Asian success likely to hinge on Queiroz’s Iran
Eight years ago, they said ‘this time for Africa’ and but for the hand of Luis Suarez, there may well have been a first African team in the World Cup semi-finals. 2010 was also the last time an Asian team survived the group. Based on what I saw so far, I would hedge my bets on that happening again.
But if I really have to put my money on a team, it would be Iran. True, they needed a slice of luck but they were also organised and reaping the benefits of being under the same coach, Carlos Queiroz, for their second successive World Cup. I have read that players want him to stay and that can happen only because Queiroz has helped them grow. I think Queiroz is to Iran what Bob Houghton was for us; someone whose influence extends beyond the pitch.
Though I think it would be difficult for them to cope with Spain’s slick, passing game, I am curious to see how Iran deal with Portugal. Queiroz knows everything about Portugal and their reliance on one man could make deconstruction easier. If Iran can avoid defeat against Portugal, they could stay for the knockouts.
Australia weren’t overrun by France and that is saying a lot. But they are transitioning from Ange Postecoglu’s to Bert van Marwijk. They have also played 22 games in the World Cup qualifiers and that could have a knock-on effect. I think they will do better in the Asian Cup .
Barring Iran, all teams from Asia have come to Russia with new coaches and the World Cup isn’t the best place to get used to one. To the problem of unsettled teams add there being few Asian players in the top leagues and it figures why our continent doesn’t do well at World Cups. Proof of that came in Saudi Arabia’s opener. South Korea’s Son Heung-min is an exception rather than the rule.
Heung-min’s teammate Harry Kane will start on Monday and his England team is different from the one whose line would be led by Alan Shearer or have a fox-in-box like Gary Lineker. Wes Brown, who I am sharing a television studio with, told me that the English media has turned down the volume and I think near-zero expectations can only be a good thing. England have quality so they might surprise a few people.
Ditto, Belgium though they seem to be like Spain of yore; full of promise but little to show for it. For such a small country, Belgium punch above their weight in sport --- they are the Olympic silver medallists in hockey, in David Goffin have a top-10 men’s tennis player and the Saive brothers have left their mark on table tennis --- so it doesn’t fit that its star-studded football underachieves. Maybe, it will change this time.