With Brazil's early qualification last time out, we've now had teams get through to the Draft World Cup finals from Europe, Africa and South America. We're now going to get our first two Asian teams through to the finals, as we start the final round of qualifying here.
The 12 teams through from Round 2 are drawn into two groups:
The 12 teams through from Round 2 are drawn into two groups:
The top two in each group automatically qualify for the finals, whilst 3rd place in each group go into the Asian play-offs (where the winner makes the Intercontinental play-off).
Today we cover Group A. China are DWC ever-presents, and will be favourites here, but they only finished 2nd in their Round 2 group and always have a majorly unbalanced squad. Improvements in the other Asian teams would certainly leave them vulnerable.
Iran have a very solid squad, whilst Japan are now a force to be reckoned with in DWC football. Azerbaijan performed well since moving over from Europe, whilst UAE and Qatar have several big names but, like China, only finished 2nd in their Round 2 groups.
I personally love these groups. 6 teams is a great number, and at this stage all the teams are capable of beating each other. So let's see how this one goes!
Matchday 1
The opening round saw two sides from the school of tiki-taka meet, as the Xavi-inspired Qatar hosted Japan, who number Andrés Iniesta in their ranks. Whilst Iniesta shone, picking up man-of-the-match, this was a stale affair and finished scoreless. There were more goals elsewhere, as China laid down a marker by beating Azerbaijan 5-1, with 5 different scorers, whilst Iran beat UAE 4-1.
Today we cover Group A. China are DWC ever-presents, and will be favourites here, but they only finished 2nd in their Round 2 group and always have a majorly unbalanced squad. Improvements in the other Asian teams would certainly leave them vulnerable.
Iran have a very solid squad, whilst Japan are now a force to be reckoned with in DWC football. Azerbaijan performed well since moving over from Europe, whilst UAE and Qatar have several big names but, like China, only finished 2nd in their Round 2 groups.
I personally love these groups. 6 teams is a great number, and at this stage all the teams are capable of beating each other. So let's see how this one goes!
Matchday 1
The opening round saw two sides from the school of tiki-taka meet, as the Xavi-inspired Qatar hosted Japan, who number Andrés Iniesta in their ranks. Whilst Iniesta shone, picking up man-of-the-match, this was a stale affair and finished scoreless. There were more goals elsewhere, as China laid down a marker by beating Azerbaijan 5-1, with 5 different scorers, whilst Iran beat UAE 4-1.
Matchday 2
David Villa's sweet volley looked to have secured the three points for Japan against China, but a late powerful shot from Paulinho gave the sides a 1-1 draw. Qatar played out another slow-paced game, this time against UAE, but this time they suffered a late defeat as Balázs Dzsudzsák burst through to win it. This gave UAE their first points of the group, and Azerbaijan looked to be also getting off the mark as they were 1-1 with Iran. However, a suicidal free kick from Vojislav Stankovic played in Iran's Cheick Diabité to grab the winning goal.
David Villa's sweet volley looked to have secured the three points for Japan against China, but a late powerful shot from Paulinho gave the sides a 1-1 draw. Qatar played out another slow-paced game, this time against UAE, but this time they suffered a late defeat as Balázs Dzsudzsák burst through to win it. This gave UAE their first points of the group, and Azerbaijan looked to be also getting off the mark as they were 1-1 with Iran. However, a suicidal free kick from Vojislav Stankovic played in Iran's Cheick Diabité to grab the winning goal.
Matchday 3
The top two seeds met next, and it was China to claimed victory over Iran as Yannick Carrasco scored one and set up Oscar in a 2-0 win. A brace from Abel Hernández earn Qatar a first win, the 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan leaving their opponents pointless. Meanwhile, Keno's stupendous solo goal was cancelled out by another Villa volley as UAE and Japan drew 1-1.
Matchday 4
Things didn't get much better for Azerbaijan as another superb Keno goal and a penalty from Álvaro Negredo saw them go 2-0 down to UAE, and despite a late goal back Azerbaijan continued to be without a point. Japan went behind against Iran, but Markel Susaeta scored a fine goal to level and late on Susaeta's header hit the woodwork then goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and trickled in. Meanwhile, Qatar slightly shaded their clash with China, but once again missed that ruthless edge to earn the win.
The top two seeds met next, and it was China to claimed victory over Iran as Yannick Carrasco scored one and set up Oscar in a 2-0 win. A brace from Abel Hernández earn Qatar a first win, the 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan leaving their opponents pointless. Meanwhile, Keno's stupendous solo goal was cancelled out by another Villa volley as UAE and Japan drew 1-1.
Matchday 4
Things didn't get much better for Azerbaijan as another superb Keno goal and a penalty from Álvaro Negredo saw them go 2-0 down to UAE, and despite a late goal back Azerbaijan continued to be without a point. Japan went behind against Iran, but Markel Susaeta scored a fine goal to level and late on Susaeta's header hit the woodwork then goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and trickled in. Meanwhile, Qatar slightly shaded their clash with China, but once again missed that ruthless edge to earn the win.
Matchday 5
Qatar found their finishing boots as they scored two well-worked goals in coming from behind to beat Iran 2-1. Japan grabbed another win, Takashi Usami's volley consigning poor Azerbaijan to a fifth defeat, 1-0. Speaking of runs of form, Keno was on the scoresheet twice for UAE, each time equalising against China to earn his side a 2-2 draw.
Qatar found their finishing boots as they scored two well-worked goals in coming from behind to beat Iran 2-1. Japan grabbed another win, Takashi Usami's volley consigning poor Azerbaijan to a fifth defeat, 1-0. Speaking of runs of form, Keno was on the scoresheet twice for UAE, each time equalising against China to earn his side a 2-2 draw.
So here are the halfway standings:
With the exception of Azerbaijan, this is an exceptionally close group. This is shown by the fact that Iran were top after two games, but three defeats saw them go all the way down to 5th. But they're only 3 points from top, so they're not exactly out of it.
Matchday 6
Japan's rise into a qualification spot has been aided by the fact they're unbeaten, but that was ended by Qatar, who scored twice in the final 60 seconds to win 4-1. China were given a scare after going 2-0 up on Azerbaijan as their opponents pulled one back, but they held on to continue Azerbaijan's miserable run. Iran looked to be getting back on course as they lead UAE, but a suicidal backpass allowed Dzsudzsák to earn a point.
Matchday 6
Japan's rise into a qualification spot has been aided by the fact they're unbeaten, but that was ended by Qatar, who scored twice in the final 60 seconds to win 4-1. China were given a scare after going 2-0 up on Azerbaijan as their opponents pulled one back, but they held on to continue Azerbaijan's miserable run. Iran looked to be getting back on course as they lead UAE, but a suicidal backpass allowed Dzsudzsák to earn a point.
Matchday 7
After losing their unbeaten record, Japan looked to end China's. And they got off to a great start as they flew into a 3-0 lead. However, two swift goals brought China to within one. David Villa scored for Japan to complete his hat-trick, and give Japan a 4-2 half-time lead. It's unclear what Japan did at half time, but they shouldn't do it again... goals from Cédric Bakambu and Yannick Carrasco brought China level, before Paulinho edged them ahead, then Talisca added insult to injury and complete a remarkable 6-4 win. In the other games, a huge error from Qatari keeper Saad Abdulla Al-Sheeb allowed UAE's Álvaro Negredo to score the only goal of their game, whilst Iran hit a new low as they surrended a lead to lose 2-1 to Azerbaijan.
After losing their unbeaten record, Japan looked to end China's. And they got off to a great start as they flew into a 3-0 lead. However, two swift goals brought China to within one. David Villa scored for Japan to complete his hat-trick, and give Japan a 4-2 half-time lead. It's unclear what Japan did at half time, but they shouldn't do it again... goals from Cédric Bakambu and Yannick Carrasco brought China level, before Paulinho edged them ahead, then Talisca added insult to injury and complete a remarkable 6-4 win. In the other games, a huge error from Qatari keeper Saad Abdulla Al-Sheeb allowed UAE's Álvaro Negredo to score the only goal of their game, whilst Iran hit a new low as they surrended a lead to lose 2-1 to Azerbaijan.
Matchday 8
A newly-confident Azerbaijan suddenly upped their game to thump Qatar 3-0, thanks to a Christian Kouakou brace and a Richard penalty. Not to be out-done, China continued where they left off to hammer Iran 5-0. And Japan arrested their mini-slump by winning an entertaining match with UAE 4-2, to replace their opponents in the qualification spots.
A newly-confident Azerbaijan suddenly upped their game to thump Qatar 3-0, thanks to a Christian Kouakou brace and a Richard penalty. Not to be out-done, China continued where they left off to hammer Iran 5-0. And Japan arrested their mini-slump by winning an entertaining match with UAE 4-2, to replace their opponents in the qualification spots.
Matchday 9
China were all-but-qualified, but a 1-0 win over Qatar sealed it. A hat-trick from Negredo earned UAE a big 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan, and that proved very useful as Japan slipped to a 3-1 loss to Iran.
China were all-but-qualified, but a 1-0 win over Qatar sealed it. A hat-trick from Negredo earned UAE a big 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan, and that proved very useful as Japan slipped to a 3-1 loss to Iran.
Those results give us this table with one round of games to go:
UAE are very likely to go through with China, but it's not certain yet, as Japan play Azerbaijan whilst UAE have to face a China. Should Japan slip up against Azerbaijan, then whoever wins between Iran and Qatar can steal the play-off spot.
Matchday 10
China well and truly opened the door for Japan, as they scored twice in the fourth minute (yes, 48 seconds apart) against UAE. It was 3-0 by 12 minutes, and a late from Bakambu sealed a 6-1 victory. This meant that Japan now just needed any kind of win against Azerbaijan to progress. However, they too had their own minute collapse, as two goals in 62 seconds just after half time saw them slip 2-0 down. Chanathip Songkrasin raced through to halve the deficit later on, but no equaliser was forthcoming and the defeat meant Japan were eliminated. So now the battle came down to who was going to take the play-off spot as Qatar visited Iran, with a draw enough for Qatar. On the stroke of half time Iran earned a penalty, and Mehdi Torabi put it away. Qatar were much the better side, but yet another howler from Al-Sheeb allowed Milad Sarlak to score into an open goal, and the 2-0 win means that Iran have somehow kept themselves alive in this year's DWC.
Matchday 10
China well and truly opened the door for Japan, as they scored twice in the fourth minute (yes, 48 seconds apart) against UAE. It was 3-0 by 12 minutes, and a late from Bakambu sealed a 6-1 victory. This meant that Japan now just needed any kind of win against Azerbaijan to progress. However, they too had their own minute collapse, as two goals in 62 seconds just after half time saw them slip 2-0 down. Chanathip Songkrasin raced through to halve the deficit later on, but no equaliser was forthcoming and the defeat meant Japan were eliminated. So now the battle came down to who was going to take the play-off spot as Qatar visited Iran, with a draw enough for Qatar. On the stroke of half time Iran earned a penalty, and Mehdi Torabi put it away. Qatar were much the better side, but yet another howler from Al-Sheeb allowed Milad Sarlak to score into an open goal, and the 2-0 win means that Iran have somehow kept themselves alive in this year's DWC.
Here's the final table:
Where to start? China's dominance is evidenced by the fact that all other teams ended up with a negative goal difference. Their four goal second-half blitz against Japan appeared to break their opponents, who had chances to qualify for the finals right until the end. Qatar finally got close to qualifying, something they should be looking to do regularly, but have never been able to manage, but they too have thrown away a spot in the play-offs. Overall though, this was just a great thrilling group.
Next time, it's back to Europe for Group F in qualifying there, and it's only the reigning champions Germany who will be in action!
Next time, it's back to Europe for Group F in qualifying there, and it's only the reigning champions Germany who will be in action!