The opening round of third round World Cup 2018 qualifiers drew up a plethora of storylines.
Here, Sport360’s Matt Monaghan investigates the key issues across the continent ahead of Tuesday’s second round of matches.
PRODIGAL SON SKIPS GAME
South Korea will experience life without star forward Heung Min-son, who is missing the qualifier against Syria to fight for his Tottenham place.
Heung, 24, is yet to appear in the Premier League this term and has failed to impress since arriving in North London last summer.
Emerging Seongnam FC striker Hwang Ui-jo will be the beneficiary of this decision.
The trip to Malaysia to play the Group A minnows should provide the perfect chance to add to his solitary international goal.
JAPAN’S SENSE OF INJUSTICE
Defeat to the UAE was hard for Vahid Halilhodzic and his side to take.
Not only was it in their own backyard, against a UAE side they were expected to beat, but the decision to deny Takuma Asano an equaliser – which TV replays showed to have crossed the line – rankled even further.
Halilhodzic has tried to move on and prepare for today’s match in Bangkok but the frustration clearly remains for the Samurai Blue.
That will manifest itself in a performance of determination and a will totake out their anger on Thailand or could lead to a disjointed display lacking in concentration, leaving them open for an upset.
Japan perhaps have been denied 2 penalties, but a clear goal has not been given. Incredibly poor from the officials. pic.twitter.com/K9nX0GthYp
— Dave Phillips (@lovefutebol) September 1, 2016
MOMENTUM IS KEY FOR CHINA
There are positive ways of losing.
For China, this was the case against South Korea as Yu Hai and Hao Junmin’s late goals turned a 3-0 thrashing into a valiant one goal defeat.
“I don’t think we have much pressure,” Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Huang Bowen told Global Times. “I just hope we can play the way we did in the last 15 minutes against South Korea.”
If such spirit is shown from kick-off against Iran, a 13-match unbeaten run could be ended.
Korea 3-2 China. Quite a second half
— John Duerden (@JohnnyDuerden) September 1, 2016
TIME IS NOW FOR HAZAZI
Naif Hazazi has endured a staccato Saudi Arabia-career, often playing in the shadows of strikers Mohammad Al Sahlawi and Nasser Al Shamrani.
With both players out of form and favour, a golden opportunity to cement his starting spot was wasted against Thailand.
His comical dive was the nadir and much better will be required in Iraq.
QATAR CANNOT BE CUT ADRIFT
The pressure is steadily starting to build on 2022 hosts Qatar.
A late collapse at giants Iran on Thursday was no disgrace. But now, they have to strike in Doha against Uzbekistan or their dreams of progression could be at risk.
They took four points from their opening three games in trying to qualify for 2014 and still finished fourth.
This shows the scale of a task facing them.
