Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Vienna: Aziz Behich says the big pre-2018 FIFA World Cup friendly win over the Czech Republic is confirmation Australia are on the right track heading towards Russia.
Coach Bert van Marwijk got his first win as boss as the Aussies ran out 4-0 winners at St Polten’s NV Arena on Friday.
A brace to Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout’s first international goal and a late own goal were enough in what will be a massive confidence boost with the opening Group C game against France now just two weeks away.
After an intense 12 days in camp in Turkey, working hard on their structure in gruelling double sessions, Behich is adamant the team are seeing signs that their hard work is paying off.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Seoul: Korea Republic coach Shin Tae-yong named his 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on Saturday following a 3-1 loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina that left young star Lee Seung-woo admitting he still had lessons to learn ahead of the country’s opening game against Sweden.
Shin included the 20-year-old former Barcelona starlet in his squad alongside stalwarts Son Heung-min, Ki Sung-yueng and Koo Ja-cheol, but cut Crystal Palace winger Lee Chung-yong, Tianjian Quanjian’s Kwon Kyung-won and full-back Kim Jin-su of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from his selection.
The announcement comes the day after a defeat at the hands of Bosnia-Herzegovina in which Lee Jae-sung cancelled out Edin Visca’s opener before the Turkey-based winger went on to score twice more to complete his hat-trick.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: There have been some classic combinations of colours and designs in the clothing Asia's football sides have worn on the world stage. With IR Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea Republic and Australia representing the continent at Russia 2018, we look back at five of their stand-out FIFA World Cup kits.
For football fans around the globe, a team’s kit often serves as an everlasting visual representation of certain memories. Nowhere is this truer than in the FIFA World Cup, where the four-year gap means kits usually change from one edition of the competition to the next.
Some kits have been immortalised due to their unique designs, while others remain forever associated with the team’s success.
Here are five unforgettable kits from the Continent’s representatives in this year’s World Cup. View them below and then pick your favourite .
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sankt Polten: Andrew Nabbout's first international goal and a Mathew Leckie brace gave Australia a convincing 4-0 win over the Czech Republic in a pre-FIFA World Cup 2018 friendly in Austria on Friday.
In just his third appearance, 25-year-old Nabbout fired in a brilliant 54th minute finish as Australia cruised to a morale-boosting maiden victory under head coach Bert van Marwijk.
His strike came in between a classy Mathew Leckie brace, the dynamic winger improving his tally to eight goals in green and gold.
And there was still time for substitute Milos Degenek to force an own goal off Jakub Jugas to put the seal on a one-sided encounter at the NV Arena.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: After qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time in a row, Australia are set to battle against France, Denmark and Peru in Group C of Russia 2018, as they aim to qualify for the round of 16 for the second time in their history.
Australia first attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup ahead of England 1966, but fell to DPR Korea, losing 9-2 on aggregate. They came much closer to qualifying for the following tournament, but fell at the final hurdle, before finally making their debut in 1974. the-AFC.com looks back at the Socceroos' greatest World Cup moments.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo: Japan head coach Akira Nishino named his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 on Thursday.
The former JFA technical director, who took charge from Vahid Halilhodzic last month, signalled his intentions by turning to his old guard, including talismanic forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Shinji Kagawa.
Japan, beaten 2-0 by Ghana on Wednesday in Nishino's first game as coach, face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H at the World Cup.
Forward Shinji Okazaki (pictured below), who has won an English Premier League title with Leicester City, and defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Maya Yoshida will also bring experience.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Riyadh: On September 5, 2017, Fahad Al Muwallad scored the most important goal of his career - a scorching shot that propelled Saudi Arabia all the way to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Finals.
It was the only goal in Saudi Arabia's 1-0 qualifying win against Japan but it was enough to secure the side a place in the Finals for the first time in 12 years.
It was a heady moment for the 23-year-old, originally a substitute, who was feted as a national hero at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Since then the Al-Ittihad midfielder, who grew up in the port city of Jeddah, has emerged as one of the kingdom's brightest young talents, and was among key players sent off to Spain to hone their skills for the second half of this season.