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Sports
03/06/2008
Asian World Cup Qualification: Half-Term Report Card
Goal.com Asia has graded each team’s performance relative to expectations and past records.
Group One:
1: Australia 7 2: Qatar 4 3: China 3 4: Iraq 1
Australia: A
’Win at home and draw away’ is the qualification mantra and it is one that the Socceroos are following to the letter. A victory against Qatar was as comfortable as they come while the Iraqi win was less so but maximum points at home make the fighting 0-0 draw in China a very good result.
Qatar: B
A disappointing opening day defeat down under has been followed by four points collected at home. It has been a reasonable first half for Jorge Fossati’s team who may feel however, that it should have been a little better.
China: B
Three draws from three games doesn’t sound great but two of them came from tough away day encounters in Dubai and Doha. A solid foundation has been set.
Iraq: D
The talented Asian Champions are staring elimination in the face. It started well with a good first half against China but a second-half implosion gave the Desert Foxes their solitary point so far. A lacklustre performance in Qatar was punished and a narrow defeat in Brisbane was unlucky but it is not looking good.
Group Two
1: Bahrain 9 2: Japan 6 3: Oman 3 4: Thailand 0
Bahrain: A+
You can’t get better than perfect –especially when two of the wins have come away from Manama.
Japan: B
Two home wins were pretty comfortable with the defeat in Bahrain a sizeable blemish. Six points out of nine however is a good return.
Oman: C
There is no point defeating Thailand and then losing to Bahrain and Japan. Three points behind Japan and six points behind Bahrain at the halfway stage is disappointing.
Thailand: C
The two disappointing defeats in Bangkok at the hands of Oman and Bahrain have ended Thailand’s interest in the 2010 World Cup.
Group Three
1: South Korea 5 2: North Korea 5 3: Jordan 4 4: Turkmenistan 1
South Korea: B-
A comfortable 4-0 Turkmenistan was a perfect start and a goalless draw against North Korea was fine. What wasn’t was the way in which the Taeguk Warriors allowed a 2-0 lead at home to Jordan to slip. For Korea’s high qualification standards five points is a little disappointing.
North Korea: B+
A five-point haul from two away games and a home match against group favourites South Korea is a more than adequate start for the DPRK.
Jordan: B+
A disappointing opening match home defeat at the hands of North Korea has been followed by two good results. A win at the home of the Turkmen was followed by a gutsy 2-2 draw in Seoul.
Turkmenistan: C
An opening game defeat in Seoul was no disgrace but a home defeat at the hands of Jordan was a disappointment. The Central Asian nation wasn’t expected to progress but being cut adrift at the bottom was also not part of the plan either and that is a danger.
Group Four
1: Uzbekistan 9 2: Saudi Arabia 6 3: Singapore 3 4: Lebanon 0
Uzbekistan: A+
The stars of the show so far. 3-0 at home to Saudi Arabia and 7-3 at Singapore are as good as results as you will see in Asian football all year. Already with one foot and more in the fourth and final round.
Saudi Arabia: B
Three points clear of third place is always a nice cushion to have but a 3-0 defeat in Tashkent will not be easily forgotten.
Singapore: C
It would be a huge achievement for Singapore to reach the next round especially after a 7-3 home defeat against Uzbekistan. Signs are, it isn’t going to happen.
Lebanon: C
It’s a big ask for Lebanon in a group with two of Asia’s best teams and the tough-to-beat Singapore.
Group Five
1: UAE 5 2: Syria 5 3: Iran 3 4: Kuwait 1
UAE: A-
Only one win but two draws at the home of biggest rivals Iran and Syria have put Bruno Metsu’s men in with a great chance of a place in the final round.
Syria: A
So far so good for the Syrians. A draw at the Azadi in Tehran was an excellent way to start the campaign. There is still some way to go but much hard work has been done.
Iran: C-
No defeats from three matches would not have been a huge surprise to fans of Team Melli but no wins will be. Two draws at home is disappointing as was allowing Kuwait to fight back from two goals down.
Kuwait: C
Two defeats have put Kuwait in a difficult position and four points from second place at the halfway stage is likely too big a gap.
Group One:
1: Australia 7 2: Qatar 4 3: China 3 4: Iraq 1
Australia: A
’Win at home and draw away’ is the qualification mantra and it is one that the Socceroos are following to the letter. A victory against Qatar was as comfortable as they come while the Iraqi win was less so but maximum points at home make the fighting 0-0 draw in China a very good result.
Qatar: B
A disappointing opening day defeat down under has been followed by four points collected at home. It has been a reasonable first half for Jorge Fossati’s team who may feel however, that it should have been a little better.
China: B
Three draws from three games doesn’t sound great but two of them came from tough away day encounters in Dubai and Doha. A solid foundation has been set.
Iraq: D
The talented Asian Champions are staring elimination in the face. It started well with a good first half against China but a second-half implosion gave the Desert Foxes their solitary point so far. A lacklustre performance in Qatar was punished and a narrow defeat in Brisbane was unlucky but it is not looking good.
Group Two
1: Bahrain 9 2: Japan 6 3: Oman 3 4: Thailand 0
Bahrain: A+
You can’t get better than perfect –especially when two of the wins have come away from Manama.
Japan: B
Two home wins were pretty comfortable with the defeat in Bahrain a sizeable blemish. Six points out of nine however is a good return.
Oman: C
There is no point defeating Thailand and then losing to Bahrain and Japan. Three points behind Japan and six points behind Bahrain at the halfway stage is disappointing.
Thailand: C
The two disappointing defeats in Bangkok at the hands of Oman and Bahrain have ended Thailand’s interest in the 2010 World Cup.
Group Three
1: South Korea 5 2: North Korea 5 3: Jordan 4 4: Turkmenistan 1
South Korea: B-
A comfortable 4-0 Turkmenistan was a perfect start and a goalless draw against North Korea was fine. What wasn’t was the way in which the Taeguk Warriors allowed a 2-0 lead at home to Jordan to slip. For Korea’s high qualification standards five points is a little disappointing.
North Korea: B+
A five-point haul from two away games and a home match against group favourites South Korea is a more than adequate start for the DPRK.
Jordan: B+
A disappointing opening match home defeat at the hands of North Korea has been followed by two good results. A win at the home of the Turkmen was followed by a gutsy 2-2 draw in Seoul.
Turkmenistan: C
An opening game defeat in Seoul was no disgrace but a home defeat at the hands of Jordan was a disappointment. The Central Asian nation wasn’t expected to progress but being cut adrift at the bottom was also not part of the plan either and that is a danger.
Group Four
1: Uzbekistan 9 2: Saudi Arabia 6 3: Singapore 3 4: Lebanon 0
Uzbekistan: A+
The stars of the show so far. 3-0 at home to Saudi Arabia and 7-3 at Singapore are as good as results as you will see in Asian football all year. Already with one foot and more in the fourth and final round.
Saudi Arabia: B
Three points clear of third place is always a nice cushion to have but a 3-0 defeat in Tashkent will not be easily forgotten.
Singapore: C
It would be a huge achievement for Singapore to reach the next round especially after a 7-3 home defeat against Uzbekistan. Signs are, it isn’t going to happen.
Lebanon: C
It’s a big ask for Lebanon in a group with two of Asia’s best teams and the tough-to-beat Singapore.
Group Five
1: UAE 5 2: Syria 5 3: Iran 3 4: Kuwait 1
UAE: A-
Only one win but two draws at the home of biggest rivals Iran and Syria have put Bruno Metsu’s men in with a great chance of a place in the final round.
Syria: A
So far so good for the Syrians. A draw at the Azadi in Tehran was an excellent way to start the campaign. There is still some way to go but much hard work has been done.
Iran: C-
No defeats from three matches would not have been a huge surprise to fans of Team Melli but no wins will be. Two draws at home is disappointing as was allowing Kuwait to fight back from two goals down.
Kuwait: C
Two defeats have put Kuwait in a difficult position and four points from second place at the halfway stage is likely too big a gap.
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