AFC asian Cup 2024

Jordan deservedly in front.

This could be the first time since 2007 that neither South Korea or Japan makes it to the final. And the first time since 1976 that none of Japan, South Korea or Saudi Arabia are in the final!
 
South Korea have been like Ivory Coast. Awful. South Korea paying for it though. How is there front 3 struggling to score
 
Korea had this coming. They've shithoused their way this far with late added time goals.
 
Incredible how all of the favourites have shat the bed across this and AFCON.
 
Jordan better in every way. Korea with zero shots on target.

Rooting for Jordan in the final. They had never even been in the semi finals before today!
 
Haven't really been following Asia cup as much as AFCON.

Interested in the general impressions for those who have watched it?

Generally Asia is pretty competitive at World cups now. Korea and Japan are consistent at making last 16 of World cups and have starters for top european teams so feels like a matter of time before Japan has a Morocco style run (they were very unlucky to run into Croatia after getting through that tough group). Australia don't have a great pool of players still but are tough to beat and on a good day can upset more fancied nations, same for Iran.

Those four are the strongest in the region so to potentially have none of them in the final is pretty interesting. Could say same for AFCON but Nigeria should make the final and they're one of the powerhouses even if they don't always make the world cup.

Jordan sort of nation that makes final group for qualifiers but never have quite enough to get through to a World cup so interested what is their potential? Has this just been a lucky run or are they building up nicely to World cup 2026?
 
FootballHQ said:
Interested in the general impressions for those who have watched it?
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I've watched 5 or 6 games and it's generally been entertaining. Lots of drama, higher quality than expected from the low ranked nations and good refereeing.

I've tried to read some comments on Reddit to get an idea of what people from different countries in the region think. It seems like Japan was half-assing it and South Korea got fecked over by Klinsmann's coaching? Although that might just be a coping mechanism. But having watched Iran, Iraq and Jordan today it does seem like these countries cared a lot more about winning.

FootballHQ said:
Jordan sort of nation that makes final group for qualifiers but never have quite enough to get through to a World cup so interested what is their potential? Has this just been a lucky run or are they building up nicely to World cup 2026?
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Jordan has never even made it to a semi-final before so them making it to the final is definitely a surprise. They are even ranked below Bahrain (who got absolutely destroyed by Japan in the round of 16).

It's hard to tell if its a sign of things to come or just a good run, but they outplayed South Korea today. It was in no way a scrappy win.
 
As someone with Iranian heritage I'm bias but on paper Iran should win this right now, however we also have a history of throwing it away easily when it matters, so I could be wrong.

Overall It's been a strange Asian Cup for us, we came into this with zero expectations as our federation is corrupt and incompetent - They re-hired a guy that had failed miserably in the 2007 Asian Cup and he's a bit of a meme in Iran. However, his tactics has been a surprise for everyone. After years of playing defensive and tight football under CQ, it feels like the shackles have been let go and we are playing with confidence when going forward. Also under CQ if we went down a goal we would crumble but under the current head coach we have become resilient and the last two games we've come back from being a goal down.
 
Paul_Pogba said:
As someone with Iranian heritage I'm bias but on paper Iran should win this right now, however we also have a history of throwing it away easily when it matters, so I could be wrong.

Overall It's been a strange Asian Cup for us, we came into this with zero expectations as our federation is corrupt and incompetent - They re-hired a guy that had failed miserably in the 2007 Asian Cup and he's a bit of a meme in Iran. However, his tactics has been a surprise for everyone. After years of playing defensive and tight football under CQ, it feels like the shackles have been let go and we are playing with confidence when going forward. Also under CQ if we went down a goal we would crumble but under the current head coach we have become resilient and the last two games we've come back from being a goal down.
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Good post! This is our best chance and as you on paper we should win it. Let’s hope the team can give some joy to our people who have suffered for so many years. Go Team Melli!
 
Don't kill me, but I really can't bother getting emotional about this team at all. I just find this roster of players very unlikeable....

To see all of them (Except Ghoddos) so loudly sing the anthem that is a symbol of decay and destruction of our country was disheartening. I lost appetite for the match immediately. Plus, I just hate the flag and what it represents.The final comes on the eve of 45th anniversary of the success of the "revolution" which if we win the cup, will be completely taken over politically by the regime. I'm completely numb about this team, but totally understand if some don't feel this way.

It's a shame we were denied by the worst referee performance of all time in Semi final of 2004 Asian Cup in China. Now that team was full of gentlemen and truly class players and personalities like Daei, Mahdavikia, Karimi, Bagheri, Hashemian and co. Now that team truly deserved to win the cup.
 
Back to Footballing side of things, this is a very open and end-to-end game. Very easy to watch and on the eye
 
One thing I've noticed in this tournament is how bravely teams approach the game. There have been very few timid and defensive sides in the knockout stages. They all set out to attack and they keep attacking even when in the lead.

Some sloppy defensive positioning and finishing aside, the technical ability and overall football quality is on a high level. I don't think anyone can scoff at 8-9 AFC teams going to the next world cup when there will be 48 teams.
 
Fun game all things considered.
Qatar have the home advantage but Jordan did look more convincing in their win against Korea than Qatar did here, although iran was probably better than Korea so it should even out.
 
Hanks said:
Don't kill me, but I really can't bother getting emotional about this team at all. I just find this roster of players very unlikeable....

To see all of them (Except Ghoddos) so loudly sing the anthem that is a symbol of decay and destruction of our country was disheartening. I lost appetite for the match immediately. Plus, I just hate the flag and what it represents.The final comes on the eve of 45th anniversary of the success of the "revolution" which if we win the cup, will be completely taken over politically by the regime. I'm completely numb about this team, but totally understand if some don't feel this way.

It's a shame we were denied by the worst referee performance of all time in Semi final of 2004 Asian Cup in China. Now that team was full of gentlemen and truly class players and personalities like Daei, Mahdavikia, Karimi, Bagheri, Hashemian and co. Now that team truly deserved to win the cup.
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I find it funny how some of the best Asian footballers of all time including some of the Iranian names mentioned there as well as the likes of Park Jisung and Hong Myungbo have zero Asian Cups between them. There is also a very good chance that Son, possibly Asia's best ever, will end his career without ever winning this tournament. Perhaps it isn't quite the Mickey Mouse cup as described by some.

And I also find it funny how I still haven't fully accepted that Australia is part of Asia in football, the impostors.
 
Some key facts before the final:

- This is the first time that none of Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia are in the final (the first 4 installments between 1956 to 1968 were round robin tournaments).

- Should Qatar win on Saturday then they will have as many AFC trophies as South Korea (both two).

- Should Jordan win on Saturday then it will be their first AFC win. Before this tournament they had never gone beyond the quarter finals.

- The knockout stages have been relatively high-scoring. 8 out of 14 games have had 3 or more goals scored. Only one game had less than 2 goals. No game has been goalless.
 
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The u23 final just ended. Great drama at the end.

First half was a tepid affair with barely any chances but opened up in the second half. Japan took the lead in the 90th minute then Uzbekistan got a penalty in the 7th minute of injury time because of a stupid handball. Japanese keeper saved it though. Leo Kokubo take a bow. Well done to both teams on a fantastic tournament.
 
Desert Eagle said:
The u23 final just ended. Great drama at the end.

First half was a tepid affair with barely any chances but opened up in the second half. Japan took the lead in the 90th minute then Uzbekistan got a penalty in the 7th minute of injury time because of a stupid handball. Japanese keeper saved it though. Leo Kokubo take a bow. Well done to both teams on a fantastic tournament.
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Yes, I am glad too Iraq went through to the Olympics in Paris after securing 3rd yesterday.
 
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