Wilmots wants attacking football from IR Iran

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Wilmots wants attacking football from IR Iran

Tehran: Defensive play will not be in the gameplan for Islamic Republic of Iran when they play Cambodia in their Asian Qualifiers Group C tie at the Azadi Stadium on Thursday.

Head coach Marc Wilmots is not a fan of defensive football and his instruction to Team Melli is be on the front foot from the first blow of the whistle as Iran seek a second win.

The Central Asians opened their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Hong Kong away in September and Wilmots wants that to continue against Cambodia.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/video/matchday_three_-_preview_group_c.html

Matchday Three: Previews & Features

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Matchday Three: Previews & Features

Kuala Lumpur: With another round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 to be played on Thursday, excitement is building across the Continent.

Matchdays One and Two provided thrills, spectacular goals and upsets as Palestine defeated the higher ranked Uzbekistan while India and Yemen held Qatar and Saudi Arabia to draws.

With all 40 teams to see action over the next two Matchdays, with Thursday's 16 games to be followed by another 16 on Tuesday, keep up to date with the previews and features.

Fact & Figures: All you need to know

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Fact & Figures: All you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: After September’s action-packed start, the Continent’s leading national teams are set to return for Matchdays Three and Four of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

With records, streaks and qualification for the two biggest international tournaments on the Asian football calendar all on the line, the-AFC.com examines some of the stats and facts you need to know ahead of the 32 fixtures to come.

Matchday Three: Five matches to look out for 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Matchday Three: Five matches to look out for 

Kuala Lumpur: 32 ties will be played in the next two Matchdays of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 as the Continent's 40 hopefuls look to take another step closer in advancing to the two showpieces.

Matchdays One and Two produced several surprises and the-AFC-com picks out five matches to keep an eye on in Thursday's Matchday Three.

Borkelmans targets perfection ahead of Australia tie

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Borkelmans targets perfection ahead of Australia tie

Amman: Vital Borkelmans has set his sights on six points from Jordan’s upcoming Asian Qualifiers' ties against Kuwait and Nepal as he looks to consolidate his team’s position in Group B ahead of November’s crunch clash with top seeds Australia.

The Jordanians made a winning start to their campaign last month with a 2-1 victory over Chinese Taipei, and the Belgian wants his players to maintain the team’s perfect start despite fitness concerns due to an ongoing shutdown of the Jordan Premier League.

With the Socceroos showdown looming next month – November’s game will be a rematch of the nations’ AFC Asian Cup opener in which Jordan claimed a surprise win – Borkelmans is looking to instill a winning mentality into his team going into the next two rounds as the battle for places in the next phase of qualifying starts to intensify.

Ciobotariu: Lebanon must play attacking football

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Ciobotariu: Lebanon must play attacking football

Beirut: Lebanon head coach Liviu Ciobotariu is adamant his side must play attacking football in order to get three points from their second Asian Qualifiers Group H match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

After losing their opening match against DPR Korea last month, Lebanon currently sit fourth in the group behind DPR Korea, Korea Republic and Turkmenistan who they host at Beirut Sports City Stadium on Thursday.

Speaking exclusively to the-AFC.com, Romanian Ciobotariu revealed his side have no other option but to get the three points if they want to achieve their objective of reaching the AFC Asian Cup Finals for the second consecutive time.

Radulović prepared to play the long game with Myanmar

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Radulović prepared to play the long game with Myanmar

Bishkek: Myanmar will chase their first points in Group F of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 against Kyrgyz Republic on Thursday, but head coach Miodrag Radulović believes his side’s best days are a long way ahead of them.

September came and went without success for Myanmar, whose first two competitive fixtures under Radulović ended in defeat to leave them on the bottom of the group.