Asia's top football teams will soon start their quest for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after they find out their opponents when the draw of Asian Qualifiers Round 2 is to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next month. The 40 teams will be drawn into eight groups of five teams and compete in a double round robin format both home and away, with matches to be held from September 5, 2019 to June 9, 2020, the Asian Football Confederation said Monday. * Ferrari have formally asked for the decision that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix to be reviewed. a team spokesperson said on Monday. Vettel was handed a five-second time penalty during the race on June 9 for going off track and returning in what was deemed to be an unsafe fashion. The German had led the race from start to finish but lost out to Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton after the addition of the penalty. * Kevin Anderson rallied from a set down to beat Briton Cameron Norrie 4-6 … [Read more...] about FIFA World Cup Qatar Asian Qualifiers draw to be held next month
North korea wins world cup
Vietnam makes dramatic entrance to Asian Cup Round of 16
The last spot in Asian Cup’s round of 16 has named Vietnam, although the fans here have gone through quite a thrilling 99 minutes of waiting for the result between Lebanon and North Korea, which ended 4-1 for Lebanon. After the game ended, both Vietnam and Lebanon finished the group stage with three points and a same goal difference of -1 (both scored four goals and conceded five). However, it was Vietnam who made it into the round of 16. Thanks to a slight difference in yellow cards, the qualification was decided based on disciplinary record. Throughout the group stage, Vietnam has accumulated five yellow cards, two against Iraq, two against Iran and one against Yemen. Meanwhile, Lebanon had six yellow cards, two against Qatar, three against Saudi Arabia and one against North Korea. That means one yellow card made all the differences. If both teams had identical stats, even the yellow cards, AFC would have chosen the last spot through ballots. Fans across the country burst out … [Read more...] about Vietnam makes dramatic entrance to Asian Cup Round of 16
Mind the gulf as crisis hit Qatar, Saudis clash at Asian Cup
Qatar's Almoez Ali scored four goals against North Korea, with hardly anyone watching from the stands due to the Gulf blockade. (Photo: AFP/Giuseppe CACACE) With Saudi Arabia the chief protagonist in a Gulf crisis that has left Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, cut off from its neighbours since mid-2017, the group game at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium resonates far beyond the pitch. Even in sporting terms it is one to watch, with both teams scoring a hatful of unanswered goals in their opening two games, suggesting they are among the favourites to lift the trophy at the same venue on Feb 1. Qatar have entered the lion's den at the tournament in the United Arab Emirates, an unflinching Saudi ally and one of the countries which have slashed diplomatic ties and transport links, protesting that Doha supports terrorism - a claim the Qataris deny. It means that Qatar are playing without any of their fans at the Asian Cup. Just 452 people watched their 6-0 win over North Korea, the … [Read more...] about Mind the gulf as crisis hit Qatar, Saudis clash at Asian Cup
Five things from the Asian Cup’s first round
AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the opening round of group games at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates: Home advantage counts 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. Don't mind the gap Reputations increasingly mean little … [Read more...] about Five things from the Asian Cup’s first round
FIFA World Cup Ranking, 2018
Source: FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking, 2018Viet Nam News NEW DELHI — As the FIFA World Cup starts in Russia from this week, here is how Asian countries are ranked by the global football body. The FIFA World Cup begins today and countries across the world are gearing up for it. Only three Asian countries – Australia, South Korea and Japan have qualified to compete for the world’ most coveted trophy in football. On the global ranking, Australia is the only country from Asia that figures in the top 50. Australian team named Socceroos is ranked 36. The Socceroos are in Group C with France, Peru and Denmark. South Korea is ranked 57 and is the only Asian country that has qualified nine times for the world cup. It is also the only Asian country to win the most entertaining team award at 2002 FIFA world Cup. Two players from the team were also voted members of the MasterCard All Star Team, the only Asians to be voted in. South Korean team is in Group F with Germany, … [Read more...] about FIFA World Cup Ranking, 2018