Top Asians missing from the World Cup
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finals over the next few weeks.
However, for every star act from Asia present in South Africa, there is another Asian just as good from a country that has failed to qualify for this year’s finals.
There are top players from Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, Uzbekistan and even Thailand who will be watching the likes of Tim Cahill (Australia), Park Ji-sung (Korea Republic), Jong Tae-se (DPR Korea) and Shunsuke Nakamura (Japan) on television, or as specialist commentators.
The following is a list of selected players, chosen by editors at the-afc.com, who will be missing from the World Cup finals but who would certainly have lit up the competition had they been there.
Javad Nekounam (Iran)
Nekounam was a first-team player for Iran at the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and, after eventually establishing himself in the squad, played two games for his country at the 2006 finals.
A terrier in midfield, the 29-year-old Nekounam, who plays for Osasuna in Spain, can be relied upon as well to shore up the defence when he is not orchestrating play from the middle of the park.
Ali Karimi (Iran)
The World Cup 2010 would have been a dream international swansong for Iran legend Ali Karimi, the feisty player with a short fuse but silky dribbling skills.
He has had only one World Cup – in 2006 in Germany – when he was unable to unleash his full bag of tricks because of a particularly hard season with Bayern Munich that left him physically drained an carrying an injury.
Known as the “magician” in Iran, his brand of magic would have wowed crowds in South Africa.
Mohammad Noor (Saudi Arabia)
Al Ittihad maestro Mohammad Noor has been one of the best players in Asia over the past six years, with some of his best work coming in the AFC Champions League, which he won in 2004 and 2005.
His vision, first touch and ability to put the ball where he wants make him a wonderful player to watch, though he was unable to help Saudi Arabia overcome Bahrain in the Asian qualifying play-offs.
Yasser Al Qahtani (Saudi Arabia)
Al Hilal’s Al Qahtani was the AFC Player of the Year in 2007 when Saudi Arabia reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup, losing to Iraq.
He is one of the most lethal strikers in Asia and has been given nicknames such as “sniper” and “Robin Hood”.
He has scored 59 goals in 94 matches for the national team and would have dearly loved to have added to his tally on the world’s greatest stage.
Khalfan Ibrahim (Qatar)
Qatar’s Khalfan Ibrahim has been one of Asia’s consistent performers over the years and won the AFC Player of the Year title in 2006.
The Al Sadd striker has scored 15 times for his country in almost 50 games though Qatar failed in the final round to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Ismail Matar (UAE)
The “Golden Boy” of United Arab Emirates has been one of the best players in Asia even since he was awarded the Golden Ball at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, leading his country to the quarter-finals.
He has scored 26 goals for his country at senior level in 86 appearances and is a key member of the Al Wahda team who play in the UAE’s elite league.
Younis Mahmoud (Iraq)
Younis Mahmoud became the pin-up boy of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup after his powerful header swept war-torn Iraq to the title in fairytale style.
When not excelling at national level, Mahmoud was in excellent form for his club side Al Gharafa, the only Qatar team remaining in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
Server Djeparov (Uzbekistan)
Server Djeparov is one of the best-known names in Asian football after winning the 2008 AFC Player of the Year award.
The midfielder, who plays for Uzbek giants Bunyodkor, has sublime dribbling and passing skills that would have served Uzbekistan well had they reached the World Cup finals.
Therdsak Chaiman (Thailand)
For players such as Thailand’s Therdsak Chaiman, playing in the World Cup finals remains a distant dream. However, that does not negate the skills of a player who took BEC Tero Sasana to the final of the 2003 AFC Champions League.
That same year, he was one of the finalists for the AFC Player of the Year Award, which eventually went to Iranian Mahdi Mahdavikia. Asia has enjoyed this skilful player for many years. Unfortunately, the world will never know.
Zheng Zhi (China)
The 29-year-old Zheng Zhi, who plays for Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic, started his career as a defender but now plays in influential midfield role for China – the great underachievers of Asian football.
He is the engine room of the China national team and is a master of set-pieces. He was not part of the Chinese team who qualified for the 2002 World Cup and time may be running out for one of China’s best players.
*Note: Only players from countries who failed to qualify for the 2010 finals were chosen. The choices were made by editors of the-afc.com and does not necessarily reflect the position of AFC or AFC officials.
