Asian Cup of Nations 2019

If Son keeps his form up, South Koera should be by far the favourites for it.

Isn't there a risk that Son will be called up to do military service and have to put his football career on hold for 2 years?

Although I imagine they would let him play for the NT, if not the PL

I was under the impression that it wasn't going to affect him. It's been mentioned for so long without any thing of substance coming from it.

He has two chances remaining to exempt himself from international service:

World cup early this summer.
Asian Games in Jakarta late this summer.

I expect him to be selected to both to maximize his chance his getting an exemption. The former is the longshot, the latter is more realistic. The better question is does he want to go. I've seen the way they talk about him on KBS, and compared to the way the Japanese media treats our stars(especially comparable ones like Kagawa) the difference is pretty jarring. He's boderline a demigod. I think he wants to serve and not lose that god-like status for such a forgiven media/nation. They can turn hard too. I remember chu-Young was getting death threats after he delayed his military service with Monaco/Arsenal.

Korea lost to Northern Ireland

All these guys better be ready to go serve in the military.

Kyrgyzstan vs India Kick Off, Y'all ready?

fcks sake 2 mins in 1-0 to Kyrgyzstan, Own goal. GTFO back to playing Cricket you farmers

North Korea also qualified. Gutted about Tajikistan losing last minute, they now need Nepal to beat Yemen away from home to qualify, very low change.

Also, the friendly results of Asian WC teams has been very worrying...sadly, it looks like the Asian teams are likely to have as much of a disastrous World Cup showing than in 2014.

Japan drew Mali and lost to Ukraine, Iran lost to Tunisia, Saudi Arabia drew Ukraine, Australia got demolished by Norway, and Korea lost to Northern Ireland. More games will be played today.

Meanwhile, China managed to completely self-destruct and go from 1-0 up to 3-1 down vs. Czech in space of almost 5 minutes. Sometimes I wish the players had the mental strength of Xi himself...

South Korea and Australia have the groups of death but I expect Japan and/or Saudi Arabia to make it out of the group stages.

The draw is appening in about 15 hours.

Hoping for UAE, Thailand, India and Turkmenistan.

Nishankly wrote:Hoping for UAE, Thailand, India and Turkmenistan.

Nearly got your wish!

A: UAE, Thailand, India, Bahrain
B: Australia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine
C: S.Korea, China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines
D: Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen
E: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, N.Korea
F: Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman, Turkmenistan

Jordan vs. Palestine

China's group with no West Asian teams.

Saudi Arabia vs. Qatar (game played in UAE)

Uzbekistan vs. Turkmenistan , the Central Asian derby

Good stuff

What an amazing draw. We have some hope

But well, UAE, Thailand and Bahrain would be thinking the same

This tournament is starting in 2 weeks.

Japan just released their squad....no Hasebe, Kawachima, Inui, Okazaki, Kagawa, Honda! going full-rebuild !

https://us.soccerway.com/international/asia/asian-cup/2019/group-stage/r46697/?ICID=SN_04_20

Preferred it when it was Summer Tournament

Gonna absolutely ruin Thailand can't wait

Sina wrote:Preferred it when it was Summer Tournament

Agreed. Last summer tournament was 2007 which was one of the most fun Asian Cups where war-torn Iraq won. 2004 was also amazing, Ali Karimi in his peak.

Despite Asian Cup losing its glamour lately, it still has one of my very first and best memories.

Remember when we were losing to Korea 1-2 at HT in quarter finals in 1996, then in second half Ali Daei scored 4 goals and assisted one in like half hour for us to win 6-2 ?

What a game that was

Easiest group for India since 1970s and you question the tournament? It'll still be 25 deg in Asia so its still summer on paper come on

Xavi has predicted QATAR will win the cup

They're definitely paying him well !

Zagadka wrote:

Sina wrote:Preferred it when it was Summer Tournament

Agreed. Last summer tournament was 2007 which was one of the most fun Asian Cups where war-torn Iraq won. 2004 was also amazing, Ali Karimi in his peak.

Despite Asian Cup losing its glamour lately, it still has one of my very first and best memories.

Remember when we were losing to Korea 1-2 at HT in quarter finals in 1996, then in second half Ali Daei scored 4 goals and assisted one in like half hour for us to win 6-2 ?

What a game that was

yeah 90 did some quick reviews on each tournament
https://90tv.ir/c/5a41so

Iran were 120th in fifa ranking before that tournament

================================

my prediction is also Iran losing in semis,don't know who will win it

3-1
INDIAAAAAAAAAAA

CHETTRI MY LOVE

FT India 4-1 Thailand

Underdogs top of the group ffs

India's first win in 55 years and India's biggest win in the Asian Cup.

Those who don't know, Asian Cup is equivalent to Euros.

This thing is already underway???

Congrats Nishy

BTW, Thais must be real shitty