AFC Asian cup 2019

Hanks

Full Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
480
Location
Poland
I'm not gonna lie, with first-round almost being over, the tournament has been a lot more entertaining than I first imagined. Very few one-sided matches and all games should be interesting seeing 4 best 3rd teams will also make it to the next round.

Only very disappointing thing has been the lack of attendance. Almost all stadiums are empty. I wonder why that is? Is it a visa issue? Couldn't UAE do a Russia and issue visa-free Fan IDs to ticket holders? It's sad to see teams play in a major international tournament with 3k attendance. Very disappointing atmosphere so far...

Really mental to think Iran/Korea/Japan (3 of the biggest footballing superhouses of the continent) have hosted just ONE tournament in over 40 years and that being 1992 in Nihhonland.

Iran not hosting is understandable for the scumbags running the nation and no women allowed in the stadium, but I'm surprised Korea have never made a big push to host....especially since their last title came in 1960 when they hosted relatively fresh off the end of Korean war.
 

Slevs

likes to play with penises
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
28,203
Location
Boyo
fecking Qatari mercenary nationalized shit cnut fecking dick.
 

Ballache

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Messages
17,216
Location
Stockholm/Beirut
Supports
Martial
Ah well, felt a draw would have been a fair result but they had that extra bit of quality and scored. Good effort from the boys!
 

Giggsyking

Full Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2013
Messages
8,270
The player who scored the first goal for Qatar is Iraqi originally. I wonder how many Qatari nationals in the team are there?
 

FootballHQ

Full Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
18,139
Supports
Aston Villa
Most their players aren't Qatari.
I wish we had even half of their budget.
Yeah few years back they had a few South American players playing for them.

Can only think they will try to pull that trick for 2022 to make them competitive.
 

Ballache

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Messages
17,216
Location
Stockholm/Beirut
Supports
Martial
Yeah few years back they had a few South American players playing for them.

Can only think they will try to pull that trick for 2022 to make them competitive.
They planned ahead, they have a massive academy called Aspire with loads of young South Americans and Africans. Even the players with Arabic names are from Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, North Africa. Tbf though some of them are born in Qatar so I have no issue with that.
 

Manowar

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 23, 2017
Messages
86
Location
Hanoi
Heartbroken after the late goal by Iraq :(( Such a terrible goal to concede as there're not enough time to turn the game around.
We did play very well in the first half, not so in the second after out fitness level dropped and Iraq made several changes to bolster their midfield. Players were exhausted mentally and physically after AFF Suzuki cup and the result correctly showed our level right now. Iraq is nothing special though, no way they are gonna challenge Iran or other heavyweights.
I'm still very proud of the team, even Iran will no doubt drub us.
 

Rolandofgilead

Trigger Happy Priest Killer
Scout
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
21,508
Location
Bob Lucas Stadium
Supports
Weymouth
That performance from Bahrain was far and away the worst i have seen in this tournament so far. Woeful stuff.
 

Berbaclass

Fallen Muppet. Lest we never forget
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
37,992
Location
Cooper Station
I’ve backed Syria in this next match, they look the better team and the odds were seemingly pretty good. Jordan don’t look as good as them.
 

RochaRoja

Full Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2018
Messages
1,567
Most their players aren't Qatari.
I wish we had even half of their budget.
Not true. Most of their squad were born in Qatar. They have a minority of foreign born players in their squad but it’s not like they’re a squad of ringers like some people think.
 

syrian_scholes

Honorary Straw Hat
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
13,979
Location
Houston
I’ve backed Syria in this next match, they look the better team and the odds were seemingly pretty good. Jordan don’t look as good as them.
I don't know man, Somah and Khiribin partnership up front is our only hope in this competition and we need to make it work quick.
 

Nick7

Full Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
19,231
Location
Ireland
Yeah few years back they had a few South American players playing for them.

Can only think they will try to pull that trick for 2022 to make them competitive.
Good old Rodrigo Tabata, a Brazilian of Japanese descent playing international football with Qatar.
 

RochaRoja

Full Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2018
Messages
1,567
Good old Rodrigo Tabata, a Brazilian of Japanese descent playing international football with Qatar.
Hundreds of footballers play for countries that they weren’t born in or had no prior connection to before moving to that country for work.

I know it’s cool to hate on Qatar (and politically that’s perfectly justified) but it’s pretty lame to pick on a tiny country for doing the same thing that so many other nations do.
 

Berbaclass

Fallen Muppet. Lest we never forget
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
37,992
Location
Cooper Station
Looked away for a second there and saw them arguing after that tackle and though the ref had sent him off :lol:
 

Nick7

Full Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
19,231
Location
Ireland
Hundreds of footballers play for countries that they weren’t born in or had no prior connection to before moving to that country for work.

I know it’s cool to hate on Qatar (and politically that’s perfectly justified) but it’s pretty lame to pick on a tiny country for doing the same thing that so many other nations do.
How about Pogba for France? Mbappe? Or get that very french name N'Golo Kante.
I geuinely don't care about it. I'm from Ireland and we have as many English players as Irish players. I just always found Tabata pretty funny, after the story about his club in Qatar asked him to get a Japanese passport but he couldn't read or write Japanese.
 

Hanks

Full Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
480
Location
Poland
Pre-tourney I had Syria as my surprise team ... at this rate they won't even be one of the best 3rd place teams. A miraculous turnaround in second half or they'll have to beat Aussies and hope for the best.
 

Rolandofgilead

Trigger Happy Priest Killer
Scout
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
21,508
Location
Bob Lucas Stadium
Supports
Weymouth
Well just when i thought nothing was going to be as bad as that Bahrain performence, up step Syria. That was nothing short of pathetic.