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FIFA World Cup
Russia 2018 marked the first time the Asian Football Confederation had five representatives as Australia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia all qualified.
And it was to be a campaign that produced a number of memorable moments, from Son Heung-min eliminating Germany to Alireza Beiranvand denying Cristiano Ronaldo and much more.
Classy Japan in heart-breaking exit
The Samurai Blue had largely disappointed in Brazil four years earlier as a 4-1 humbling by Colombia confirmed their group stage elimination, but back at the FIFA World Cup for a sixth time in a row, they were immediately offered a chance of revenge with the South Americans their Matchday One opponents.
And a frantic opening in Saransk saw Carlos Sanchez dismissed for handling Shinji Kagawa’s goalbound effort before Kagawa stepped up to slot home the ensuing penalty to give Japan a sixth-minute lead. But Colombia fought back and levelled when Juan Quintero’s free-kick went under the wall and into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
Akira Nishino’s team secured all three points, though, when Yuya Osako rose highest to head home Keisuke Honda’s free-kick inside the final 20 minutes to get his side off to a perfect start.
Kawashima’s error early in the second game saw Sadio Mane nudge Senegal into a 1-0 lead in Yekaterinburg, but Takashi Inui curled home to make it 1-1 at the interval before the same player struck the woodwork in the second half. Moussa Wague then fired the West Africans ahead with 20 minutes to play, but six minutes after coming off the bench, Honda finished from six yards to seal a point and score his fourth FIFA World Cup goal as well as for the third edition in a row.
There was still plenty of work to be done in the final game against Poland in Volgograd, where a win or a draw would have guaranteed progression. The subsequent 1-0 defeat saw Japan advance in the most unusual of circumstances as, level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Senegal, the Samurai Blue confirmed their ticket to the knockout rounds by virtue of a better disciplinary record.
Up against a star-studded Belgium in Rostov, Japan took the game to their opponents and Genki Haraguchi fired the Samurai Blue in front early in the second half before Inui stunned the Belgians four minutes later with an exquisite effort from distance that had the Japanese on the verge of arguably the greatest result in their history.
Perhaps their biggest mistake was sitting back because when Jan Vertonghen’s looping header somewhat fortuitously found the back of the net with a little over 20 minutes to play, Japan faced an onslaught. A trademark Marouane Fellaini header levelled proceedings soon after and a quick break in stoppage time that was finished by Nacer Chadli completed the turnaround as the Japanese exited in agonising fashion following a FIFA World Cup classic that will live long in the memory.
IR Iran’s oh-so-nearly moment
Back for the second time in a row, most Iranians had their expectations set low once the Russia 2018 draw was made, putting them against the last two European champions Spain and Portugal as well as a strong Morocco side.
First up were Morocco. Despite featuring a plethora of talent in the mould of Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi and Medhi Benatia, the Iranians knew that if they had any chance of winning a FIFA World Cup game for the first time since 1998, this was it.
A double save from Munir Mohamedi denied Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh in quick succession, but there was nothing the Moroccan goalkeeper could do when his own defender Aziz Bouhaddouz headed Ehsan Hajsafi’s cross from the set-piece into his own net late in added time. Team Melli ended Asia’s 15-game winless run in the FIFA World Cup and got their campaign off to a winning start.
With confidence rising, Iran headed to Kazan to face 2010 world champions Spain. Alireza Beiranvand delivered a goalkeeping masterclass throughout the game, while Karim Ansarifard came so close, hitting the side netting on the volley before Diego Costa caught a lucky break with a defensive clearance seeing the ball bounce off him and into the back of Beiranvand’s net.
Team Melli thought they had equalised when Saeed Ezatolahi hammered home from close range following Ramin Rezaeian’s delivery into the box, but the goal was ruled out for an offside, and Spain walked away with a narrow victory to the frustration of the Iranians.
Team Melli thought they had equalised when Saeed Ezatolahi hammered home from close range following Ramin Rezaeian’s delivery into the box, but the goal was ruled out for an offside, and Spain walked away with a narrow victory to the frustration of the Iranians.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz was on a date with his home country Portugal on the final matchday. A trademark Ricardo Quaresma strike with the outside of his boot beat Beiranvand in the final minute of the first half. Ezatolahi clattered into Cristiano Ronaldo just inside the box, gifting the Portuguese the opportunity to double their lead, but Beiranvand produced arguably the highlight of Iran’s campaign, denying the Portugal captain from the penalty spot with a fine save.
There was drama at the other end of the pitch too with Cedric Soares deemed to have handled the ball as he challenged Azmoun for a header inside the box. A penalty for Iran and unlike his opposite number, there would be no denying captain Ansarifard as he aimed for the top corner, drawing Iran level.
With Portugal pushing for a winner, Team Melli looked to hit on the counter and were nearly able to snatch the points when the ball fell to Mehdi Taremi with just Rui Patricio to beat, but the would-be Portuguese League top scorer squandered his chance, hitting the side netting with his left.
A point against Portugal was no mean feat, but it meant Iran headed home early, albeit with their best FIFA World Cup tally ever, four points from a group where many thought it would be difficult to get anything out of. An overall positive campaign for Iran on Russian soil.
Taeguk Warriors oust the holders
Looking back, it’s hard to decipher whether Korea Republic’s 2018 campaign should be viewed as a success or a failure, but one thing is for sure and that is the Taeguk Warriors produced one of the most memorable moments of the tournament and delivered one of the most famous results in their history.
A hard-fought opening game against Sweden in Nizhny Novgorod saw the Koreans suffer a 1-0 loss after Kim Min-woo upended Viktor Claesson in the box and Thomas Granqvist slotted home the ensuing spot-kick. Hwang Hee-chan missed a late chance to level as Shin Tae-yong’s side got off to a losing start.
Korea needed a response against Mexico in Rostov but fell behind to Carlos Vela’s 26th-minute penalty and Javier Hernandez then doubled El Tri’s advantage midway through the second half after a quick break from Hirving Lozano to give the East Asians a mountain to climb.
Son Heung-min struck a beauty in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late as the 2-1 loss saw the Koreans on the verge of elimination ahead of their final game against defending champions Germany, which they needed to win and for Mexico to defeat Sweden to have a chance of advancing.
Perhaps the story of the Korean campaign to date had been the performances of goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, a surprise inclusion as first choice due to his height whose performances in the opening two matches had justified Shin’s decision. And the custodian was at it again against the Germans, making a fabulous save to keep out Leon Goretzka’s header as the holders also missed chance after chance.
And Germany were made to pay in the 93rd minute when they failed to clear Son’s corner from the left and the unmarked Kim Young-gwon tucked home at the back post to spark joyous scenes after VAR confirmed the goal stood.
Germany pushed forward, desperately trying to salvage their campaign but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was caught in possession deep in the Korean half. Ju Se-jong raked a long ball over the top and all Son needed to do was chase it down before it ran out of play; the Tottenham forward did just that, side-footing into the empty German net to seal a stunning victory as scenes of joy and despair engulfed Kazan Arena.
Sweden’s win over Mexico ultimately sent the Koreans home, but they went on a high after their most impressive FIFA World Cup victory outside of their homeland.
Mixed results after a 12-year-absence for Saudi Arabia
Once one of Asia’s FIFA World Cup perennials, Saudi Arabia had gone through a difficult period, missing out on the 2010 and 2014 editions, but a new generation led by the likes of Salem Al Dawsari and Salman Al Faraj were able to end the 12-year absence and bring the Green Falcons back to the global stage in 2018.
A group featuring the hosts Russia, Uruguay and Egypt seemed on paper a balanced one that gave Saudi Arabia a fighting chance of replicating their 1994 exploits, with Russia at the time ranked 70th, three places below the Green Falcons in the pre-World Cup FIFA rankings.
Saudi Arabia featured in the opening match for the first time in their history, but with the eyes of the world on them, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side conceded after 12 minutes, then laboured on through the remainder of the opening half only to concede the second just before the break. In the second period, a complete capitulation ensued, allowing Russia to run riot, ending the match 5-0 winners.
Next up were Uruguay, the highest-ranked team of the group, led by the world-class talents of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani amongst others. A much-improved performance against the odds saw Saudi Arabia defend much more resiliently than in their previous outing, with a sole Suarez strike the difference at the final whistle.
Already eliminated after back-to-back defeats, the final group stage match was an opportunity for both Saudi Arabia and their cross-Red Sea neighbours Egypt to bow out on a high note. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah put the Egyptians in front midway through the opening half, but Pizzi’s men rallied and were able to draw level just before the break.
A Yasser Al Shahrani cross was handled by an Egyptian defender prompting the referee to award a penalty. Fahad Al Muwallad stepped up but was denied by veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, but minutes later, another penalty was given for a foul inside the box and Al Faraj made no mistakes converting from the spot for the Green Falcons’ first FIFA World Cup goal since 2006.
With the game looking destined to end level, a magical touch from Abdullah Otayf set the ball up for Al Dawsari who took it first time from a narrow angle, beating El Hadary with the ball going in off the post to win it late for Saudi Arabia. They left with three points, their highest tally since 1994.
Battling Australia fall at first hurdle
Australia had qualified for the 2018 edition the hard way, first needing to overcome Syria in the Inter-Confederation playoff and then by getting past Honduras in the Inter-Continental playoff. After steering his country to a fourth successive FIFA World Cup, Ange Postecoglou then stepped down from his role to be replaced by Dutchman Bert van Marwijk.
The Socceroos could have gone in front in their opener against France in Kazan, Mathew Leckie seeing his downward header from Aaron Mooy’s free-kick expertly saved by Hugo Lloris before the French eventually broke the deadlock through an Antoine Griezmann penalty just before the hour.
But Australia were awarded a spot-kick of their own soon after when Samuel Umtiti handled and Mile Jedinak dispatched with aplomb from 12 yards. A famous draw was not to be, however, as France won it with 10 minutes to play when a combination of Paul Pogba and Aziz Behich’s boots saw the ball loop over Mat Ryan and go in off the bar.
A Christian Eriksen stunner fired Denmark in front in Australia’s second game, in Samara, but the Socceroos were awarded a second penalty in two games after Yussuf Poulsen handled. As ever, Jedinak remained composed, calmly placing into the bottom left corner for a goal that saw the sides go in level.
With no goals in the second half, the 1-1 draw with the Danes meant Van Marwijk’s team still had feint hopes of reaching the last 16 ahead of their final group game against Peru in Sochi but, after promising displays in their opening two matches, Australia were not at the same level against the South Americans.
The Socceroos’ hopes were dashed inside 20 minutes when Andre Carrillo’s expertly struck volley from Paolo Guerrero’s cross flew into Ryan’s bottom right corner. Tom Rogic and Mathew Leckie both had chances to level but when captain Guerrero made it 2-0 early in the second half, the game was as good as up for Australia, who exited after finishing bottom of the standings.
