Asia not ready for W. Cup
hong kong — Asia’s record number of teams preparing for the World Cup have found themselves increasingly challenged by poor results amid several coaching changes ahead of the finals in Russia.
Five nations will represent the Asian Football Confederation at this year’s tournament, the first time that many countries from the region have qualified for the World Cup.
But only one of the Asian teams will travel to the June 14-July 15 finals with the coach who was at the helm a year ago. Carlos Queiroz’s tempestuous seven-year reign with Iran has been serene compared to that of his counterparts in Japan, South
Korea, with those Saudi countries Arabia and heading Australia, to Russia with uncertainty clouding their potential progress. The decision by the Japan FA to replace Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic with Akira Nishino last week followed in the wake of Ange Postecoglou’s decision to resign as Australia coach and Dutchman Bert van Marwijk’s departure from Saudi Arabia.
The Koreans, meanwhile, fired Uli Stielike last June after a loss to Qatar put the country’s hopes of a ninth straight appearance at the World Cup in jeopardy.
The German’s replacement, Asian Champions League-winning coach Shin Tae-yong, has at least been given time to fashion his own team.
Steering the nation to a pair of scoreless draws against Iran and Uzbekistan ensured the Koreans qualified for the finals, allowing Shin the chance to build towards Russia. —