After a few episodes where someone has qualified for the Draft World Cup finals, we're back at a preliminary stage. But this one is our biggest yet, as we cover eight groups in the second round of Asian DWC qualifying.
The 10 winners from Round 1 join the 30 seeds, to create the following groups:
The 10 winners from Round 1 join the 30 seeds, to create the following groups:
The top team from each group, plus the four 2nd-placed sides with the best record, progress to the third round.
We're going to give a quick overview of what happened in each group, so let's go...
Group A (India, Kuwait, Iraq, Hong Kong, Afghanistan)
India are top seeds here, but Kuwait are the side that has been at a DWC finals before. The group opened with two surprises, as Afghanistan and Iraq beat Hong Kong and India respectively, and this set the scene for a very scrappy group with no-one emerging as the front-runners; three points seperated all five teams at the halfway stage, with top seeds India bottom and Hong Kong top.
We're going to give a quick overview of what happened in each group, so let's go...
Group A (India, Kuwait, Iraq, Hong Kong, Afghanistan)
India are top seeds here, but Kuwait are the side that has been at a DWC finals before. The group opened with two surprises, as Afghanistan and Iraq beat Hong Kong and India respectively, and this set the scene for a very scrappy group with no-one emerging as the front-runners; three points seperated all five teams at the halfway stage, with top seeds India bottom and Hong Kong top.
India recovered to make it a two-way battle between them and Hong Kong, and the two sides met in the penultimate round, with a draw enough for Hong Kong to win the group. A cagey game went right to the wire, and a low shot from 20 yards by India's Dimas was enough to earn a crucial victory. It meant India would win the group if they beat Afghanistan in their final game, but they blew it as they fell to a 1-0 defeat, courtesy of a 90th-minute penalty scored by Maziar Kouhyar. And Kuwait's win over Iraq meant that they slipped ahead of India to knock out the top seeds and stay in with a chance of qualification for the next round.
Final table:
Final table:
Group B (Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Maldives, North Korea, Yemen)
Saudi Arabia are the stand-out favourites for this group, although the last group should serve as a warning against complacency. A 4-0 win over Yemen was the way to start, and wins over the other three teams in the group gave them a whopping 7-point lead at the halfway stage. The only difference between the remaining four sides came from wins by Uzbekistan and Maldives over poor Yemen.
Saudi Arabia are the stand-out favourites for this group, although the last group should serve as a warning against complacency. A 4-0 win over Yemen was the way to start, and wins over the other three teams in the group gave them a whopping 7-point lead at the halfway stage. The only difference between the remaining four sides came from wins by Uzbekistan and Maldives over poor Yemen.
Two more wins secured Saudi Arabia's progression, meaning the interest switches to who finishes second. Uzbekistan secured a key victory over Maldives thanks to a Jaloliddin Masharipov brace, and were further helped as Maldives could only draw with North Korea. However, a surprise defeat to North Korea put the two sides level going into the final game. Fortunately for Uzbekistan, they finished against Yemen, who they beat 4-0, whilst North Korea had Saudi Arabia, and they succumbed 2-0 to ensure Uzbekistan finished 2nd.
Final table:
Final table:
Group C (Thailand, Lebanon, Qatar, Armenia, Laos)
Thailand start as heavy favourites here, and are the only team here to have previously reached the DWC finals. But Qatar are very dangerous opponents, even if they can no longer call on Xavi to orchestrate their midfield. Meanwhile, Armenia are one of three new sides in Asia, having moved from Europe - the previous side to do so, Kazakhstan, qualified for last year's finals. Thailand won their first four games, Laos lost their first four, and the other three all beat each other to stay tied at the halfway point.
Thailand start as heavy favourites here, and are the only team here to have previously reached the DWC finals. But Qatar are very dangerous opponents, even if they can no longer call on Xavi to orchestrate their midfield. Meanwhile, Armenia are one of three new sides in Asia, having moved from Europe - the previous side to do so, Kazakhstan, qualified for last year's finals. Thailand won their first four games, Laos lost their first four, and the other three all beat each other to stay tied at the halfway point.
Thailand came back to earth with a crash, as they were routed 6-0 by Qatar, who were able to get into second place in the group. However, their final game saw them face Armenia, with a defeat eliminating them. A single goal from Abel Hernández was enough for a Qatari victory and a confirmed second place, whilst Thailand secured top spot with a 5-0 win over Lebanon.
Final table:
Final table:
Group D (South Korea, Azerbaijan, Oman, Singapore, East Timor)
On paper, this should be a two-horse race between South Korea and Azerbaijan (another team newly moved to Asian qualifying from Europe). These two met in their opening games, and it was Azerbaijan who took the spoils, a Christian Kouakou hat-trick sending them on their way to a 4-1 win. Both sides could only manage draws against Singapore, but otherwise this group played out as expected early on.
On paper, this should be a two-horse race between South Korea and Azerbaijan (another team newly moved to Asian qualifying from Europe). These two met in their opening games, and it was Azerbaijan who took the spoils, a Christian Kouakou hat-trick sending them on their way to a 4-1 win. Both sides could only manage draws against Singapore, but otherwise this group played out as expected early on.
Azerbaijan repeated their 4-1 victory over South Korea in their away trip, taking a commanding lead in the group, and wins over East Timor and Oman confirmed their progression. This left South Korea to hold off the sides below them, and it went to the final game as Oman were able to stay within 3 points, with the two meeting in the final game. However, South Korea's 10-1 crushing of East Timor meant Oman would need to beat South Korea by 7 goals. In the end, South Korea confirmed their 2nd place finish with a 1-0 win.
Final table:
Final table:
Group E (Japan, Syria, Jordan, Tajikistan, Cambodia)
Surely this is Japan's to lose? Well, not really as they opened with a draw against lowest-ranked side Cambodia, and later added a defeat to Tajikistan. There were wins against Syria and Jordan to keep Japan just ahead at the top of the table, leading Syria on goal difference.
Surely this is Japan's to lose? Well, not really as they opened with a draw against lowest-ranked side Cambodia, and later added a defeat to Tajikistan. There were wins against Syria and Jordan to keep Japan just ahead at the top of the table, leading Syria on goal difference.
Japan switched their lone striker from David Villa to Yu Kobayashi, and it had an immediate effect as Kobayashi notched a hat-trick in a 6-0 thumping of Cambodia, and a second triple as Japan got revenge on Tajikistan with a 4-0 win. This effectively secured Japan's qualification. Syria, meanwhile, were aided by the teams below them taking points from each other, and a valiant win over Japan meant they secured second spot with a game to spare, and a win over Cambodia in their final game set them up well to qualify for the next round.
Final table:
Final table:
Group F (China, Indonesia, Bahrain, Myanmar, Guam)
China are the dominant team in Asia, and anything less than an easy qualification here would be a big failure. Indonesia should be securing a top-two spot as well. The two sides lived up to expectations, winning their games against the other three - including 9-0 (China) and 8-1 (Indonesia) wins over poor Guam. But crucially, when the two met in the second round of matches, Indonesia caused a surprise by prevailing 3-2, which meant they lead by 3 points halfway into the group.
China are the dominant team in Asia, and anything less than an easy qualification here would be a big failure. Indonesia should be securing a top-two spot as well. The two sides lived up to expectations, winning their games against the other three - including 9-0 (China) and 8-1 (Indonesia) wins over poor Guam. But crucially, when the two met in the second round of matches, Indonesia caused a surprise by prevailing 3-2, which meant they lead by 3 points halfway into the group.
In the return match, China got off to a flyer, as Yannick Carrasco, Hulk and Talisca each scored in the first 20 minutes, and their eventual 5-2 win saw them go top on goal difference. With the two sides continuing to put opponents away with ease - poor Guam suffering 11-0 (China) and 6-1 (Indonesia) beatings - it looked like China would pip Indonesia. However, in the very final game China suddenly drew a blank against Myanmar, and slipped to a 1-0 defeat. This meant that Indonesia took the group, although China's record meant they had no problem qualifying as one of the best second-placed teams.
Final table:
Final table:
Group G (Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan)
This could be a slightly troubling group for Iran, with Malaysia and Philippines dangerous sides on their day. Indeed, they succumbed to a 3-1 home defeat to Malaysia. Fortunately for Iran, this was a fairly tight group, with Malaysia and Philippines dropping points elsewhere, meaning that Iran held a slender lead halfway in.
This could be a slightly troubling group for Iran, with Malaysia and Philippines dangerous sides on their day. Indeed, they succumbed to a 3-1 home defeat to Malaysia. Fortunately for Iran, this was a fairly tight group, with Malaysia and Philippines dropping points elsewhere, meaning that Iran held a slender lead halfway in.
Iran sorted themselves out, and a run of wins, culminating in a 2-1 revenge victory over Malaysia earned them progression. This result meant Philippines were able to catch up to Malaysia in 2nd ahead of the two sides meeting in the penultimate round of games, and a 2-0 win saw them go clear. However, they had to face Iran in the final game, and a 4-1 defeat handed the advantage back to Malaysia... only for them to slip up against bottom side Vietnam at home and get themselves eliminated.
Final table:
Final table:
Group H (Kazakhstan, UAE, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Bhutan)
This could be one of the tightest groups, with the top three sides all looking capable of winning the group. This means that it could be a tough time for Turkmenistan and Bhutan, and so it proved as the two teams lost each of their initial games against the other three, with poor Bhutan picking up several heavy defeats. Among the top three, Kazakhstan lead the way after beating both Georgia and UAE 2-1, with UAE in second after their 4-1 win over Georgia.
This could be one of the tightest groups, with the top three sides all looking capable of winning the group. This means that it could be a tough time for Turkmenistan and Bhutan, and so it proved as the two teams lost each of their initial games against the other three, with poor Bhutan picking up several heavy defeats. Among the top three, Kazakhstan lead the way after beating both Georgia and UAE 2-1, with UAE in second after their 4-1 win over Georgia.
Georgia showed their intent to get into the mix as they hammered Bhutan 10-0, but their challenge was effectively ended when they succumbed 2-0 to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan followed that up with a 1-1 draw with UAE, meaning they were in pole position to win the group. They just needed to avoid defeat to Bhutan (still without a point), and they did so - but not in a convincing style, as they could only draw 0-0.
Final table:
Final table:
So that's all the groups done, which just leaves us to see which second-placed sides have done enough to get through to the next round:
Poor Syria miss out on goal difference, when 16 points looked to be good enough for progression. The four teams that progress are undoubtedly the biggest four teams from those eight, and it should make for a very competitive final stage of qualifying in Asia.
Next time, we're once again back in Europe to see who wins the third qualifying group there. Greece are top seeds, but Russia, Norway and Austria will also fancy their chances.
Next time, we're once again back in Europe to see who wins the third qualifying group there. Greece are top seeds, but Russia, Norway and Austria will also fancy their chances.