Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: 14 players from five nations represented the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finalists at the World Cup. The-AFC.com reviews their performances in Russia.
An Islamic Republic of Iran side featuring seven players plying their trade at Esteghlal, Persepolis and Al Sadd impressed in the World Cup despite exiting at the group stage. Korea Republic stunned reigning champions Germany with two Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players on the pitch and a third on the bench.
Kashima Antlers’ pair Gen Shoji and Naomichi Ueda reached the Round of 16 with Japan, but Tianjin Quanjian’s Axel Witsel was the AFC Champions League quarter-finalist to go furthest in Russia, helping his Belgium side to a historic third-place finish. Samsung Suwon Bluewings' Matthew Jurman wasn’t as fortunate as his Australia team were eliminated at the group stage.
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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hirving_lozano_of_mexico_collides_with_yong_lee_of_korea_republic.html
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ACL Plyaers in WC
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad signed Matthew Jurman on a two-year contract from Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Monday.
The Australian international will join the two-time AFC Champions League winners as they prepare for the Saudi Pro League 2018-19 season which begins in late August, and aim to return to the club Continental stage having missed the 2016 and 2017 editions.
Jurman began his senior professional career in Australia, playing for Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar, before moving to Korea Republic for a stint with the Suwon-based club, where he made three appearances in their 2018 AFC Champions League campaign.
The move means the 28-year-old will be passing up on the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals first leg tie with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Barcelona have loaned midfielder Paulinho, a starter in the Brazil side knocked out by Belgium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in Russia, to former club Guangzhou Evergrande, the Chinese Super League champions have announced.
"Guangzhou Evergrande confirm Paulinho has returned to the club after one season at Barcelona," the club tweeted.
Paulinho, who is 29, first joined Guangzhou from Tottenham Hotspur in 2015, playing 84 matches and scoring 22 goals before leaving for Barcelona in 2017.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
With the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-finals kicking off on Tuesday evening, we recall the first, and to date only, time Asia reached the final four as Korea Republic took on Germany at the 2002 edition.
Korea Republic's passage to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup is a milestone in the continent's history worth revisiting time and time again. Prior to their fabled run to the last four 16 years ago, Asia had never had a team gone so far at the international game's highest level, with DPR Korea's memorable 1966 quarter-final finish the best effort to date.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The five Asian teams concluded their participation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the highest points tally in the continent's history, and there were some memorable moments along the way.
Heroic individual and team performances, famous victories and record breaking moments. It was all present in Russia 2018 as Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia represented Asia on the world stage. We relive some of the best moments from the tournament after the Samurai Blue were the last Asian side to depart the World Cup, ending their participation at the round of 16.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Japan’s last-gasp elimination to Belgium in the Round of 16 ended Asia’s hopes at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, but the Continent’s five sides produced some excellent performances on the global stage.
As the competition now enters the latter stages, the-AFC.com looks back to highlight that stats and facts that stood out from our teams' thrilling contribution to football’s biggest showpiece.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As coaches announce their national team squads ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the eight AFC Champions League quarter-finalists are sending 14 players to the global event in Russia.
With the final eight of the 2018 AFC Champions League decided and the draw conducted, eyes of Asian football fans turn to Russia for the FIFA World Cup, where five Asian nations will be present. Fans of AFC Champions League quarter-finalists will have one eye on their respective clubs' players looking to make a name for themselves in Russia.
A total of 14 players will be representing seven of the eight finalists, testament to the growing profile of the top club competition in Asia. Qatar's Al Duhail are the only side of the eight with no representatives amongst the 736 players competing for international glory next month.