Round of 16 - Day 3 [AFC Asian Cup 2019] - Date, Time, & Live Updates

[Philosophy_King]

Outside the Asian Cup, they are nothing to write about.

Want proof? Go see where they have finished in the final group stages of the last 5 World Cup qualifiers.

And which Teams are second-tier than?

[Tehranto]

And which Teams are second-tier than?

Look at the last World Cup qualifiers table and look at this Asian Cup.

Iraq lost in the Round of 16, that means they are in the top 16 teams of this Asian Cup.

[MucizeLions1992]

It's confirmed now, Iran-Qatar final, both teams reaching there with virgin nets.
Bet on it.

No betting side offers that. Still sticking with Japan - Qatar as Final.

[Under Lahaf]

maybe they've changed names, but this time most of the players seem to be arabs or north africans. they missed pedro miguel from the list below, but it's not as bad as 4 years ago with players from south america.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_..._football_team

Arabs, north africans, indians or Brazilians doesn't matter. If someone is not born there, or grew up there / developed his skills there / or is not Qatari by blood then it's cheating in my books.

[Saam]

Thank god Iraq lost. Mostly because the love affair of some members with them will end.

[Philosophy_King]

Look at the last World Cup qualifiers table and look at this Asian Cup.

Iraq lost in the Round of 16, that means they are in the top 16 teams of this Asian Cup.

Iraq reached Asiancup 200&2004 the QF, won the Asiancup 2007,
they lost AC 2011 in QF in extra Time against Australia, they reached the semifinals in 2015, reaches
knockout stage this time again. So the constantly pass the group stage of the Asiancup which is
very impressive for a third-tier Team.

Plus every time we play them, they give us a hard time. I am just wondering if Iraq is third-tier
how good second-tier must be.

[eerooni]

No betting side offers that. Still sticking with Japan - Qatar as Final.

You really think Japs can beat us?? now? with their young team that struggled throughout ...Not a good bet IMO!

[Nokhodi]

Iraq reached Asiancup 200&2004 the QF, won the Asiancup 2007,
they lost AC 2011 in QF in extra Time against Australia, they reached the semifinals in 2015, reaches
knockout stage this time again. So the constantly pass the group stage of the Asiancup which is
very impressive for a third-tier Team.

Plus every time we play them, they give us a hard time. I am just wondering if Iraq is third-tier
how good second-tier must be.

They're our bete noir, doesn't mean they're a good team.
There are tons of teams that play well against Iran in Asia, but they're really quite bad.

[Under Lahaf]

based on Wiki at least there guys are born in other countries;

Ro Ro - Portugal
Rawi - Iraq (dad was in Iraq's national team)
Boudiaf - Morocco / French
Khoukhi - Algeria
Alaaeldin - Egyptian - Qatari?
Almoez - Sudanese

exculding;
(Isamil is of Sudanese descent but was born in Qatar)

[Saam]

I don't know where this notion came from that Iraq is our achilles' heel and no matter how bad they are, we always have a chance of losing to them. You guys do realize that they haven't beaten us in an official game (90 mins) for (correct me if I'm wrong but this is off the top of my head) around 24 years right? The only time they beat us when it mattered was on penalties last Asian Cup and that was mainly because we had 10 men, but they still couldn't beat us in 120 mins with an extra man. Iraq always loses to us...we beat them in Asian Cup 2011, beat them in WC 2002 qualifiers home and away, and I am sure if we faced them in Asian Cup 2007 we would've beaten them too in the semifinals. They're not our bogey team, they just got one good result against us in 2015 and that's it. Our bogey team is Saudi Arabia.

[Tehranto]

Iraq reached Asiancup 200&2004 the QF, won the Asiancup 2007,
they lost AC 2011 in QF in extra Time against Australia, they reached the semifinals in 2015, reaches
knockout stage this time again. So the constantly pass the group stage of the Asiancup which is
very impressive for a third-tier Team.

Plus every time we play them, they give us a hard time. I am just wondering if Iraq is third-tier
how good second-tier must be.

As I said - they are a overachieving Asian Cup team. They are a tournament team, they constantly are at bottom of the table in the World Cup qualifiers and their friendlies are not really impressive (until recently). They lost 4-0 to Argentina's 2nd/3rd team.

Here is the list based on evidence:

1st Tier: Iran, Australia, S. Korea, Japan
2nd Tier: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Uzbekistan
3rd Tier: Iraq et al.

[AIrani]

Watched Iraq Qatar game.
I am happy Qatar won for several reasons. They have treated Iranian teams better and our training camp was there.

Iraq tired itself in Iran's game and their players were physically unfit for this match. Their fans are passionate which were not expecting to go home.

In group stage a reporter predicted Iran Qatar final. It is possible by results so far. I will be happy to see Iran in the final. I hope Chinese do not act up and get on our players nerves.

[Under Lahaf]

I don't know where this notion came from that Iraq is our achilles' heel and no matter how bad they are, we always have a chance of losing to them. You guys do realize that they haven't beaten us in an official game (90 mins) for (correct me if I'm wrong but this is off the top of my head) around 24 years right? The only time they beat us when it mattered was on penalties last Asian Cup and that was mainly because we had 10 men, but they still couldn't beat us in 120 mins with an extra man. Iraq always loses to us...we beat them in Asian Cup 2011, beat them in WC 2002 qualifiers home and away, and I am sure if we faced them in Asian Cup 2007 we would've beaten them too in the semifinals. They're not our bogey team, they just got one good result against us in 2015 and that's it. Our bogey team is Saudi Arabia.

interesting point,wiki says they have won 6 times out of 28 games (one friendly and one penalty in Asian cup) since 1962!

[Tehranto]

I don't know where this notion came from that Iraq is our achilles' heel and no matter how bad they are, we always have a chance of losing to them. You guys do realize that they haven't beaten us in an official game (90 mins) for (correct me if I'm wrong but this is off the top of my head) around 24 years right? The only time they beat us when it mattered was on penalties last Asian Cup and that was mainly because we had 10 men, but they still couldn't beat us in 120 mins with an extra man. Iraq always loses to us...we beat them in Asian Cup 2011, beat them in WC 2002 qualifiers home and away, and I am sure if we faced them in Asian Cup 2007 we would've beaten them too in the semifinals. They're not our bogey team, they just got one good result against us in 2015 and that's it. Our bogey team is Saudi Arabia.

Exactly. There are facts to back this up.

We also have a great overall record against them: won 12, 6 draws, 5 losses. In the Asian Cup, we have 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.

Hate to admit it, but Saudi Arabia always gives us a hard time.

Iranians are strange people.

[KC McElroy]

Guys let's just feel the pain of Iraqi people now, their team is genuinely a national team not a best of Africa imports for a team with 0 fan base. For Asian soccer to grow it needs genuine teams with real fans and passion not one purchased by oil money.
When I saw the passion of Iraqi people on the stands it just reminded me of us, they love their team and it represents their nation so we should be respectful of them from now on, the past is past.

8 years.