AL-AIN, United Arab Emirates (AFP) - AFP Sport looks at five things we learnt from the opening round of group games at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates:
1. Home advantage countsÂ
It has been a long time since Iran or Saudi Arabia were kings of Asia but with the tournament back in the Middle East, they have looked in ominous form.
Iran, Asia's top-ranked team, swamped Yemen, the lowest in the competition at 135 on the FIFA listings, 5-0 in the biggest win of the first round. Iran haven't lifted the trophy since 1976, when they completed a run of three straight victories - two of them on home soil.
Three-times winners Saudi Arabia, who last won the title in UAE, a short hop over their shared border, in 1996, were also impressive in their 4-0 win over North Korea.
After Jordan stunned defending champions Australia, and Uzbekistan became the only side from outside the region to beat a Middle Eastern team, it's tempting to think that home comforts count for much.
2. Don't mind the gap
Reputations increasingly mean little in international football but when Turkmenistan and the Philippines are playing the continent's best, expectations are understandably low.
However, a thunderous first-half strike put Turkmenistan 1-0 up against four-time winners Japan, who eventually escaped 3-2, while the Philippines repeatedly troubled South Korea, runners-up in 2015, before narrowly losing 1-0.
They were far from isolated incidents: Jordan dealt a heavy blow to Australia's title defence with a 1-0 upset win, and Kyrgyzstan were 1-0 up against China before an own goal put Marcello Lippi's team on course for a face-saving 2-1 victory.
Meanwhile, India's 4-1 win over Thailand rocked the record five-time Southeast Asian champions so much that they promptly sacked their coach, Milovan Rajevac.
3. Bring me Son-shine
Despite the surprises and moments of quality so far, a dash of star power would not go amiss and it's not just South Korea who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Son Heung-min.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward will significantly boost the Korean front line when he joins the competition after Friday's game against Kyrgyzstan, under a deal struck with his Premier League club.
Son led South Korea to the Asian Games title last year, and memorably struck their second as they knocked holders Germany out of the World Cup in Russia.
He will also help raise the profile of a tournament which is not blessed with a great number of personalities well known outside of Asia, apart from some of the coaches who include Lippi, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carlos Queiroz and Hector Cuper.
4. It's not just cricket
Indian sports fans have a new idol to love - and he's not a cricketer. When Sunil Chhetri plundered a brace in the shock win over Thailand, he moved past Lionel Messi and behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the goal-scoring charts for active international players.
Chhetri's achievement added extra excitement as India celebrated their first Asian Cup win since 1964. A strong run in the tournament will do India's burgeoning football scene no harm at all but despite the success, headlines remained dominated by cricket as it coincided with India sealing their first Test series win in Australia.
5. Politics never far awayÂ
Qatar's journey to UAE in the middle of the Gulf blockade was never going to be easy but so far they have dealt with the situation admirably, shrugging off any outside distractions to beat Lebanon handily in their opening match.
It is the first time Qatar's national team has visited UAE since the start of the crisis in the middle of 2017, when neighbouring countries cut ties and enforced a blockade of the resource-rich state which will host the 2022 World Cup.
Sanctions-hit Iran also complained of a variety of problems in the build-up to the tournament, while Yemen are in the midst of a full-blown war and humanitarian crisis, Syria have long been wracked by conflict and Iraq's situation remains turbulent.
Apr 18, 2019 · The Champions League final this year will be the eighth in a row without Pep Guardiola, which perhaps should not feel as extraordinary as it does. This is, after all, knockout competition; odd
Guardiola: De Bruyne nearing Man City return
CARDIFF CITY 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 . Jan 1 (Reuters)- Tottenham moved back into second place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, after cruising to a 3-0 win at lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday.
Spurs back up to second after easy win in Cardiff
pembrokeexpress.com/2019/01/03/spurs-back-up-to-second-after-easy-win-in-cardiff/
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said that early goal was a heavy blow: "When we start off like that we shoot ourselves in the foot". City and Liverpool meet in a huge showdown, live on Sky Sports Premier League, with second-placed Spurs able to sit back and relax after their 3-0 win at Cardiff on New Year's Day.
Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff | Euronews
Qatar hammer hosts UAE before hostile crowd. Almoez Ali curling the ball into the bottom corner for Qatar's second goal in their Asian Cup semi-final against the United Arab Emirates at the
Latest ASIAN CUP | The Straits Times
South Korea beat China 2-0 to secure top spot in Group C at the Asian Cup on Wednesday as Tottenham's Son Heung-min made his first appearance in the tournament for Paulo Bento's side.. The Spurs
Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat China 2-0 at Asian Cup
Brewers aim to keep momentum going vs. Pirates The Milwaukee Brewers don't need Christian Yelich to hit homers to win. After all, Yelich didn't add to his total of 21 on Thursday.
Brewers aim to keep momentum going vs. Pirates
Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group D - England v Scotland - Allianz Riviera, Nice, France - June 9, 2019 England's Nikita Parris celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot
Football: Parris and White strike to give England victory
He's great to watch - but he's not God." Pope Francis is known to be a football fan, and he is also a club member of Buenos Aires side San Lorenzo. Two goals from Messi gave Barcelona victory in the Catalan derby over Espanyol on Sunday, taking the Liga leaders another step closer to the title. -- REUTERS
Football: 'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-hes-great-to-watch-but-hes-not-god-pope-sets-fans-straight-on-messi/
Football: 'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans straight on Messi 04/01/2019 FOOTBALL M , Lionel Messi , Pope BARCELONA (REUTERS) - For Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi is "D10S", a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "dios" - with the No. 10 on his shirt.
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
Jurgen Klopp labels Liverpool's Barcelona defeat as 'best away Champions League performance' Klopp also praises "unstoppable" Lionel Messi while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk call Messi "the
Why Klopp is to blame for Painful UCL finals defeat - Thewistle
Pep Guardiola is not concerned about the way his Manchester City players use social media, despite a post from Kyle Walker that appeared to mock Premier League title rivals, Liverpool.
Guardiola not worried about Manchester City players' social
The Pakistan national Football team represents Pakistan association football in FIFA-authorised events and is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Pakistan. Pakistan's home ground is Punjab Stadium, Lahore. Pakistan became a member of FIFA in 1948 joining the Asian Football Confederation. Pakistan's
Khash-Erdene Batbayar - Wikipedia
Maurizio Sarri has told Eden Hazard that he should leave Chelsea "if he wants to go". Hazard's contract expires in 18 months' time, with the Belgium playmaker's future likely to be a major summer
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick as England thrashed the Czech Republic 5-0 for their opening Euro 2020 qualifier.. Manager Gareth Southgate gave Jadon Sancho his first international start and Borussia Dortmund's 18-year-old repaid his faith with a fine display.
Sterling hits hat-trick as England thrash Czech Republic
Football: 'Pray for no rain' as Manchester City return to China after Beijing debacle Manchester City will return to China this year for the first time since 2016. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Pray for no rain: Man City to return to China after Beijing
After scoring his 35th goal for France against Iceland, Olivier Giroud wants to surpass Michel Platini's total of 41. Olivier Giroud has Michel Platini in his sights after moving third among
Giroud targets passing Platini's France goal haul - Sportstar
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer live stream app
watch live soccer streaming on android
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch the premier league live stream
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch soccer live streaming hd
free watch champions league live streaming
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch usa soccer live stream
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
free watch soccer live streaming
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch soccer games live stream free app
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch live soccer online free streaming now
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer games live stream free
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming pc
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming in india
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming india
#BMW #kopisusu #paulmcartney #tokyo #freekick #commento #livesports #uefanationsleague #acmilan #oasisengland #premierleague #sumbertv #ballondor #Sunday #Barcelona #comics #kroenkeout #thomasmeunier #henderson #ignoranza #cr7 #footballdubai #coyg #nutmeg #liverpool #realmadridcf #zinedinezidane #oudmehta #goal #premierleague #roadtrip #footballschedule #manchesterunited #soccer #seriea #bundesliga #manchestercity #valcea #beatifulgame #433skills #frasirap #bestshishacafedubai #jadwalbolahariini #linkstreaming #adidasslipon #copaamerica #Bar #arsenal #manunited #fcbarcelona #soccerbible #manchestercity #londoncity #MSport #PartyTime #Liverpool #gooners #thebeatles #portsmouthfc #champion #Liamgallagher #mancity #boxing #pagani #ucl #crossfit #bayervshoffenheim #manchestercity #ronaldo #americanfootball #chocolate #league1 #freekickerz #lfc #bayern #noelgallagher #winner #coutinho #panini #arsenalfantv #trollfootball #streamingbolaid #neymar #liverpoolfc #hotcoffee #coys
No comments:
Post a Comment