Latest news with #AsianQualifying
The National
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu still believes in ‘once in a lifetime chance' of World Cup qualification
The difference could not have been any more acute. While the emotions poured out of Uzbekistan's players, officials, media and supporters in scenes of mass euphoria, the UAE were merely numb. Not disconsolate. Just flat. Just as their performance had been on a frustrating first night for new coach Cosmin Olaroiu. It is not over for the national team. But they would certainly have preferred to have been in their opposition's boots on a peculiar night in Abu Dhabi. The Uzbeks had achieved the dream: a first ever appearance at a World Cup. They had done so with courage and skill, too, if not necessarily panache. All they needed was a point to secure the second automatic qualifying place from this stage of Asian qualifying. If it was achieved via a stalemate, then so be it. They blocked up the middle of the field, massed the defence, and the UAE realistically got nowhere near as a result. It was a defensive masterclass, which brought with it an outpouring of joy. The Uzbek section at the Al Nahyan Stadium was kept to around 1,000 fans. Yet hundreds more had made it inside, while thousands of others were left outside, wanting to share in their moment of history. When it was achieved, players and staff were in tears. Utkir Yusupov, the goalkeeper who was named player of the match on behalf of his side's defensive effort, fell to his knees and cried. Just as the dedications were starting – to the president, and all the people of Uzbekistan – the press conference was ambushed by fevered players. Some traded doppis – the traditional Uzbek skullcap – with thrilled travelling journalists. Abdukodir Khusanov, the Manchester City defender who had coincidentally achieved his ambition in a match played in the city of his ultimate employers, hugged anyone and everyone. Timur Kapadze, the Uzbek manager, had a brief and unspectacular stint playing for Sharjah for a few months back in 2012. His opposite number, Olaroiu, had arrived direct from the same club amid much fanfare about what he could achieve in his new posting with the UAE. A new manager bounce was required from a UAE side who needed two wins from their final two games to stand a chance of progressing directly to the World Cup. It did not quite work out that way. The goalless draw rendered that impossible, meaning they will now have to navigate an extra round in October. 'The disappointment is very big because it was very near,' Olaroiu said. 'We controlled more, had more possession, had more chances than them, but unfortunately we didn't score. 'It was not exactly the perfect game and I think we can improve. We have to continue to believe and fight for the second chance that we are going to have in October. 'Uzbekistan tried to keep it 0-0 and they did it in the end. For them to qualify, it is a big achievement for their football. Now, we hope it will be our turn.' The home team had 62 per cent of possession, but the chances they were able to fashion were few. When they did eke out openings, Yusupov was good enough to repel them. He turned away a Lucas Pimenta header, as well as low shots from Fabio De Lima and Yahya Al Ghassani. Despite the draw, all is not lost. The UAE head to Bishkek next for a match against Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday that is now essentially meaningless. It will, though, be another chance for Olaroiu to impress his ideas on a set of players whom he has been with for barely a week so far. He does now have the chance to build something for the next shot at qualification. The fourth round of the Asian qualifying process will involve six teams, playing in two groups in October. The third and fourth placed teams from the current round will be split into two groups of three. The sides will then play each other once each over the course of a week, with the winners advancing to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year. So far, four of the teams involved are confirmed: the UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia will almost certainly be involved, while the other team will be either Oman or Palestine. Olaroiu said the incentive at that event will be massive. Now is the time to work out the details of how to bring about success. ' You have a once in a lifetime chance,' Olaroiu said. 'I don't think you should talk about motivation as much as preparation. 'That is the most important thing. Now is the end of the season, we have a break, then the clubs will start their preparations. 'In September, there is [an international] break and we will have some friendly games. The preparation is very, very important because the work the clubs will do now will influence it.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Socceroos confident of completing World Cup assignment against experimental Japan
When he was first introduced as the coach of the Socceroos, just days after Graham Arnold's decision to step down and with just weeks to prepare for his first qualifiers in charge, Tony Popovic was adamant there was enough time to right the ship and qualify automatically for the World Cup. Now, as Australia's men prepare to meet Japan in Perth, knowing that a win will all but guarantee them a place in North America, the coach has the chance to deliver on that promise. Numerous permutations will govern what could happen in Group C of Asian qualifying in the coming days – there still exists a scenario in which Indonesia could qualify automatically – but the straightforward scenario for the Socceroos is to just beat the Samurai Blue. Do that, and they will ensure they'll enter the final matchday a minimum of three points clear of the Saudis and be able to count on a goal difference cushion that currently, largely thanks to the Green Falcons' remarkable profligacy in their eight games, sits at nine. 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us, they mean to Australia and to every football fan out there supporting the Socceroos,' said Popovic. 'We've taken an approach, window by window, to get the results we need, to keep improving our game, and we've maintained that through this preparation. Every game is significant for the Socceroos. But, obviously, these last two games, for automatic qualification, we know what we need to do; we need to put that into action, and we're confident we can do that.' But while the permutations may be relatively simple, beating Japan is anything but. It's probably one of the most difficult task in all of football right now – Hajime Moriyasu's side are unbeaten in their last 12 games and have lost just twice over the last two years, with wins over the likes of Germany and Turkey, as well as a first-ever away win in Saudi Arabia, recorded during this spell. They became the first nation to punch their tickets to 2026 during the March window, beating Bahrain to take an insurmountable lead atop Group C with three games to spare. The World Cup has never been won by a nation outside South America or Europe before, but Japan are shaping as genuine contenders to deliver on their promise to break this trend. The Socceroos haven't beaten Japan since 2009, when Tim Cahill scored a brace to secure victory at the MCG. Their last meeting came in Popovic's second game in charge back in October, when Australia were besieged but held out for a 1-1 draw. In hindsight, after the whirlwind of the coach's arrival, that result did far more than get a point for the side. It stabilised them and gave them a result to lay at the foundation of their efforts to build something. And the coach believes they're better since then. 'The growth and development and the way the team has evolved are clear,' said Popovic. 'We all see that. We understand there is a lot more growth in us, but we're a much better team than we were in October.' In a boost for the Socceroos, they meet a less-than-full-strength Japan in Perth. Less than half of the squad that featured for Moriyasu during the March window have made the trip, with the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda, and Ao Tanaka absent. In their place, established figures such as Liverpool's Wataru Endō and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo will need to provide a steadying hand to a squad featuring more potential debutants – eight – than it does players with more than 10 international caps, seven. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion But such is the growing strength and rising depth of Japanese football that even this lesser-heralded cohort possesses players signed to top European clubs. Domestic-based youth such as Junnosuke Suzuki and Ryūnosuke Satō, meanwhile, may not yet be too well known outside their homeland but the J1 League has long since established itself as the most consistently strong league in Asia. It was only last month that Kawasaki Frontale, sitting midtable in the J1 League, knocked out an Al Nassr side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo on their way to the final of the Asian Champions League Elite. Kōta Takai started that day and is in line to make his third appearance for the Samurai Blue in Perth. And with 2026 locked in, it's a side full of players looking to show their worth. 'The way we are going to play, I won't be changing anything in terms of mindset,' said Moriyasu. 'We play each game one by one. We take each game seriously. But still, we need to strengthen our squad. We need to expand our squad. We need to prove that Japan still has a lot more talent coming through. I would like to show the world that we still have lots of players who are coming through. I would like my players to shine on the very best stage tomorrow.'
Japan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Australia targets easier World Cup path ahead of Japan clash
Australia's Milos Degenek said he has been impressing on younger teammates how tough it is to get to the World Cup through intercontinental playoffs as they prepare for their last two matches in the third round of Asian qualifying. A first win over Japan in 16 years in Perth on Thursday would put Australia well on its way to the finals in North America in 2026, but will not yet seal qualification if Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain in a later match. The Socceroos have a three-point edge and a healthy goal difference advantage over the Saudis, their main rivals for second place in Group C and their opponents in their final qualifier in Jeddah next Tuesday. The expansion of the World Cup means Australia still have room for error but Degenek, a veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns that were secured by playoff wins over Honduras and Peru, is loathe to take any chances. "It's never easy when you go to those knockout games (and) it's a lot easier if you qualify through the group stage directly," the former Red Star Belgrade defender told reporters in Perth this week. "It's been hammered home and I think the boys ... are well aware of the situation, that there are two games that are separating us from going to a World Cup." If Australia does beat Samurai Blue on Thursday, it still faces a long wait to confirm whether a berth has been secured for a sixth straight World Cup finals. The Saudis kick off in Bahrain some five hours after Australia and Japan, potentially leaving the Socceroos players on tenterhooks well into the early hours of Friday morning. "If we do get the win, hopefully we will, we are obviously almost there," Degenek added. "The most important thing is that we win. We can obviously be happy inside and celebrate a little bit, but nothing too major because if Saudi win against Bahrain ... we'll still have to go there and get a result." With Japan already qualified, coach Hajime Moriyasu has rested several of his best players and brought in a handful of uncapped youngsters for Thursday's game. Degenek, who played club football in Japan for Yokohama F. Marinos, did not think that would make Australia's task any easier. "I think it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out, because the boys that are coming in ... are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup," he said. "So it's not going to be a walk in the park, and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game."
CNA
3 days ago
- General
- CNA
Australia target easier path to World Cup ahead of Japan clash
SYDNEY :Australia's Milos Degenek said he has been impressing on younger teammates how tough it is to get to the World Cup through intercontinental playoffs as they prepare for their last two matches in the third round of Asian qualifying. A first win over Japan in 16 years in Perth on Thursday would put Australia well on their way to the finals in North America in 2026, but will not get them over the line if Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain in a later match. The Socceroos have a three-point edge and a healthy goal difference advantage over the Saudis, their main rivals for second place in Group C and their opponents in their final qualifier in Jeddah next Tuesday. The expansion of the World Cup means Australia still have room for error but Degenek, a veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns that were secured by playoff wins over Honduras and Peru, is loathe to take any chances. "It's never easy when you go to those knockout games (and) it's a lot easier if you qualify through the group stage directly," the former Red Star Belgrade defender told reporters in Perth this week. "It's been hammered home and I think the boys ... are well aware of the situation, that there are two games that are separating us from going to a World Cup." If Australia do beat the Samurai Blue on Thursday, they still face a long wait to find out if they have secured a berth at a sixth straight World Cup finals. The Saudis kick off in Bahrain some five hours after Australia and Japan, potentially leaving the Socceroos players on tenterhooks well into the early hours of Friday morning. "If we do get the win, hopefully we will, we are obviously almost there," Degenek added. "The most important thing is that we win. We can obviously be happy inside and celebrate a little bit, but nothing too major because if Saudi win against Bahrain ... we'll still have to go there and get a result." With Japan already qualified, Hajime Moriyasu has rested several of his best players and brought in a handful of uncapped youngsters for Thursday's game. Degenek, who played club football in Japan for Yokohama F. Marinos, did not think that would make Australia's task any easier."I think it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out, because the boys that are coming in ... are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup," he said. "So it's not going to be a walk in the park, and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game."
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Australia target easier path to World Cup ahead of Japan clash
SYDNEY, June 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Milos Degenek said he has been impressing on younger teammates how tough it is to get to the World Cup through intercontinental playoffs as they prepare for their last two matches in the third round of Asian qualifying. A first win over Japan in 16 years in Perth on Thursday would put Australia well on their way to the finals in North America in 2026, but will not get them over the line if Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain in a later match. The Socceroos have a three-point edge and a healthy goal difference advantage over the Saudis, their main rivals for second place in Group C and their opponents in their final qualifier in Jeddah next Tuesday. The expansion of the World Cup means Australia still have room for error but Degenek, a veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns that were secured by playoff wins over Honduras and Peru, is loathe to take any chances. "It's never easy when you go to those knockout games (and) it's a lot easier if you qualify through the group stage directly," the former Red Star Belgrade defender told reporters in Perth this week. "It's been hammered home and I think the boys ... are well aware of the situation, that there are two games that are separating us from going to a World Cup." If Australia do beat the Samurai Blue on Thursday, they still face a long wait to find out if they have secured a berth at a sixth straight World Cup finals. The Saudis kick off in Bahrain some five hours after Australia and Japan, potentially leaving the Socceroos players on tenterhooks well into the early hours of Friday morning. "If we do get the win, hopefully we will, we are obviously almost there," Degenek added. "The most important thing is that we win. We can obviously be happy inside and celebrate a little bit, but nothing too major because if Saudi win against Bahrain ... we'll still have to go there and get a result." With Japan already qualified, Hajime Moriyasu has rested several of his best players and brought in a handful of uncapped youngsters for Thursday's game. Degenek, who played club football in Japan for Yokohama F. Marinos, did not think that would make Australia's task any easier. "I think it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out, because the boys that are coming in ... are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup," he said. "So it's not going to be a walk in the park, and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game."
