Probable good news

[Doctor DOOM]

and it is the possibility that we may face indonesia in our quarter finals.

yes, it IS a possibility.

they have 3 points, while ksa and korea have 1 each.
bahrain is desperate to get something from its next 2 games, and may cause an upset ( hopefully ) or at least cut into the points of the other 2 teams.

if this happens and if indonesia , using weather conditions, refs, hosting privileges, .... whatever, get 3 more points from somewhere, ... who knows.
maybe they'll advance.
then I'd like to see the race in our group to top the group
with us having the upper hand over china and uzbeks.

things are turning out rosey afterall.


hopefully.

[Kavian]

Mage ma in toree Cup ro bebareem ... what are the chances that we meet Malaysia in the final?

[khabalood]

Look for Bahrain to lay down and give three points to Saudi. When that happens the real battle will be between S Korea and Indonesia.

[Paradigm]

Another probable good news this tournament, should we play any of the four teams from the host regions at a later stage, is the issue with the South East Asian players' heights. For example the coach of the Vietnam team (with average 170 cm) has pointed out this issue. He says this factor seems to give some of the West Asian teams (with average around 182 cm) something to exploit.

Please see http://soccerway.com/news/2007/July/...m-laments-size

[perspolees]

we talked about this. We have to win te group, then we stay on te same pitch untill Semifinals! and the pitch afterall turned out lucky for us..

[The-Red]

dd jan it is very doubtful that Indonesia advances from this group.,,very doubtful.

[Doctor DOOM]

hehe .... "doubtful", yes.
but isnt it "enticing", though ?


and yes, if indonesia does become second, and we first , we stay put and indonesia will have to come to malaysia. so home-field advantage is drastically reduced for them ( for those who actually fear facing them. I'd say we can do the job even if we meet AT indonesia )

[khabalood]

As long as we are being optimistic, there is still a good chance that Australia may end up playing Japan in the quarter finals. Which would also mean Thailand and Vietnam would face each other, in essence eliminating one host and we all know how dangerous host nations can be.

[Doctor DOOM]

As long as we are being optimistic, there is still a good chance that Australia may end up playing Japan in the quarter finals. Which would also mean Thailand and Vietnam would face each other, in essence eliminating one host and we all know how dangerous host nations can be.

aussies or japan out in quarters?
Oooh, dude ! dont tease me

[Doctor DOOM]

Un-likely scenarios?
I don’t think so.

Group A
P Pts
Iraq 2 4
Thailand 2 4
Australia 2 1
Oman 2 1

Need I remind you if the Thais draw with the aussies, thais are through & aussies are out ?
Irrespective of what happens in Iraq-oman game?

This way, one threat is sent home.

-----------------

Group B
P Pts
Japan 2 4
Vietnam 2 4
Qatar 2 2
UAE 2 0

With Japan advancing most probably.
Unless they lose to Vietnamese , which seems a bit unlikely. But then again, many results, especially against hosts have gone the unexpected way. Who knows.
uae , true to form, will roll over and play dead for qataris. So, we may see a possible Qatar-japan-vietnam triangle ( if japan draws ).
Or even Vietnam-qatar advance if japan loses. ( one more threat sent packing )

Impossible?
I say thee nay.

even if japan comes first, and if aussies come second, still one contender is knocked out.
still not a bad picture for us.
-------------------

Group D
P Pts
Indonesia 1 3
Korea Republic 1 1
Saudi Arabia 1 1
Bahrain 1 0

This one, I’d love to see draws all around and watch Indonesia advance either as first or second ( Which gives us a leeway to plan to come first or second in the group based on Indonesia’s rank.) . But most probably, their best would be second, which is great for us as they’ll have to LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY & come to us , in Malaysia.
It is possible if they get 2 draws from ksa & korea , and bahrain gets at least one draw against any one of ksa or korea.
another threat removed.

Again, impossible?
Not really.

[The-Red]

i think ppl are giving more credit to the hosts than they deserve...I mean what have we seen from Thailand or Vietnam? I saw Vietnam's both games, they beat an UAE team that is just horrible and they were by no means dominant, and against Qatar, they should have lost if the arabs had put their chances away...[vietnam's goal came from goali's mistake]...as for Thialand, they have one good half against Oman and that is it...I firmly believe that none of the hosts will qualify for the knock-out stage and at best they will finish third in their groups.

[kaz]

Well, Thailand drew with Iraq and Iraq beat Australia. I know, football is not 1+1=2, but the hosts have been surprising.

[zzgloo]

If any of these hosts go to the secound round, that is not nessecarly a good news......they were good enough to go to secound round,therefore, they must be better than those they eliminated !

[Ali Chicago]

Bahram jaan,

Watched Indonesia vs. KSA today, although, Indonesia played well, but even two or three hosts Vietnam, Thai or Indoensia make ti to the second round, none of them will surivve. Unless it will be a fluke. Today you saw KSA took care of Indonesia alhtough the first half Indonesia played well.