kong 4 0


Group B

A slightly closer affair this one. Kuwait and Australia head the pack, but not by much. The Aussies began their campaign losing 0-1 at home to Kuwait in Canberra with what was essentially a second string team. Further points were dropped away to Indonesia, but on Wednesday the Socceroos moved back up in to a qualifying spot with an away win in Oman. Indonesia and Kuwait drew 1-1 leaving things close with all four teams still in with a shout. The big game of the group come in early January when Australia travel to Kuwait. Defeat there, combined with a win for Oman in Indonesia would result in a few anxious Aussies.

Pl. Pts.
Kuwait 4 7
Australia 4 7
Oman 4 4
Indonesia 4 3

Group C

Just the three teams here thanks to India’s automatic qualification saving them the bother of playing this lot which is just as well really since they’d probably have struggled.

Uzbekistan are top and have already booked their place in the Finals thanks to three wins from three. This leaves UAE and Malaysia fighting for the other spot., and given that the group began with Malaysia being tonked 0-5 at home by the UAE I think we can safely say that our wealthy friends from the Gulf will be making the short trip to Qatar in 2011. This should be confirmed on 6th January when they meet in Dubai.

Pl. Pts.
Uzbekistan 3 9
U.A.E. 2 3
Malaysia 3 0


Group D

Lebanon had to overcome a preliminary tie with the Maldives to reach this group, where presumably the biggest problem they had was avoiding the temptations of scuba, snorkelling and general relaxation in the Maldives. They certainly weren’t given any hassle on the pitch.

Then again, they may wonder why they bothered, since three straight defeats leaves them bottom of group D. This may well become zero from four on Sunday when they travel to Zheijang to play China.

Syria top the group ahead of China and Vietnam, with the Vietnemese being the only country to avoid defeat against Syria, drawing 0-0 in Damascus on Wednesday. A win for China on Sunday against Lebanon would leave qualification all but over with two rounds still to go.

Pl. Pts.
Syria 4 10
China 3 6
Vietnam 4 4
Lebanon 3 0


Group E

Another close one to finish off with, Iran, Singapore and Thailand separated by just 2 points at the top of the table, with Jordan bringing up the rear. Iran are still to play their fourth match which is on Sunday against Jordan and could well extend their lead as a result.

Thailand got off to an uninspiring start under their previous English boss Peter Reid, and the new Englishman in Bangkok, Bryan Robson, got off to a better start winning away in Singapore last weekend only to go and spoil it all by losing the return in Bangkok on Wednesday.

I fully expect Iran to run away with it, leaving Singapore and Thailand fighting it out, in which case having taken 3 points from each other their results against everyone else will be what counts., both with games remaining against Iran and Jordan.

Pl. Pts.
Iran 3 7
Singapore 4 6
Thailand 4 5
Jordan 3 1