Hee-chan ready to shoulder burden for Korea Republic in Ui-jo's absence

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Hee-chan ready to shoulder burden for Korea Republic in Ui-jo's absence

Seoul: Hwang Hee-chan is ready to step up in the absence of veteran injured striker Hwang Ui-jo for Korea Republic's upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar Group A ties.

The East Asian side face United Arab Emirates and Iraq respectively knowing that maximum points will take them ever closer to a 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup Finals.

They will have to do it without Ui-jo who is nursing a hamstring injury and it is a blow as the Bordeaux forward is Korea Republic's leading scorer with 13 goals since Paulo Bento took charge as head coach in August 2018.

Streaks, records and key men: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar stats you need to know

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

Streaks, records and key men: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar stats you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The race for a berth in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is well and truly heating up, with 12 crucial fixtures over the next week set to leave a significant impact on the Road to Qatar.

As Thursday’s blockbuster night of matches draws closer, we’ve picked out a series of key facts and stats which shine a light on the state of play and the significance of the action ahead.
 
Among them are winning and winless streaks, two standout contributors – one of whom won’t play – and records which may soon fall.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group A stands

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group A stands

Kuala Lumpur: The final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar campaign enters its midway stage as the sides return for their crucial Matchday Five and Six fixtures on November 11 and 16. Ahead of the games, the-AFC.com gives you an overview of how things look in Group A.

Asian powerhouses Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic already have a strong foothold in the group. Both teams are unbeaten, with leaders Iran starting their campaign with three consecutive wins before a share of the spoils with the Koreans last time out. Two points back, the Taeguk Warriors have won two and drawn two. 

Three goals in four games has seen captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh lead the Iran scoring chart. The Feyenoord forward’s superb header against Korea on Matchday Four secured a 1-1 draw to maintain Team Melli’s place at the top of Group A after Mehdi Taremi’s goal had sunk the United Arab Emirates a few days earlier.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group B stands

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group B stands

Kuala Lumpur: With the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar returning on November 11 for another crucial pair of double-headers, the-AFC.com brings you up to speed with how things look in Group B.

Saudi Arabia are the runaway leaders, boasting a perfect record, with Australia keeping up the chase three points back. Oman and Japan come next, while China PR and Vietnam occupy the bottom two places. 

Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia have made a blistering start to the campaign as home wins against Japan and China PR on Matchdays Three and Four added to earlier victories over Vietnam and Oman. They have now won all nine of their games in 2021. 

Osako: We can feel the nation's expectations

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Osako: We can feel the nation's expectations

Tokyo: Japan enter this month's double header in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar seeking to put their campaign back on track having suffered two defeats in their opening four outings. 

Hajime Moriyasu's Samurai Blue opened their Group B campaign as favourites but with just two wins, they are now languishing in fourth place trailing behind front-runners Saudi Arabia, second-placed Australia, and also Oman on goal difference. 

Next up are a pair of away fixtures in Vietnam and Oman with the six-time FIFA World Cup campaigners desperately hoping to build momentum.

Quang Hai: Vietnam must maintain resolve against Asian giants

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Quang Hai: Vietnam must maintain resolve against Asian giants

Hanoi: With four losses in as many matches, 10 goals conceded and just four scored, Vietnam languish at the foot of Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar. 

Having made history by powering through the previous round to reach the decisive stage for the first time, Park Hang-seo's Golden Star Warriors’s hopes of making further progress are fast diminishing. 

Their poor start has left the Vietnamese all too aware that they face a must-win scenario against Japan at home on Thursday. 

By any standards, it looks a formidable task for a team that has lost all three of their previous meetings against the Samurai Blue across all competitions. But the hosts can at least take heart from their brave showings in their last meeting during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals when they restricted their heavyweight rivals to a 1-0 win, as midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai told FIFA.com. 

Shomurodov, Azmoun, Furuhashi and Tomiyasu: Vote for your AFC International Player of the Week!

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Shomurodov, Azmoun, Furuhashi and Tomiyasu: Vote for your AFC International Player of the Week!

Kuala Lumpur: Another week, another collection of standout performances from the cohort of Asian players currently lighting up football pitches outside the continent.

From England, Germany and Italy to Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, Asian stars delivered moments of brilliance and no shortage of goals, with our 10 nominees bagging 15 between them over the last seven days.

So, who deserves this week’s crown? Study our contenders – based on performances from November 2 to 8 – and don’t forget to register your vote.