2012 AFC Challenge Cup: A look back & the stats

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. Defending champions North Korea once more won the title by beating Turkmenistan again in the final like in 2010. The final victory qualifies North Korea for the next 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

The 12 day tournament saw eight teams in action with the matches not always going as per script, but in the end the overwhelming favourites North Korea won the AFC Challenge Cup title for a second time.

For Team India the 2012 edition of the AFC Challenge Cup was a complete disaster. Three matches - no goals, eight conceded, no points. The simple stats speak a clear language about a very poor outing.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group A
Maldives, Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan

08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives
08-Mar-2012: Nepal 0-2 Palestine
10-Mar-2012: Palestine 0-0 Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives 1-0 Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal 0-3 Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives 0-2 Palestine

Group B
India, North Korea, Philippines, Tajikistan

09-Mar-2012: North Korea 2-0 Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India 0-2 Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan 0-2 North Korea
11-Mar-2012: Philippines 2-0 India
13-Mar-2012: North Korea 4-0 India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan 1-2 Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 2-1 Philippines
16-Mar-2012: North Korea 2-0 Palestine

3rd Place Playoff
19-Mar-2012: Philippines 4-3 Palestine

Final
19-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 1-2 North Korea

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea retain title!

In football sometimes history does repeat itself and it happened this afternoon at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. Defending champions North Korea retained the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup title with a 2-1 victory against last time runners-up Turkmenistan to qualify as the first team for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

In the earlier third-place playoff match surprise package the Philippines beat Palestine in a seven goal thriller 4-3 to finish third, a huge success for the Southeast Asian nation.


Final: Turkmenistan 1-2 (1-1) North Korea

The final got of to a great start for Turkmenistan, who took a 2nd minute lead when captain Berdy Shamuradov burst through on goal and smashed an unstoppable drive past North Korea goalkeeper Myong-Suk Ri. Interestingly Shamuradov had also scored Turkmenistan's first goal in the 2010 finals.

The North Koreans had more from the match, but the Turkmen defence often held their ground in the first session though conceding the equaliser in the 35th minute when Nam-Chol Pak's cross from the right met an unmarked Il-Gwan Jong, whose header went in past Turkmen keeper Rahmanberdi Alyhanov into the net.

Substitute Arslanmyrat Ammanov rattled the North Korean crossbar with a powerful 67th minute free-kick, but the climax was still to come. Turkmenistan was handed the golden opportunity to win the match in the 83rd minute then Ammanov was brought down in the box by Song-Hyok Jang, but Shamuradov would go on to miss the penalty; while at the other end only a couple of minutes later David Sakisov brought down Kwang-Ryong Park. This time Song-Hyok Jang, who had committed the earlier foul at the other, would step-up and score for North Korea.

It ended 2-1 for North Korea. Once more penalties decided the fate of a final between these two side, once more the East Asians would lift the title and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea & Turkmenistan reach final

The two semifinals at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup were played today at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. In the first semifinal Group A winners Turkmenistan took on surprise entrants the Philippines, while in the second semifinal defending champions North Korea took on Palestine.

Group B

Turkmenistan 2-1 (0-1) Philippines
Turkmenistan overcame a fighting Philippines to reach the finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. The Central Asian side won 2-1 and will now try to improve on their runners-up finish in 2010. The Philippines looked more dangerous at the start and took a deserving 25th minute lead when Phil Younghusband headed home Mulders' cross, his fourth of the campaign. But things would change in the second session with Arslanmyrat Amanov equalising for Turkmenistan in the 79th minute and things got worse for the Philippines when Guvanch Abylov robbed fellow substitute Roel Gener the ball and set-up Gahryman Chonkayev who scored the winner with four minutes left to play. The Philippines disappointment was compounded in stoppage-time when keeper Neil Etheridge was red carded for an off the ball incident involving goal scorer Chonkayev.

North Korea 2-0 (1-0) Palestine
Defending champions North Korea have reached the final again with a 2-0 win against Palestine at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup semifinal at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. North Korea put pressure on Palestine, but only in the 42nd minute they made the breakthrough with Kwang-Ryong Pak firing the ball into the Palestine net after an earlier shot had bounced back off the underside of the crossbar. The East Asians kept the pressure on the West Asians with the second goal coming in the 69th minute once more through Kwang-Ryong Pak who capitalised on the poor Palestinian defending, skipped past Saleh with ease and side-footed the ball into the empty net to cap a comfortable win. It was enough as North Korea won the match 2-0.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Philippines follow North Korea into semifinals

The third and final round Group B matches were played at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup simultaneously in Kathmandu today. Defending champions North Korea, who already were through, met eliminated India on a dead rubber at the Dashrath Stadium, while Tajikistan took on the Philippines at the Halchowk Stadium to decide the other semifinalist from Group B.

Group B

North Korea 4-0 (2-0) India
North Korea got the better of India with a rather easy 4-0 victory against India at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. Only three minutes were played when Kuk-Chol Jang provided a clever back pass to unmarked Kwang-Ik Jon who coolly guided the ball past Indian keeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. The Koreans scored their second goal after Subhashish's weak attempt to clear a Chol-Myong Ri cross fell into the path of an unmarked Kwang-Hyok Ri in the 34th minute. The Koreans' dominance continued after the break as Nam-Chol Pak scored his second goal of the tournament when he dribbled past three Indian defenders and Subhashish to put the ball in the empty net and make it 3-0 in the 59th minute. Chol-Myong Ri put his name in the score-sheet in the 70th minute with a brilliant header to seal the comprehensive 4-0 win.

Tajikistan 1-2 (1-0) Philippines
The Philippines scored another upset win, this time a 2-1 against Tajikistan at the Halchowk Stadium, Kathmandu in Group B to qualify for the semifinals at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. The Philippines had more of the first session, but Tajik defender Alexey Negmatov gave his side a 1-0 lead in injury-time. But things changed in the 54th minute when Angel Guirado robbed Davronjon Ergashev on the left, charged to the byline and fired the ball past Tuychiev and across the face of goal where Phil Younghusband was on hand to fire the ball into the empty net for his third goal of the tournament. The Southeast Asians were back in the drivers seat and got the winner in the 80th minute when Guirado bravely headed home from close range, with the burly midfielder getting the better of Tuychiev and his defence to send the Azkals through to now face Turkmenistan.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: India suffer 0-4 North Korea defeat

India suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat against North Korea in their final Group B match in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. With the third loss in as many matches, India have finished bottom of Group B with no goal and no points.

North Korea were favourites being into the match and it showed with the Indians unable to keep-up with the Koreans pace and precision, while also continueing to commit mistakes.

North Korea took an early fourth minute lead when Kuk-Chol Jang provided a clever back pass to an unmarked Kwang-Ik Jon who coolly guided the ball past Indian goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. The Koreans scored their second goal after Subhashish's weak attempt to clear a Chol-Myong Ri cross fell into the path of an unmarked Kwang-Hyok Ri, who slotted home in the 34th minute. India's only real chance fell to captain Sunil Chhetri off a cross from Francis Fernandes with the Delhi boy shooting over.

After the break things remained the same. After losing Reisangmi Vashum due to an injury in the first session, Sunil Chhetri limped-off in the second half as North Korea added two more goals. First Nam-Chol Pak beat three Indian defenders and keeper Subhashish in the 59th minute and then in the 70th minute Chol-Myong Ri added another through a header.

After the match a disappointed Savio Medeira said, "Everyone saw it, the team lacked spirit and there was no one willing to show responsibility and as a coach it isn't very heartening to see those things in the field."


MATCH STATS

North Korea 4-0 (2-0) India - Goals: 1-0 Kwang-Ik Jon (4'), 2-0 Kwang-Hyok Ri (34'), 3-0 Nam-Chol Pak (58'), 4-0 Chol-Myong Ri (70')

NORTH KOREA
...
Substitutes: ...

INDIA
25-Subhasish Roy Chowdhury; 4-Nirmal Chetri, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 3-Raju Eknath Gaikwad, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira, 21-Rocus Lamare, 28-Jewel Raja Sheikh (61' 47-Lenny Rodrigues), 32-Reisangmi Vashum (32' 26-Francis Fernandes); 18-Sushil Kumar Singh, 11-Sunil Chhetri [C] (66' 6-C.S. Sabeeth)
Substitutes: 1-Karanjit Singh, 36-Arindam Bhattacharya; 5-Anwar, 9-Joaquim Santan Abranches, 16-Samir Naik, 17-Adil Ahmed Khan, 20-Lalrindika Ralte, 27-Gurjinder Kumar Singh, 40-Kingshuk Debnath

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: India face North Korea in match of honour

Team India after their two 0-2 losses against Tajikistan and the Philippines are out of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. Their final Group B game against group winners North Korea is a match of honour, in which India can show what they actually are capable of playing.

Team India has played below par in this tournament so far and the stats against North Korea are not encouraging either. In the 13 matches played between the two sides, India has never won a match against North Korea while the Koreans have 11 wins to their name. So the favourite tag will surely lie with the North Koreans.

India coach Savio Medeira speaking on the sidelines of the training session said, "Whatever had happened is past. We need to look forward. All of us need to support each other and see that whatever mistakes we have committed in the past shouldn't be repeated."

"DPR Korea are the toughest opponent. As they have already qualified for the semis, they would not be under any pressure. We still have many things to prove," he added. "All of us need to do a lot of introspection and then come to a conclusion. We have to take a step forward for the betterment of football in India."

Big words by Savio Medeira, but his boys should now at least try and deliver in the teams final match of the tournament. So far the performances have been below par and unacceptable for the legion of fans of the Bhangra Boys.

2010 AIFF Footballer-of-the-Year, centre-back Gouramangi Singh accepted the lack of being a cohesive effort in the first two matches. "We didn't play as a team. The coordination and understanding wasn't there. We are a young side, we need to develop as a team – that too, fast," Mangi maintained.

Savio is set to make a number of changes in the starting line-up with central midfielder Adil Khan and striker Joaquim Abranches forced to sit out due to niggles.

For North Korea, who are already through to the semifinals, the match against India is a chance to fine tune their team for the bigger challenges ahead. North Korea was clearly the better side against the Philippines and Tajikistan, but their finishing has been awful otherwise victories with bigger margins would have been possible. Hopefully they do not find their magic touch against India.

The kick-off is slated for 15.00 local time (14.45 IST) at the Dashrath Stadium with no national television broadcast in India.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea through, India eliminated

The second round Group B matches were played in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu today. Defending champions North Korea took on former champions Tajikistan at the Halchowk Stadium, while the Philippines faced another former champions in India at the Dashrath Stadium.

Group B

Tajikistan 0-2 (0-1) North Korea
Defending champions North Korea confirmed their place in the semifinals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup with a 2-0 victory against Tajikistan at the Halchowk Stadium, Kathmandu on Sunday. The North Koreans made a perfect start as they took the lead after just four minutes when Nam-Chol Pak was given too much time and space by the Tajik defence, allowing the midfielder to fire low past keeper Alisher Tuychiev. The North Korean had more of the game, but their finishing let them down as only four minutes from time they seal their victory when substitute Kuk-Chol Jang overcame a poor first touch to create space and beat Tuychiev from inside the penalty area.

Philippines 2-0 (1-0) India
The Philippines upset India 2-0 at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu to keep their chances of progressing to the semifinals at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup alive, while the 2008 champions are out of the competition. Former Chelsea FC Youth player Philip Younghusband scored both the goals for the Azkals on either side of the break. Younghusband showed his skills inside the box after receiving a sublime cross from the flank by fullback Jason Sabio and coolly directed the ball past India keeper Karanjit Singh as the Philippines took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Man of the match Younghusband completed his brace and put the match beyond India's reach after a brilliant one-two with his brother James Younghusband before finding the top corner in the 74th minute that left Karanjit rooted to the spot. Chettri got a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 87th minute but he fired the ball well wide from the 18-yard box after Sushil Singh fed the unmarked striker with Azkals goalie Neil Etheridge nowhere in sight. For India their match on Tuesday against North Korea is just of statistical interest, while the Philippines have a real final against Tajikistan then the winner would move into the semifinals.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea & Tajikistan start with wins

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup also started for the teams in Group B as defending champions North Korea faced the Philippines at the Halchowk Stadium, while in a match-up of former champions India faced Tajikistan at the Dashrath Stadium.

Group B

North Korea 2-0 (0-0) Philippines
Defending champions North Korea made a winning start into the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup with a 2-0 win against the Philippines at the Halchowk Stadium. North Korea were all over the Philippines in the first season, but Fulham FC number two goalkeeper Neil Etheridge denied the Koreans in the first session on numerous occasions. The North Koreans finally broke the deadlook through Nam-Chol Pak's 58th minute header before Etheridge failed to deal with a high cross from the right, allowing substitute Kuk-Chol Jang to double the defending champions' lead 11 minutes later.

India 0-2 (0-0) Tajikistan
India suffered an opening match 0-2 loss against Tajikistan in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. After an opening half in which both sides had their chances, but often evened each other out; things changed after the break. On the hour mark the Tajiks went ahead through Akhtam Khamrakulov as India could not clear inside the box. Only six minutes later striker Nuriddin Davranov made it 2-0 for Tajikistan with a nice placed shot from outside the box beating the outstretched hands of Karanjit Singh following a corner. Thereafter India could not come back into the match as the Tajiks took revenge for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final loss.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Who are the favourites?

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup will kick-off tomorrow in the Nepali capital Kathmandu with eight nations taking part in the second tier tournament for national teams from across Asia, which the AFC likes to call emerging nations in football. Like in the last couple of editions the champions earn a spot at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong stressed this point by saying, "And what makes this edition really interesting for the fans is that the winner will qualify directly for Asia's biggest tournament - the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2015."

"I expect to see top-level action on the pitch and ask the players to follow the spirit of fair play, no matter how intense the competition," added the AFC Acting President.


But who are the favourites to win the fourth edition of the AFC Challenge Cup?

Defending champions North Korea are the top favourites to retain their title, then the East Asian nation are by far the highest ranked at 111th with Tajikistan the closest at 145th. The North Koreans can build on a squad which played the 2010 FIFA World Cup, an experience from which the other nations are far away.

But North Korea are in the Group of Death along with former champions Tajikistan and India plus the Philippines, who have brought in a number of Player of Filipino Origin from around the world. On their day anyone amongst these four could top the group, though under normal circumstances North Korea should still top this group while the other three sides would fight for second spot.

The other Group A on paper looks weaker with hosts Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan and the Maldives. The Palestinians have looked good in preparations even beating Azerbaijan 2-0, who had earlier beaten India rather easily 3-0 with Turkmenistan a tough Central Asian side, who will have their good build on their side; but even the young hosts Nepal under English Graham Roberts will aim to reach the semifinals.

The tournament starts tomorrow and we will know on March 19, if North Korea can retain the title or if someone else wins the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup fixtures

The finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. Under the new qualifying format 16 nations played to qualify for the tournament proper with the hosts only chosen after the eight finalists had been decided.

In Group A hosts Nepal take on the Maldives, Palestine and Turkmenistan; while in the tougher Group B defending champions North Korea take on former champions India and Tajikistan plus the Philippines.


FIXTURES

Group A
Maldives, Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan

08-Mar-2012: Nepal - Palestine
08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan - Maldives
10-Mar-2012: Palestine - Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives - Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal - Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives - Palestine

Group B
India, North Korea, Philippines, Tajikistan

09-Mar-2012: North Korea - Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India - Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Philippines - India
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - North Korea
13-Mar-2012: North Korea - India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group A - Runners-Up Group B
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group B - Runners-Up Group A

Final
19-Mar-2012: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2

AFC Challenge Cup: India in tough Group B

The draw of groups and fixtures for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012 has been carried out by the Asian Football Confederation.

Group A contains hosts Nepal along with Turkmenistan, the Maldives and Palestine; while Group B has three former champions in defending champions North Korea, 2008 winners India, 2006 champions Tajikistan along with the first-timers the Philippines.

For India it will be a tough passage to reach the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Australia. India play their first match against Tajikistan on March 9. They next play the Philippines on March 11 and their last Group League match against North Korea on March 13.

Both the semifinals have been slated for March 16 while the final will be played on March 19.


GROUPS & FIXTURES

Group A
Nepal, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Palestine

08-Mar-2012: Nepal - Palestine
08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan - Maldives
10-Mar-2012: Palestine - Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives - Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal - Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives - Palestine

Group B
North Korea, India, Tajikistan, Philippines

09-Mar-2012: North Korea - Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India - Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Philippines - India
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - North Korea
13-Mar-2012: North Korea - India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group A - Runners-Up Group B
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group B - Runners-Up Group A

3rd Place Playoff
19-Mar-2012: Loser SF1 - Loser SF2

Final
19-Mar-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

Bochum: Jong Tae-Se not allowed to leave for England

German 2.Bundesliga club VfL Bochum will not release North Korean Jong Tae-Se after there was interest in the striker from ambitious English Championship club Leicester City FC. The Foxes coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been looking to strengthen his attack, but Bochum have now said they will not release Tae-Se and need him themselves in their quest for promotion.

27 year old Jong Tae-Se (written Chong Tese here in Germany) has had a mixed first season in the German 2.Bundesliga. After joining the Ruhr valley club Tae-Se scored nine goals in the first-leg of the season, while only one more goal after the winter break.

Now going into the new season Tae-Se has internal competition in Bochum in young strikers Mirkan Aydin and Daniel Ginczek.

Jong Tae-Se has impressed one and all in Bochum! The North Korean born and raised in Japan, who has never lived in North Korea, integrated as quickly into the team as rarely happens with foreigners. Tae-Se has been eager to learn German, has picked-up the language quite fast and I myself interviewed him in German during January's Asian Cup in Qatar.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Three countries bid to host

Three out of the eight finalists of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup have shown interest to host the bi-annual event and India isn't amongst the nations who have bid to host the tournament. The bidding nations are the Maldives, Nepal and Palestine.

Now the AFC has requested the football associations of Maldives, Nepal, and Palestine to sign the Organising Association Agreement (OAA) and the List of Requirements (LOR) after the three expressed their interest.

The AFC has created the AFC Challenge Cup as a second-tier national team competition for developing footballing nations across the continent. The 2006 edition was held in Bangladesh and won by Tajikistan, in 2008 hosts India won the tournament, while the 2010 edition held in Sri Lanka which was won by North Korea. Also since 2008 the champions of the AFC Challenge Cup earn a place in the finals of the AFC Asian Cup, an added impetus for nations to field their best sides and win the title.

The 2012 edition will see Palestine, the Philippines, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan, North Korea and Nepal in action with a place in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia up for grabs.

The host for the 2012 edition is likely to be decided by the AFC Organising Committee for President's Cup and Challenge Cup during its meeting at the AFC headquarters on June 14, 2011.

Speaking to North Korea star Jong Tae Se

My work here at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup is not centred about Team India, but rather numerous national sides and the first impressions of Qatar after being named 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts for Deutsche Welle radio

Yesterday I was at the Iran vs North Korea for my Farsi language colleagues to get quotes from the Iranians and I had hoped to also get a chance to speak to North Korean star striker Jong Tae Se, who now plays for German 2.Bundesliga club VfL Bochum and the "Rooney of Asia" has made a big impact since joining the club.

Now I was worried if the North Koreans would allow their players to speak, but journalist colleagues have said that the team management of North Korea has learned a lot from the 2010 FIFA World Cup and their senior/star players were now approachable.

So after speaking to Iran captain Nekonam, Jong Tae Se walked towards me and when I asked him if I could speak in German with him he happily obliged especially after I told him that his club Bochum back in Germany had beaten 1860 Munich 3-1. He wanted infos from me on who scored the goals and who played upfront; but I didn't have those infos and couldn't help him.

But in the end Tae Se said, if you want any infos on us or speak to me, let me know. And that is always good to see that players remain down to earth.

North Korean Tae-Se impresses in Germany

Do you remember the North Korean player who was weeping when the countries national anthem was being played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa? That was Jong Tae-Se and after the World Cup he signed a two year contract with German second division Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.

Now striker Jong Tae-Se (written Chong Tese here in Germany) impressed last night in the first 2.Bundesliga league match for his new club against 1860 Munich. Tae-Se, nicknamed the Asian Rooney, scored two goals for his club in their 3-2 victory.

And both goals were great to watch. First Tae-Se gave Bochum the 2-1 lead in the 38th minute of a flying header from a Bjoern Kopplin cross. It came as a surprise to many as he beat Munich keeper Gabor Kiraly to the ball. And only seconds into the second half a Milos Maric corner came into the box and Tae-Se headed in to give Bochum a 3-1 lead. And the Bochum fans now have a new crowd favourite in Tae-Se, but he will have to follow-up his strong performance from last night.

Tae-Se has impressed one and all in Bochum so far! The North Korean born and raised in Japan, who has never lived in North Korea, is trying to integrate as quickly as possible and that not only into the team but in general. He has been eager to learn German, has picked-up the language quite fast and even gave a small TV interview post match yesterday in German.

2010 World Cup: Has Asia arrived on the world stage?

Asian football has been making huge strides over the last decade and a half, but on the world stage our football still isn't taken seriously. Actually often we within Asia do not see our football on par with the game in the rest of the world with many Asians rather fans of European and especially South American football. But this could change after the good account that Asian teams gave of themselves at the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The pick of the four Asian participants have to be Japan and South Korea, who impressed on their way into the pre-quarterfinals. And both sides had chances to make it into the last eight, but the lack of experience at this level plus some luck denied both East Asian sides a place in the quarterfinals. And for Asian football one quarterfinalist would have been good news. But the question remains, has Asia arrived on the world stage?

As a pleasant surprise came the performances of the Asian referee's. Uzbekistan's Ravshan Irmatov and Yuichi Nishimura from Japan were consistent performers amongst match officials from around the world who had numerous blunders to account for over the duration of the World Cup. But we will forget the name of the Saudi referee, who was heavily criticised for his performances.


Here an overview of the four teams performances.

South Korea

The best of the Asian sides on display. The Koreans were known to be physically fit, able to run for 90 minutes and more, but now with more and more South Koreans playing in Europe they have gained in international experience which is helping them as a team. Also the side was ably led by their captain and superstar Ji-Sung Park, but when it mattered against Argentina and Uruguay they couldn't get past the South American opposition. Still South Korea showed promise and hopefully will return stronger in 2014.


Japan

Coach Okada had said before the World Cup that his sides aim would be the semifinals. Many laughed about it, but after their pre-quarterfinal penalty shootout loss against Paraguay many said the Sons from the Land of the Rising Sun could have achieved more. Also Japan have a new star in Keisuke Honda and the CKSA Moscow player was a treat to watch. Normally an attacking midfielder for the national team he played as a striker and scored some crucial goals like the 1-0s against Cameroon and Denmark. As always Japan was well organised, but if they had someone more creative in midfield or a top striker, then they could have worried bigger opponents.


Australia

Their tournament was over before it had even started. Australia were the first victims of the young, talented Germans in a 4-0 defeat. An unlucky draw against Ghana followed where the Aussies played a long time with 10 men and they were the better side after the break, and in the end a 2-1 win against Serbia which wasn't enough to progress from the group. Some stars might retire now and the Socceroos will have to replace them with younger blood, but if the younger generation is ready will have to be seen.


North Korea

They were the surprise qualifiers from Asia and the lowest ranked nation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And the players from the communist state where the unknown quantity in the tournament. They held Brazil in their opening game goalless for 55 minutes and then only lost 2-1, which raised many eyebrows. Many hoped for further surprises but the North Koreans would be trashed 7-0 by Portugal and would then lose 0-3 against Ivory Coast. The World Cup was a great experience for the North Koreans, but it was a tournament too big for them.

Group G: Brazil & Portugal draw, both teams move on

In Group G Brazil were through, but who would join them in the knockout stage. Portugal or Ivory Coast.

(matches to kick off simultaneously)

Portugal 0-0 Brazil
Goals: none.

Brazil and Portugal played out a boring goalless draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It helped both sides as they moved into the pre-quarterfinals.

A lot was expected from these two teams, but the constellation in the group allowed them to sit back rather then being forced to play football. Brazil initially looked the better of the two sides, but there wasn't much of a difference. Still there was a lot of honour in play as seven cards were dished out, some more could have been given and some even red, but overall the referee Benito Armando Archundia Tellez from Mexico had a good game.

Portugal had more of the game after the break and they could have gone ahead on the hour mark as Cristiano Ronaldo played the ball square to Raul Meireles and he lobed the ball over keeper Julio Cesar, but the ball went wide of the ball. And Brazil could have won the match in the 90th minute as a Ramirez shot was deflected of a Portuguese defender, but keeper Eduardo was there to get the ball out of danger.


North Korea 0-3 (0-2) Ivory Coast
Goals: 0-1 Yaya Toure (14'), 0-2 Romaric (20'), 0-3 Salomon Kalou (82').

Ivory Coast beat the North Koreans 3-0 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nespruit. Ivory Coast did win their first game of the tournament but it wasn't enough to move from the group of death, while North Korea didn't look the same team they were against Brazil after their 7-0 trashing against Portugal.

The Ivorians were in control from the start and their midfielder Yaya Toure gave them the lead in the 14th minute. Captain Didier Drogba should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute, but after his miss Romaric is their to slot the ball home. Thereafter Ivory Coast should have taken a three, four goal lead but they wasted too many chances against North Korea.

The Ivorians continued their attacks against the North Koreans after the breather. And they had the chances to score more goals, but only Chelsea star Salomon Kalou was able to add another goal in the 82nd minute for the final score of 3-0 which meant both sides go home after the group stage.

Group G: Brazil win, Portugal trash North Korea

The Group of Death enters a decisive phase

(to be updated after the second game)

Brazil 3-1 (1-0) Ivory Coast
Goals: 1-0,2-0 Luis Fabiano (25',50'), 3-0 Elano (62'), 3-1 Didier Drogba (79').

Brazil overcame Ivory Coast 3-1 in a hard fought match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. And once more the referee had a role to play in a teams victory.

Initially the match was confined to the midfield with both defences not giving the strikers any space. The Ivorians had initially more of the ball, but they couldn't do anything worthwhile with it. And suddenly in the 25th minute Brazil took the lead. Kaka and Luis Fabiano combined nicely with Fabiano taking a strong shot on target which goes in past keeper Boubacar Barry. But the Ivorians weren't shocked as they tried to get the equaliser, but they had to few attempts only through Aruna Dindane and then Emmanuel Eboué.

After the break Brazil doubled their lead through another goal from Luis Fabiano in the 50th minute. And this has to be the highlight of referee mistakes in this World Cup. Fabiano twice on the way to score the goal handles the ball, but referee Stéphane Lannoy from France is unsure so he goes on to ask the Brazilian, who lies to the referee showing him he chested the ball. An unforgivable blunder by the referee and even Fabiano should be penalised for lying. But Ivory Coast was not yet beaten. Only three minutes later Dindane's cross was headed goalwards by an unmarked Drogba, but it misses the target by a whisker. But then Brazil seal the game in the 62nd minute with their third goal. Kaka nicely builds-up on the left and squares the ball with Elano there in the box to push the ball in. The Ivorians thereafter looked beaten, but the Brazilians didn't keep the tempo high and the match returned to its sluggishness. Then Drogba finally reduced the deficit in the 79th minute through a header from a Yaya Toura cross as he once more was left free in the danger zone. The match late on became rough, especially as the Ivorians complained with the referee that the Brazilians were play acting and provoking the referee to call fouls where there were none. This resulted in Kaka twice overreacting and on both occasions he deserved a red card, but was lucky as the referee on both occasions only showed him yellow cards and he will only miss a match. In the second instance the situation got out of hand as many players got involved, but the referee only carded the instigator. Once more Brazil didn't convince but got away with it as Ivory Coast were too harmless.


Portugal 7-0 (1-0) North Korea
Goals: 1-0 Raul Meireles (29'), 2-0 Simao (53'), 3-0 Hugo Almeida (56'), 4-0,7-0 Tiago (60',89'), 5-0 Liedson (81'), 6-0 Cristiano Ronaldo (87').

Portugal demolished North Korea 7-0 in a demonstration of attacking football in the second session at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. The Asian once more had a strong first session, but then fell apart after the break. North Korea once more showed promise, but they just aren't on the level of the three other sides in their group.

The first session saw an open game as the North Koreans were not willing to give in to their more famed rivals and wanted to keep their chances open to progress from the group. Portugal initially looked startled by this fact though it left them with space which they initially could utilise. Chances on both sides, but no goals at the start, but as the match progressed the higher class of Portugal came through as Raul Meireles gave the Europeans the lead in the 29th minute.

And after the break Portugal in a seven minute blitz would seal the match as North Korea just fell apart. Three goals from Simao (53'), Hugo Almeida (56') and Tiago (60') where enough to seal the win against the Koreans who had no answer to what hit them. And thereafter the risk was it would be a one-sided affair, more goals scored and it did come that way. In the last ten minutes Liedson (81'), Cristiano Ronaldo (87') and Tiago (89') would finish off the 7-0 trashing of the East Asians.

World Cup 2010: Goalkeeping blunders

One of the things that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will sadly be remembered for will be the goalkeeping blunders and mistakes across the board. Some keepers have not made it to the list but remain potential candidates as the tournament progresses and some are a threat to their own teams. One never knows.

Here a list of the blunders so far

Robert Green (England) - The keeper from West Ham United committed the biggest blunder of the tournament so far. The tragedy was that Green tried to collect the ball from a weak long range effort from Clint Dempsey of the USA, but he allowed the ball to cross the line. And then Green was further humiliated by his coach Fabio Capello as he changed his keeper bringing back David James for the second game against Algeria.

Fawzi Chaouchi (Algeria) - The Algerian keeper Fawzi Chaouchi, who plays at home for ES Setif, allowed a weak shot from Slovenian captain Robert Koren to drop infront of him and then the ball move past him into the goal which sealed Slovenia's win. Chaouchi was dropped by his coach for Rais M'Bohli, who had a great game against England.

Justo Villar (Paraguay) - Justo Villar, who plays for Spanish second Division outfit Real Valladolid, had a good game against Italy, but one mistake would gift the defending champions a goal for a draw. After a corner Villar ran through under Pepe's corner with Daniele de Rossi putting the ball in from close range.

Myong-Guk Ri (North Korea) - The keeper from North Korea made a solid performance against Brazil, but was once caught off guard. In the 52nd minute Maicon overlapped and took an attempt which went into the goal between the keeper and post as the keeper had moved into a more central position expecting a cross. A small, but decisive mistake.

Alexandros Tsorvas (Greece) - The Panathinaikos Athens keeper misjudged a free kick from Nigerian midfielder Kalu Uche expecting one of the players inside the box to make contact and saw the ball fly past him into his own goal.

Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria) - Enyeama had a solid performance against Argentina and Greece, but one mistake allowed Greece to win the game. The keeper who plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel could only block a Alexandros Tziolis shot and Vassilis Torosidis is there to score of the rebound. After the game Enyeama was seen crying, not willing to accept his own mistake with team mates trying to console him.

Eiji Kawashima (Japan) - The Kawasaki Frontale keeper gifted the Netherlands their win against the Samurai Warriors. In the 53rd minute of the match Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder took a shot goalwards and Kawashima is flying to parry the shot, but he deflects the ball into his own net. The goalkeepers action looks weird and it seems like the ball swerves in such a way that it surprises the Japanese keeper.

Richard Kingston (Ghana) - The Ghanian keeper who was this season keeper number three or four at Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League was not able to hold on to a free kick of Australian midfielder Marco Bresciano allowing the ball to fall for Brett Holman and he hits it past the keeper. Thereafter Kingston would make an exceptional save to deny Australia victory.

2010 World Cup: Asia is here

Four of the 32 participating nations are from Asia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And the continent is looking to gain more recognition on the international football stage. The Asian Football Confederation is fighting for more placed for Asian teams in future World Cup's, so our Asian representatives need to get as far as possible. First of all an Asian side needs to qualify for the pre-quarterfinals, which the Australians achieved last time around.

South Korea have been one of the strongest performing sides in the first round. And this has to be one of the positive surprises of the World Cup so far. The Koreans fluid 2-0 win against Greece was convincing and if the Koreans can maintain their game then they could be a real surprise. But they next face Argentina, which would show in what direction the tournament could take for them.

Japan beat Cameroon in an unconvincing game, but earned their first ever opening match win. Coach Okada had said before the tournament that he wants to reach the semifinals, but that is surely not a realistic goal. Surviving the group stage would be a great achievement for the men in blue.

Australia were a big disappointment. Losing 0-4 against Germany is something which can happen, but the way it happened the other night was unacceptable. The Germans just ran over the Aussies, who didn't seem to realise what hit them. One would at least have expected them to give the Germans a fight, but the team looked old and the longer the match lasted also tired.

North Korea, the surprise qualifier from Asia, gave a good account of themselves in their opening match against Brazil. The Asian minnows held the record world champions goalless for 55 minutes and wasn't it for a fluke goal from Maicon maybe even more would have been possible. Surely the Brazilians were the better and stronger side, but the North Koreans were resilient and looked to be fighting for their lives. And in the end they scored a consolation goal, which will surely boast their moral ahead of the tough assignments against Portugal and Ivory Coast.

Asia has left a first mark now the teams need to ensure it becomes more. Asian football needs it...