Everything does happen for a reason!
This whole Asian Cup is starting to be a very interesting event and one that make things look like they happen for a reason. Here is why!
Aussies meeting Japan is going to be one heck of a game and you have to agree with me that there is a bit of revenge involved for Japan there. They were humiliated in the world cup by the Aussies and now they will be motivated to erase that memory. Would the Japanese get their wish? Or would Australia beat them again and get closer to seeing their wish of meeting Iran in the finals come true. After all, the Aussies Asian nightmare still remains to be Iran and the unforgettable Azizi's goal dashing their hopes of reaching the world cup in front of their fans at home.
On the other side, Iraq will meet one of the sensations of this tournament so far, the Vietnamese who have never had this much glory in their Asian football history. This perhaps would be another interesting game to watch. And one needs to see if Iraq coming out of two recent tough matches (Australia and Oman) can survive the speedy East Asians who are going to have the crowd support behind them. No matter what the outcome of this game, the next encounter with the winners of groups C or D, will probably prove to be the end of a good run for either of these two teams.
There is no doubt that Iran is going to beat Malaysia, but what the score line would be together with the result of the game between China and the Uzbeks, would determine the final outcome of this group. Uzbeks are determined to advance and it appears that they have what it takes to beat the Chinese decisively. Something perhaps Iranians would also hope for.
Koreans are under pressure and for the first time in their Asian Cup history, they are faced with the possibility of elimination in the first round. They will be facing the determined Indonesians who have had bright sparks in their football history in the past, but never able to sustain it. The Koreans would need a win to be hopeful while the Saudis and Bahrainis fight it over in the other remaining game in this group. It is a must win for Bahrain, as they cannot afford to risk it any other way. The Saudis will probably want to be first in their group to possibly avoid Iran, and perhaps setup a revenge match against the Uzbeks in the next round. Uzbeks eliminated Saudi in the last Asian Cup. If Korea finishes second their group, they will probably face Iran in the next round, and that would be another revenge situation for the Koreans as they were eliminated in the hands of Iranians in the last Asian Cup. Given their performance so far, it is highly unlikely that the Koreans can pull anything against Iran. But it is football and anything is possible!
Saudi is probably one of the best teams of this tournament and their advance to the semis is highly likely, however, they will face either Japan or Australia in the semis and that would be the real test for them in this tournament. It would be a real tough challenge for either of these three teams to get to the final. Specially Japan that had it pretty easy in the last Asian Cup.
Now, Iran for the first time can get to the final rather easier than the rest of the teams. Something again, one can argue that it happens for a reason. They should have won it last time around but deprived by bad referring and a missed penalty!
This whole Asian Cup is starting to be a very interesting event and one that make things look like they happen for a reason. Here is why!
Aussies meeting Japan is going to be one heck of a game and you have to agree with me that there is a bit of revenge involved for Japan there. They were humiliated in the world cup by the Aussies and now they will be motivated to erase that memory. Would the Japanese get their wish? Or would Australia beat them again and get closer to seeing their wish of meeting Iran in the finals come true. After all, the Aussies Asian nightmare still remains to be Iran and the unforgettable Azizi's goal dashing their hopes of reaching the world cup in front of their fans at home.
On the other side, Iraq will meet one of the sensations of this tournament so far, the Vietnamese who have never had this much glory in their Asian football history. This perhaps would be another interesting game to watch. And one needs to see if Iraq coming out of two recent tough matches (Australia and Oman) can survive the speedy East Asians who are going to have the crowd support behind them. No matter what the outcome of this game, the next encounter with the winners of groups C or D, will probably prove to be the end of a good run for either of these two teams.
There is no doubt that Iran is going to beat Malaysia, but what the score line would be together with the result of the game between China and the Uzbeks, would determine the final outcome of this group. Uzbeks are determined to advance and it appears that they have what it takes to beat the Chinese decisively. Something perhaps Iranians would also hope for.
Koreans are under pressure and for the first time in their Asian Cup history, they are faced with the possibility of elimination in the first round. They will be facing the determined Indonesians who have had bright sparks in their football history in the past, but never able to sustain it. The Koreans would need a win to be hopeful while the Saudis and Bahrainis fight it over in the other remaining game in this group. It is a must win for Bahrain, as they cannot afford to risk it any other way. The Saudis will probably want to be first in their group to possibly avoid Iran, and perhaps setup a revenge match against the Uzbeks in the next round. Uzbeks eliminated Saudi in the last Asian Cup. If Korea finishes second their group, they will probably face Iran in the next round, and that would be another revenge situation for the Koreans as they were eliminated in the hands of Iranians in the last Asian Cup. Given their performance so far, it is highly unlikely that the Koreans can pull anything against Iran. But it is football and anything is possible!
Saudi is probably one of the best teams of this tournament and their advance to the semis is highly likely, however, they will face either Japan or Australia in the semis and that would be the real test for them in this tournament. It would be a real tough challenge for either of these three teams to get to the final. Specially Japan that had it pretty easy in the last Asian Cup.
Now, Iran for the first time can get to the final rather easier than the rest of the teams. Something again, one can argue that it happens for a reason. They should have won it last time around but deprived by bad referring and a missed penalty!
Comment