In the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, only the winners of the eight groups are assured of moving forward to the final stage – where they will be joined by the four best runners-up. With some teams having played five of their eight games, and some four, there is still time, though not a lot, to sort things out or to blow it all.
Here, Sport 360 takes a look at five things we learned during the recent AFC World Cup qualifiers.
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1) CHINA ARE IN TROUBLE
Chinese fans are accustomed to failing to qualify for World Cups, after all their team has only once performed team on the global stage. And since 2002 (that one World Cup appearance), the Red Dragons have failed to even reach the final round.
This time though, surely it was going to be different. With the Chinese Super League booming, an encouraging Asian Cup in January, and a top seeding in a group of five that contained Bhutan, Maldives, Hong Kong and Qatar, it seemed to all be in China’s favour.
But now, not only are China eight points behind leaders Qatar, they also have three less than Hong Kong – albeit with a game in hand over both. For Alain’s Perrin men to have a chance of finishing first, they will have to win all four of their remaining games. The pressure is well and truly on.
2) UAE SHOULD STAY CALM
The results have been a little disappointing from the team that finished third at the Asian Cup in January but sitting five points behind Saudi Arabia is not a reason to prematurely fire coach Mahdi Ali. As often happens, a coach who improves a team and brings better results can fall victim to expectations that are raised by that very improvement.
The 2-1 defeat in Saudi Arabia means that finishing first is now out of UAE’s hands but there are still 12 points to play for with three of the four remaining games at home. Coach Ali has done a great job over the years and should have enough credit in the bank to survive short-term setbacks – although it is time to find top gear.
3) SOUTH KOREA ARE ALMOST THERE
No Asian team qualifies for the World Cup like South Korea, who are aiming for a ninth consecutive appearance in the tournament. A place at Russia 2018 is certainly not in the bag just yet but the final round almost is.
Korea are two points clear at the top with a game in hand and three of the four games remaining at home – and the one that is not taking place in Laos. The Taeguk Warriors have been perhaps Asia’s best team in 2015 and are looking settled and solid, with no goals conceded in their group and 14 scored. With English Premier League stars Ki Sung-yueng and Son Heung-min to call upon, first place is almost guaranteed.
4) BIG GUNS ARE SITTING SECOND, BUT SHOULDN’T WORRY
مبروك الفوز للنشامى بنتيجة 2 – 0 على استراليا #همتنا_ضعفين @JordanFA @ManaseerG pic.twitter.com/XxLhbsrk7O
— Wassim Al-Hammouri (@WHammouri) October 8, 2015
Syria currently sit a point above the Japan but have played a game more and lost 3-0 to the Blue Samurai last week. Vahid Halilhodzic’s men should welcome the challenge that should stand them in good stead for the final round.
Australia will be a little more nervous after losing in Jordan last week. They are now four points behind the men from Amman but the Socceroos have a game in hand and three of the four left are at home. It will likely come down to the final clash with Jordan at home and the Asian champions will be confident of winning that against a team that doesn’t always travel well.
Iran also have to be careful as they are three points behind Oman. The two teams are fighting it out at the top and Paul Le Guen’s Oman are going to be tough adversaries. Iran should be okay but need to be aware that they are in a real fight for first.
5) IRAQ HAVE A FIGHT ON THEIR HANDS
The 2007 Asian champions felt their group – with Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and the now-suspended Indonesia – would offer few problems. They were wrong. With just six games in this reduced group, there is less time to put things right.
By the time Iraq travel to Taiwan next month, they will almost certainly be eight points behind Thailand with three games remaining. As the Lions of Mesopotamia have two games in hand, the maths will be pretty simple. Win all three including the ‘home’ game with Thailand next March to finish first.
That will not be simple: there are reports of divisions and dissent in the ranks, not for the first time, and then Thailand are a much-improved team of late. The 3-0 win on Tuesday in Vietnam, a place where Iraq came away with a draw due to an injury-time penalty a few days earlier, was most impressive.
