Preview's on all 8 asian teams...

[Naveed M]

Note, ISP will bring u the best analysis on the teams in Iran group, but until then this will have to do, also note there may be one or two mistakes in these articles, i noticed one or two on iran...

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Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On IRAN
2/4/2005 4:31:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Sixth in the series are Iran.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


IRAN

The most skillful team in Asia has not always been the most successful. The country’s halcyon days came in the 1970’s when ‘Mighty Iran’ won three consecutive Asian Cups without losing a game and qualified for the 1978 world cup in Argentina.

It was another 20 years before Iran qualified for the world cup again and the country missed out in 2002. The team’s Croatian coach Branco Ivankovic will be determined to make up for lost time in 2006.

2004 was an interesting year for the mercurial ‘Team Melli’ as it showed in patches what it is capable of, finishing third in the Asian Cup. The quarter-final triumph over South Korea will live long in the memory as Asian Player of the Year; Ali Karimi tormented the Korean defense, scoring three goals in his team’s 4-3 victory.

The reward for that win was a semi-final tie with hosts China, and an unlucky exit from the competition after a penalty shootout. The Persians had done enough however, to show the rest of Asia that they were once again a team to be reckoned with.

The first stage of qualification for Germany wasn’t as smooth as it should have been with Jordan winning in Teheran. That home defeat spurred the players on to win their remaining games and earn a place in the second stage.

According to FIFA’s official rankings, the pairing of Iran and Japan in that stage pits the best two teams in Asia together, though South Korea would dispute such a claim. Iran’s attacking, at times maverick, style contrasts with Japan’s well-organized and disciplined system. It would be difficult to imagine two Japanese defenders slapping each other around the head after a defensive error as Rahman Rezaei and Ali Badavi did last July but Ivankovic is proud of his players’ passion and will to win.

Those players will travel to Bahrain in the opening game full of confidence as they defeated the Gulf state’s team 4-2 in the Asian Cup. The desire for revenge will also be strong as it was Bahrain who defeated Iran 3-1 in the same stage four years ago, condemning the country to a play-off with Ireland. A win in the upcoming fixture will take the pressure off the Iranians in time for the visit of the Asian Champions, Japan. North Korea will not hold any fears for the Middle Easterners as they have an excellent record against the communist country and won 3-1 in Pyongyang in October 2003.

Sometimes it seems that Iran’s most dangerous opponent is itself but if the country’s talented offensive players perform as well as they can, those stars will be able to parade on a global stage in the summer of 2006. The team boasts no less than three Asian Players of the Year; 1999 winner and all-time international goal scoring record holder, Ali Daei, 2003 winner, striker Mehdi Mahdavikia and 2004 winner Ali Karimi. It is time for these players and their team-mates to turn potential into consistent performances.


Key Players

Vasid Hashemian

Known as the ‘helicopter’ for his ability to hover in the air, Hashemian plays for German giants Bayern Munich. The Bavarian team signed him after some impressive performances for previous German club Bochum. The 28 year-old is a gifted goalscorer but has a petulant streak. He only recently ended his self-imposed international exile, as he refused to play for the national team after being left on the substitutes bench in 2001.

Opposing defenders may be rueing his return when the next stage of qualifying commences.


Ali Karimi

‘The Wizard of Teheran’ is, on his day, just that, a magician with a football. If his coach could coax a little more consistency out of the 26 year-old then he could truly become a world class player. He already enjoys such status among Korean defenders as he led them a merry dance, scoring a hat-trick in the Asian Cup, one of the best individual performances ever seen in Asia.

The winger currently plays his club soccer in the United Arab Emirates but rumours of an impending move to Germany and Spain are getting louder. His talents deserve such a stage.


Prediction

Iran should have no problems in finishing in the top two places in the group as the team has the talent and goalscoring capability that most other Asian nations can only dream of. ‘Team Melli’ is also capable of shooting itself in the foot and nobody in Teheran will be booking hotels in Germany just yet.



John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On JAPAN
2/4/2005 4:22:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Fifth in the series are Japan.
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world.

The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


JAPAN

The Asian Champions are striving to participate in their third successive world cup finals and based on the team’s form in 2004, few would bet against Japan being one of the thirty-two teams performing in Germany in 2006.

Brazilian legend Zico has steered his team to be currently the best in Asia. Not only do FIFA’s ranking support that claim but so do the team’s performances over the past twelve months.

Qualification for the second stage of Asian qualifying was achieved with a perfect six wins out of six record. Only Oman provided any sort of resistance to the East Asians but ultimately qualification was achieved in the group’s penultimate game. The efficiency of Japan’s performances was impressive. Only one goal was conceded by the well-organized Japanese defense while opposing goalkeepers had to pick the ball out of their nets sixteen times.

However, finishing in the top spot of the world cup qualifying group was nothing less than Japan’s growing legion of fans expected, the high point of 2004 came in July when the team made the short trip to China to defend its Asian title.

The competition was beset with controversy as the injury-hit Japanese were booed and jeered everywhere they went in China, as Chinese fans demanded that Japan apologize for past crimes in China. The hostility grew to such an extent that it drew protests from the Japanese Foreign Minister and provoked a bitter war of words between the media of the two countries.

On the pitch the players seemed to put such distractions to one side as they narrowly defeated Jordan and Bahrain to earn a place in the final to face the hosts in Beijing. The controversy still raging off the pitch spilled over the white line as Japan won 3-1 amid bitter protests from the Chinese that Japan’s second goal was scored with Koji Nakata’s hand. Chinese coach, Dutchman, Arie Haan was so incensed that he refused to accept his runners-up medal.

Japan’s playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura had no such qualms and the player of the tournament headed back to Italy where he plays for Serie A team, Reggina. Nakamura, was also on the shortlist for Asian Player of the Year and is one of a number of Japan ese players who are excelling in some of Europe’s most difficult and prestigious leagues. He often meets his compatriot in Italy’s top division as Japanese icon Hidetoshi Nakata, Asian Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998, regularly appears for Florentina. Nakata’s 2002 award winning counterpart is countryman and fellow midfielder Shinji Ono, who stars for Dutch team Feyenoord, based in Rotterdam. Many nations in the world would be delighted to have such a trio in their midfield. That threesome, coupled with a strong and well-organized defense, means that Japan is still the team to beat in Asia.


Key Players

Shunsuke Nakamura

Even though Iran’s Ali Karimi was named as Asia’s best player in 2004, many felt that the classy 26 year-old should have been the one lifting the award, just as he lifted the prize for the Asian Cup’s Most Valuable Player. The Yokohama-born player slight frame belies a toughness that is necessary to survive and prosper in Italy’s premier division. Although he may not score many goals, he creates enough to have become indispensable for club and country.


Yoshito Obuko

The 2004 Asian Young Player of the Year is one of the hottest prospects to come out of Asia for years. The striker helped his team Cereza Osaka to avoid relegation before heading to play in Spain’s La Liga and wooed the fans at Real Mallorca as he scored twice on his debut. The 22 year-old Fukouka based striker hasn’t yet cemented his place in the national team but it is only a matter of time. 2005 could see him burst onto the international scene.


Prediction

Trips to Pyongyang and Teheran would be difficult for any team but as long as Japan keeps its eye on the ball and avoids complacency then Japan’s stars will have the chance to shine on a world stage in 2006



John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On BAHRAIN
2/4/2005 5:18:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Seventh in the series are BAHRAIN.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


BAHRAIN

The prospect of having to finish above Japan or Iran in order to qualify for Germany will not scare Bahrain half as much as it used to. The standard of football played in this tiny Gulf Kingdom has come a long way over the last few years.

Indeed, the team improved so much in 2003 that it jumped from 105 to 64 in FIFA’s World Rankings, thereby becoming the first Asian team to win FIFA’s Best Mover of the Year award.

If 2003 was good, 2004 was better as the Bahrainis announced their arrival on the Asian stage. The first round of Asian qualifying for the world cup was negotiated successfully. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Syria are not the most formidable group of opponents but Damascus especially, is a tricky place to play soccer and get a result, but get a result Bahrain did as it finished the six group games unbeaten.

It wasn’t only in World Cup qualifying that Bahrain, under the guidance of coach, Srecko Juricic, impressed, as the high point of the country’s football history so far came last July. The Asian Cup was held in China and the team from a country with a similar population to Andorra, excelled.

In the end Bahrain made it to the semi-finals and was moments away from defeating the mighty Japan. It wasn’t to be as the eventual champions won the game in extra-time. That thrilling 4-3 defeat was a measure of just how far the country has come; from 145th rank in the world in 2001, to the fourth best-team in Asia in 2004.

That this has been achieved in a nation that has only 600 registered footballers is a near miracle and testament to the sports authorities and a succession of coaches. Juricic is the latest of these and the Croat is aiming to earn himself a place in Bahraini history as he bids to become the first man to guide the country to a World Cup tournament.

Can he do it? The answer must be: maybe. Bahrain have styled themselves as Asia’s answer to Greece, in that the underdog is capable of triumphing goes. The analogy doesn’t go much further however as the Asians are not as hard to beat as their European cousins but their style of play is easier on the eye.

The only competitive fixture Juricic’s charges lost in 2004 were inflicted by the Japanese and the Iranians, but both games, especially with Japan, were close and encouragingly for Asian football fans, high-scoring.

Impressive though such a run is, most games were played against relatively weak opponents, which Japan and Iraq certainly aren’t. Bahrain’s key players will have to be at their best if the team wants to take advantages of any slip-ups by the two Asian giants. Much rides on the visit of Iran to Bahrain’s National Stadium in Manama on February 9th; a victory for the home team will really throw the cat amongst the pigeons.


Key Players

A’laa Hubail

The striker was one of three on the shortlist to win the coveted Asian Player of the Year in 2004. It is easy to see why after he finished as joint top scorer of the Asian Cup as well as scoring well in world cup qualifiers. The 22 year-old is quick and has a natural goalscoring instinct and could be one of the first Gulf players to make it in Europe. However, the young predator is no longer unknown and can expect some close attention from Japan and Iran’s experienced defenders.


Talal Yusuf

The diminutive midfielder has, as they say in the game, ‘a good engine’ and can be seen defending in his own penalty area one minute, and then scoring a goal at the opposite end of the pitch the next. The 29 year-old has a good eye for goal and his team will need him to support the strikers.


Prediction

Impressive though Bahrain’s improvement has been, it’s difficult to see the tiny country finishing above Japan or Iran. Third place and a play-off beckons.


John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On NORTH KOREA
2/4/2005 5:29:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Eighth in the series are North Korea.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


NORTH KOREA

Asia’s most mysterious team is doomed to be forever associated with 1966. In the World Cup in England, the North Koreans defeated the mighty Italians and gave the talented Portuguese a scare in the quarter-finals.

It is difficult at the moment to see the team from north of the 38th Parallel eclipsing the achievement of almost forty years ago. The team refused to participate in the 2002 competition that was held mere miles away and had to watch, or not as the case may be have been, as South Korea wrote a new chapter in Asian football history.

The road to the second stage of qualification was surprisingly smooth with the group being won with a game to spare. Two impressive 4-1 victories over Thailand provided the basis for the Koreans to finish top of the group which, apart from the South-East Asians, contained the group favorites, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

On paper, the North Koreans are the weakest of the eight teams still battling to reach Germany and it will be extremely difficult to finish above any of its talented group opponents.

However, the past few years away from the international stage has, according to Pyongyang, enabled the sport to reorganize and prepare for a new assault on the world game. Inevitably, Kim Jong-il was said to have taken a close interest in the new initiative and maybe he has, as the players have been offered cars, homes and money if they defeat the Japanese in Saitama in the opening game.

It is at home that the North’s strength lies. No team, especially Japan, with political relations between the two countries frostier than ever, will relish a trip to Pyongyang. The capital is revolutionary is more ways than one as the 100,000 capacity Kim Sung-il stadium is installed with an artificial playing surface.

Coach Yun Jong-su has instilled an aggressive and physical style of play in his team that is aimed to disrupt the smooth passing games of some of Asia’s more refined nations. Hopefully for the manager, this approach will negate the lack of international exposure and experience that his players have had.

Despite the riches on offer and the energy that will be exerted in the opening game, it will be a major surprise if the North Koreans return home across the East Sea (or the Sea of Japan, depending on where you live) with anything other than a defeat. The following game against Bahrain could be the one that decides if North Korea has what it takes to finish in third place.


Key Player

An Yong-hak

The 26 year-old was born and lives in Tokyo but is a North Korean citizen. He plays his for J-League team Albirex Niigata and played in twenty-six games last season, scoring three goals in the process. The physical midfielder has an eye for goal and scored two goals in the 4-1 victory over Thailand last September. North Korean fans will be hoping that he can use his inside knowledge of Japanese football to help produce an upset.


Prediction

Upon clinching a place in the second stage last November, North Korean coach, Yun Jung-su, expressed his hope that the two Korean teams will be able to field a joint team in the 2006 World Cup, but first his team will have to qualify. It is unlikely that will happen with rivals such as Japan, Iran and Bahrain. The best the North Koreans can hope for is third place and a play-off.



John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On SOUTH KOREA
2/2/2005 11:17:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Third in the series are South Korea.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.

SOUTH KOREA

Asia’s most successful world cup team ever is aiming to participate in its six consecutive competition and its seventh in total. After the heroics of 2002 there is a desire in the south to show the world that they can handle the ‘big boys’, not only at home but anywhere.

Fans in Korea won’t demand another semi-final place but will be looking to advance beyond the first round for the first time on foreign soil. However, there is still the small matter of the second stage of qualifying to successfully negotiate.

Even the most passionate ‘Red Devil’ will admit that the team’s performances since the summer of 2002 have been disappointing to say the least. The first stage of qualifying was won, but so unconvincingly that it cost Humberto Coelho his job.

Such inconsistency will be punished in the second stage as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Uzbekistan are superior opponents to Lebanon, Maldives and Vietnam. The main problem for present coach Jo Bonfrere is that his strikers are not finding the net on a regular basis. Only nine goals were scored in the first stage’s six games and given the standard of opposition, such a strike rate is not good enough.

The team creates enough chances but has yet to recover the killer instinct of scoring vital goals at crucial times which it demonstrated so clearly in the summer of 2002.

The defense is also not what it was. Back-line stalwarts such as Choi Jin-cheul, Kim Tae-yong and 2002 captain, Hong Myong-bo have hung up their international boots but the team is still searching for reliable and competent individuals to replace such experienced defenders.
The Koreans will be happy that their first opponent is Kuwait, though the visitors won’t relish the bitterly cold Korean winter. The two teams met in China last July with Korea winning comfortably, 4-0. Bonfrere will be delighted with the same score line in February but will be happy with a win to provide a basis for some tricky away games.

Since the world cup it seems that Korea’s biggest problem has been one of overconfidence. If such a sentiment can be avoided in 2005 then it is difficult to see Korea not finishing in the requisite top two positions.

Key Players :

Park Ji-sung

The young playmaker burst onto the scene in the 2002 World Cup with a beautiful winning strike against Portugal. Guus Hiddink took him to Holland to play with Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven. Park is improving all the time and if he performs well, then usually the team does.

The 23 year-old may be short in stature but makes up for it in skill and aggression.

Lee Dong-guk

The striker enjoyed a fruitful 2004, scoring seven goals in six games. However, doubts remain that the Pohang striker is the answer to Korea’s scoring problems. Lee’s problem in the past was a lack of consistency. The 25 year-old has what it takes to score on a regular basis but needs to continue to work hard to find that extra touch of class that he needs.


Prediction

Although Korea’s form has been inconsistent, the team still doesn’t lose many games, especially at home. That resilience alone should be enough to see the team qualify for Germany 2006.

John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On SAUDI ARABIA
2/2/2005 11:00:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Second in the series are Saudi Arabia.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


SAUDI ARABIA

A decade is a long time in football and it must feel like even longer for Saudi fans. The 1994 World Cup in America saw the Saudis arrive on the world football stage, as the team qualified for the second round, becoming only the second Asian team to ever do so. Saeed Owairan’s winning goal against Belgium will always be remembered as one of the best in world cup history.

Along with South Korea, Japan and South Korea, the Saudis have been a permanent member of the ‘big four’ of Asian soccer. Their record stands for all to see; three world cup appearances, three Asian Cups and two victories in the Gulf region’s biennial competition, the Gulf Cup.

However, the last world cup was a truly awful one for the Middle Easterners as they returned to Riyadh after losing all three games, including a humiliating 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Germany. Since that terrible tournament the Saudi team has put in a number of inconsistent performances.

Qualification for this stage of the world cup was achieved easily and efficiently, with all six qualifying games being won but 2004 wasn’t a resounding success. A first round exit at the Asian Cup in July was a shock but not as much as another first stage goodbye at the Gulf Cup, in December.

One major problem has been the lack of stability among those who control the team. Since appearing in the 1994 World Cup, the Saudi Authorities have fired no less than fourteen coaches, with 2004 alone seeing three different faces at the helm. The latest recruit is Gabriel Calderon. The Argentinean has played in two world cup tournaments and will need all his experience to guide his new players to Germany next year.

In order to keep its seat at the top table of Asian soccer, Saudi Arabia must qualify for the 2006 competition. Although the perception of the Saudi team is one of a slow but unmistakable decline, it is difficult to see the team not finishing in the top three with Korea and Uzbekistan.

However, Kuwait shouldn’t be dismissed as the tiny Gulf country came from behind to beat its much bigger brother in December’s Gulf Cup. Uzbekistan similarly defeated the Middle Easterners in July’s Asian Cup and look to be the Saudis’ main rivals for second spot.

Much will depend on the opening game on February 9th. The Saudis will travel eastwards to the Uzbek capital. Whoever loses the game in Tashkent will find it hard to recover.

Key Players:

Mohammed Noor

The dynamic midfielder lifted the Asian Champions League trophy in December as captain of Al Ittihad. The 26 year-old scored in the final also but can be seen helping to defend his own goal as well as trying to score in his opponents. The combative player has an aggressive streak which he is not always able to contain but his team will need him on the pitch as long as possible.

Prediction:

The Saudis may not be as powerful as in the past but the team shouldn’t be underestimated as it is experienced and has been in similar positions before. First place seems too much however, and a bitter battle could ensue with Uzbekistan for second spot.


John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On UZBEKISTAN
2/2/2005 11:41:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. Fourth in the series are Uzbekistan.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


UZBEKISTAN

The Central Asian state burst onto the Asian scene in 1994 by winning the Asian Games but has done little since then. Until 2004 that is. Last year signaled a new arrival on the Asian scene as the former Soviet republic established its credentials as a genuine force to be reckoned with.

The Asian Cup in July was a successful one for the team of battlers. Uzbekistan won the first three games in China without conceding a goal, disposing of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and neighbors, Turkmenistan before unluckily losing to Bahrain in a quarter-final penalty shootout.

Showing that the summer competition was not a flash-in-the pan, the team went on to secure qualification to the second stage of world cup qualifying with the minimum of fuss; winning five and drawing one of the six games.

Most encouraging for fans in the middle of Asia is that young players seem to be emerging from the ranks to complement the older hands in the team. The future seems encouraging for Haydarov and his team and even if the Uzbekis don’t appear in Germany it can only be a matter of time before the country becomes the first from Central Asia to appear on the world stage.

According to FIFA, the country lies some thirty places below Saudi Arabia in the world rankings but the Gulf state will be wary of the Uzbekis and won’t relish the difficult trip to Tashkent when the second stage kicks off in February.

The result of that game will go a long way to determining which of Group one’s four teams automatically qualify for Germany. Uzbekistan’s strong defense will not concede many goals and if captain Mirdjala Kasimov, ‘Asia’s Beckham’, can squeeze some more mileage out of his 34 year-old legs and score one or two of his famous free-kicks then Germany will beckon.

Even if the talismanic captain fails to shine his team has enough talent in attack to trouble the Kuwaiti, Saudi and Korean goalkeepers.


Key Players:

Maksim Shatskikh

The striker made the shortlist for the Asian Player of the Year in 2003 and can be a formidable opponent on his day. Unfortunately for his country he doesn’t have as many days for the national team as he should have. All too often, his club, Dinamo Kiev, has come first, especially when the Ukrainian giants play in the European Champions League.

However, the 26 year-old has scored goals at the highest levels in Europe and much of the goalscoring burden falls on his shoulders. He is used to pressure though, he was signed to replace the legendary Andriy Shevchenko.

Alexander Geynrikh

Another player who plays in Europe, the youngster enjoyed a fruitful 2004. He scored one of the goals of the Asian Cup to send Saudi Arabia home and again contributed a significant goal against Iraq, along with his partner Shatskikh, to clinch qualification to the second stage.

There is plenty more to come from the 20 year-old for both club, CSKA Moscow, and country.

Prediction:

Uzbekistan has the aura of a team on the up, in contrast to group opponents Saudi Arabia. However, football is rarely that simple and the Central Asian team will have to play to its full potential to secure world cup qualification. A home win in Tashkent when the Saudis visit in February should give the Uzbekis the start they need to appear in Germany in 2006.

John Duerden

 

[Naveed M]

Asian World Cup Qualifying: Spotlight On KUWAIT
2/2/2005 10:55:00 PM
The second stage of Asian Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup begins on February 9th. Only eight of Asia’s forty-three teams have survived this far and now lie tantalizingly close to a place in the greatest competition in the world. In a special series of articles, Goal.com Asia correspondent John Duerden analyses the prospects of the eight remaining teams. First in the series are Kuwait.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. The teams that finish in the top two positions in each group will automatically be heading for Deutchsland next summer. The two third placed teams will play-off against each other, the winner of which will face a team from the North and Central American qualifying region for a place in the finals.

Group One consists of South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. Group Two consists of Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.


KUWAIT

Not many people outside the dusty Gulf State expected the team to reach this far. The first round saw the tiny desert country with a population of 2 million battling with China, with its massive 1.3 billion people, for a place in the second stage.

A vital 1-0 victory over the Chinese in October was just enough to put Kuwait in control of the group and a place in the second stage was clinched in November, albeit by the narrowest of margins.

Since disposing of China, there was the small matter of the Gulf Cup to contend with. The competition, the Middle-East’s regional tournament, went badly for the nine-time winners and resulted in the departure of Coach Mohammad Ibrahim.

The new coach, and the man responsible for trying to take Kuwait to its second world cup, is Serbo-Montenegrin Slobodan ‘Bob’ Pavkovic. The Balkan has a rich knowledge of Kuwaiti soccer and will need every ounce of that expertise as he and his team embarks upon a tough quest to appear on the world stage next year.

That quest will begin in South Korea on February 9th. The two teams met in Jinan, China in July and the East Asians were the victors 4-0. Pavkovic would happily accept a draw in Korea in the hope of picking up points at home and elsewhere. This is possible as the group’s second favorites, Saudi Arabia was defeated 2-1 in December.

As such a mixed bag of results suggests; Kuwait is inconsistent. A poor Asian Cup was followed by an impressive first stage world cup qualification, followed in turn by a poor Gulf Cup.

It is difficult to see another equally impressive second stage world cup qualification. The team is not the power it was in the seventies and eighties, winning numerous Gulf Cups, the 1980 Asian Cup and reaching the World Cup in 1982. On paper, the team is the weakest in the group but still has the potential to beat any of the other three but it is unlikely it can beat them enough times to finish in the top two.


Key Players :

Bashar Abdullah

Without doubt the star of the Kuwait team is its captain, most experienced player and top scorer, Bashar Abdullah. The 26 year-old has scored 60 goals for his country and ‘knows where the goal is’. He plays his club football in Kuwait and is the talisman of the side and despite his relatively small size is an accomplished header of the ball. If Abdullah is on fire, the team has a chance.

Khaled Al Shammari

The shaven-headed defender is as tough as he looks. Not the tallest of defenders, he makes up in spirit what he lacks in height as many strikers inside and outside Kuwait have discovered. The 28 year-old is his country’s most experienced defender and he will have to step forward and take responsibility on his broad shoulders.


Prediction:

Kuwait has defied the predictions of most experts by reaching the second round. Despite being able to upset the best Asian teams on its day, it is unlikely that that day will come around often enough for the team to return to the world stage for the first time since Spain 1982.

John Duerden

 

[averageniceguy]

very interesting, i read through all of them. thanks man.

 

[Ali(ISP)]

very interesting, i read through all of them. thanks man.

respect to you for that! man! i gave up half way during the first one! lol

 

[Sly]

Well, I read through Iran and Japan!

So embarrassing that they mentioned Rezaei-Baddavi incident!!!

Thanks Navid jan!

 

[Behdad]

thanks for the article man!!!

 

[Babak G]

Good work,as usual.

 

[Bauvafa]

thanx for posting the great article. I happen to share his views on pretty much all the team except in his conclusion he seems to under-estimate the Uzbek team. I still think they will be the biggest surprise.

 

[Oldman]

Ba dorood:

Thank you.

Very informative however, I wished that article about Bahrain talking about its few population (600 registered) would also indicate that KSA pays a great deal of money to Bahrainis in support of their national team!!!

Pay as much as they pay to Bahrain to Jamaica and watch how USA would be facing TINY country with concern.

Just a point to make about Bahrain!!

 

[persian-parsa]

Aren't these from www.goal.com ?

 

[Naveed M]

Aren't these from www.goal.com ?

as it says in all the articles, they are...

ISP's previews will be much more informative...