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Business News/ Specials / World Cup 2014/  World Cup 2014: Poor show of Asian teams sign of problems at home
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World Cup 2014: Poor show of Asian teams sign of problems at home

The struggles of Iran, South Korea, Japan and Australia in Brazil underline the region's coaching and administrative failures

Japan fans during their team’s match against Ivory Coast at World Cup 2014. Photo: AFPPremium
Japan fans during their team’s match against Ivory Coast at World Cup 2014. Photo: AFP

Brasilia: Eight matches gone and still Asia waits for a first win at World Cup 2014, with the struggles of the continent’s four teams in Brazil demonstrating the coaching and administrative failings going on throughout the region.

Australia predictably bowed out after two defeats against tough opposition, while Japan, Iran and South Korea look set to follow them after each have managed only one point so far. If that plays out, then Asia are likely to be the only one of the five Fifa (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) confederations competing in Brazil not to have a team in the knockout stages.

“Asian teams year after year keep making the same mistakes, so they’ll never be able to be on the same level as Europe or South America," Iran boss Carlos Queiroz told reporters. “It’s because of the competition system, the training and organization. You cannot copy Europe because the day you think you are close, they are one step ahead because they also progress. “But the officials persist in copying Europe and year after year, the gap is higher and higher. It is a pity because 60% of the money in football comes from Asia and they have the worst conditions."

Asian champions Japan have proved the most disappointing of the quartet in Brazil, despite the investment and burgeoning health of the domestic J-League.

“I would really like Japan to do well on the pitch as they tend to do everything right off the pitch. The Japanese model is the one to follow in AFC (Asian Football Confederation)," Englishman Steve Darby, who has coached throughout Asia from Australia to Bahrain, said.

“Japan has long-term goals—unlike many countries who have such short-term ones based purely on immediate results—a strong league, underpinned by an organized systematic youth development programme."

German Holger Osieck was guilty of having short-term goals and was axed as Australia coach in favour of popular local coach Ange Postecoglou before World Cup 2014. The 3-1 and 3-2 defeats by Chile and the Netherlands suffered by his young side, though, were met with mild relief at home after 6-0 friendly hammerings by Brazil and France under Osieck. South Korea were disappointingly dumped 4-2 by Algeria after a promising, if dull, draw with Russia, while Queiroz had always warned Iran needed a miracle if they were to advance after long bemoaning the “amateur" set-up at home.

The picture is even bleaker if you leave out the four countries who have qualified for the tournament. Jordan were humbled 5-0 at home by Uruguay in the first leg of the intercontinental playoff for the last spot in Brazil, with the AFC reacting by pushing to ensure future Asian playoff teams will face far easier Oceania Confederation opponents instead.

But while the prestige and prize money of reaching the World Cup would be welcomed, the grim reality of the gulf in class is only likely to harm and embarrass.

At the 2010 tournament in South Africa, North Korea were tanked 7-0 by Portugal with Saudi Arabia smashed 8-0 by Germany in the group stages in 2002; two of the biggest defeats since El Salvador’s record 10-1 loss to Hungary in 1982.

Qatar, who will make their World Cup debut in 2022 as hosts, were beaten 5-1 by Uzbekistan last year in a qualifier.

Darby said the Qataris, though, were setting the example in terms of state-of-the-art training facilities which was an obvious area smaller member associations needed to address. “At the moment, there are about four nations in Asia that are competitive, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, but there is a second layer that should be competitive. Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi and of course China should be there all the time," he said. Reuters

For more stories from Brazil, go to www.livemint.com/worldcup2014

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Published: 23 Jun 2014, 03:38 PM IST
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