Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With four Matchdays and several memorable games completed, there will be little room for error when Asia’s national teams convene for Matchdays Five and Six of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 in the coming week.
With high stakes fixtures on the agenda all over the Continent, the-AFC.com scrutinises some of the key facts and figures ahead of the 32-match extravaganza to come.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the next two rounds of Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 on the horizon, the upcoming matchdays will go a long way in determining the fate of the teams.
With only the eight group winners and four best runners-up advancing to the final round of Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, there will be no room for slip-ups.
The same applies for the final stage of the Asian Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023, with the 12 next best-placed teams advancing to the third round. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at how the eight groups stand.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: When Thailand lined up against United Arab Emirates at home in their third Asian Qualifiers outing in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 on October 15, few gave Akira Nishino's hosts side any hopes of winning.
After all, the visitors boasted a dominant record having won four and drawn one in the two sides' past six World Cup qualifying meetings.
The game, however, ended in a surprise 2-1 scoreline in Thailand's favour. Rising to the occasion was an unsung hero, 20-year-old Ekanit Panya who played in only his third international appearance.
The young attacker set up Teerasil Dangda for the opener before latching on to Nitipong Selanon's pass to strike the match-winner as the War Elephants stunned the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-finalists.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan continued their resurgence under head coach Vadim Abramov, registering a 3-1 friendly win over Kyrgyz Republic at Pakhtakor Stadium on Saturday.
Uzbekistan 3-1 Kyrgyz Republic
Both sides used the match to prepare for key Asian Qualifiers in the week ahead, with Uzbekistan to host Saudi Arabia on Thursday, while Kyrgyz Republic are set to face Japan in Bishkek.
Pakhtakor duo Igor Sergeev and Dostonbek Khamdanov made the most of their familiar surrounds to find the back of the net before Jamshid Iskanderov slotted an excellent third for Uzbekistan, with Farkhat Musabkeov getting his name on the scoresheet for the visitors, who remain winless in eight attempts against their neighbours.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: In two weeks’ time, Jordan will face the biggest challenge thus far of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers campaign when they host Australia, their main rivals in the race to secure Group B’s automatic qualifying berth for the final group stage.
The Socceroos currently top the section with nine points, with the Al Nshama following closely behind on seven, making a victory for Jordan essential if they are to stand a realistic chance of topping the group.
Though Jordan will not be lacking in determination, their fans know that much will depend on the performance of their three forwards: Musa Al Omari, Yaseen al Bakhit, and Baha’ Faisal.
This is especially true of the latter, who plays an important role tactically but knows that his main job is to score goals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: After more than a decade in Africa, where he enjoyed very successful stints in Zambia, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco, winning the CAF Africa Cup of Nations title twice and qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, French coach Herve Renard decided to switch continents. His new destination is Asia, where he headed in July to take up the coaching reins of Saudi Arabia.
Despite a busy schedule and having little time to prepare for the ongoing Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023, the coach took time out to talk exclusively to FIFA.com. “It was time for a new challenge, and I hope I’ll succeed in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
During the interview, the 51-year-old Frenchman discussed, among other things, his objectives with the Saudi national team, his memories of more than a decade in Africa, and why he likes to have a good relationship with his players wherever he goes.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Antoine Hey will return as Myanmar head coach, taking the reins for a second time after the Myanmar Football Federation confirmed the departure of Miodrag Radulović on Sunday.
Hey’s appointment, announced in tandem with Radulović’s exit, sees him reclaim the position he held from May to December 2018.
The German boss is tasked with rescuing Myanmar’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers campaign, which has produced three defeats from as many matches.