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Post by cjeagle on Mar 5, 2014 23:43:47 GMT 8
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification is a qualification process organised by the AFC to determine the participating teams for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The 2015 AFC Asian Cup, hosted by Australia, will feature 16 teams.
In the initial scheme, ten places are determined by qualification matches, while six places are reserved for the following:
Hosts (Australia) Top three finishers in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup (Japan, Australia, and South Korea) Winners of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup (North Korea) Winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup (to be determined)
In the group stage, the top two teams from each group and one third best-placed team from among all the groups will qualify for the finals.
So far in Asian Cup qualifying, Oman, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia have qualified.
China which had a 6 goal plus differential going into today's matches, now find themselves out of the running for third place behind Lebanon after this results so far:
At the moment, after 60 minutes:
Iraq - China 3-0 Thailand - Lebanon 1-5
Iraq qualifies as 2nd in group
Lebanon qualifies as best 3rd Lebanon 12-13 8 pts China 4-6 8pts
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 5, 2014 23:46:21 GMT 8
With 15 minutes to go, China is making somewhat a comeback and is now back to best 3rd:
Iraq - China 3-1 Thailand - Lebanon 2-5
China is now best 3rd. 15 mins left.
If they finish this way, the side that loses 1-3 celebrates while the 5-2 winner loses out.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 6, 2014 0:09:21 GMT 8
FT Iraq - China 3-1 Thailand - Lebanon 2-5
Iran qualifies as 2nd in group. China best 3rd.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 6, 2014 3:18:35 GMT 8
That completes the lineup from the Asian Cup qualifiers. The one remaining slot comes from the Challenge Cup Championship, which I hope we will win.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 8, 2014 0:40:14 GMT 8
AFC Asian Cup jigsaw almost complete 07 March 2014 Matthew Bartolo Only one piece of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 jigsaw remains after China and Iraq claimed the final two places in the main qualifying tournament. China and Iraq booked their spots among Asia’s top 16 teams on the final match day, Iraq winning their encounter 3-1 to get through in second place in Group C, and China just doing enough to claim its spot as the best third-placed team. China’s presence gives the tournament a potential television audience estimated at a staggering 2.5 billion people when Asia’s biggest football tournament hits Australian shores in January 2015. Japan, Australia and Korea Republic all qualified for the tournament after securing the top three positions in the 2011 edition while Korea DPR secured their spot via the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Uzbekistan, along with China PR and Iraq, then all qualified through the main qualification draw to leave only one piece of the puzzle remaining. The final spot for the 2015 tournament will be handed to the winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup which provides the opportunity for developing football nations to secure passage to Asian football’s showpiece event. Being held in Australia for the first time, the 32 matches will be played across world class stadiums in football mad cities Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Newcastle. The tournament will kick off in Melbourne with the Opening Ceremony being followed by the Socceroos getting the chance to impress their home fans early. Only two teams will make it all the way through to the final where a crowd in excess of 80 000 in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium will be on hand to see the next AFC Asian Cup winner crowned. Next up on the road to the AFC Asian Cup will be the final draw set to be held at the Sydney Opera House on March 26. Teams will be split into groups of four and with the picture becoming clearer for each of the nations who can begin planning their best route through to the tournament’s knockout phase. www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup/p7nchcpoq46r1k00g7drnybue
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 17, 2014 16:14:39 GMT 8
The seedings are as follows: Pot 1 (teams ranked 1-4): Australia, Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan Pot 2 (teams ranked 5-8): Korea Republic, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia Pot 3 (teams ranked 9-12): Oman, China, Qatar, Iraq Pot 4 (teams ranked 13-16): Bahrain, Kuwait, DPR Korea and Challenge Cup 2014 winners. www.the-afc.com/en/tournamen...6-asian-cup-2015-draw-mechanism-revealed.html This draw will take place in Sydney Opera House on 26 March 2014.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 26, 2014 3:40:44 GMT 8
The schedule of the draw is in the following order, according to the AFC site: 4:00pm Media Centre Open 6:20pm Cup arrives at Sydney Opera House via boat 6:25pm Cup handed to Brett Emerson on Sydney Opera House steps 7:00pm Final Draw commences 8:00pm Final Draw concludes 8:15pm Mixed Zone interview opportunities www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/f...y1wmjwswoqjsp1Time zones: London: 05:00 Amsterdam / Brussels / Berlin: 06:00 Dubai: 09:00 Tehran 09:30 Sydney: 16:00 Los Angeles: 22:00
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Post by stellarboy on Mar 26, 2014 7:25:38 GMT 8
The schedule of the draw is in the following order, according to the AFC site: 4:00pm Media Centre Open 6:20pm Cup arrives at Sydney Opera House via boat 6:25pm Cup handed to Brett Emerson on Sydney Opera House steps 7:00pm Final Draw commences 8:00pm Final Draw concludes 8:15pm Mixed Zone interview opportunities www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/f...y1wmjwswoqjsp1Time zones: London: 05:00 Amsterdam / Brussels / Berlin: 06:00 Dubai: 09:00 Tehran 09:30 Sydney: 16:00 Los Angeles: 22:00 Manila: 13:00 (01:00pm)
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Post by stellarboy on Mar 26, 2014 12:18:23 GMT 8
The seedings are as follows: Pot 1 (teams ranked 1-4): Australia, Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan Pot 2 (teams ranked 5-8): Korea Republic, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia Pot 3 (teams ranked 9-12): Oman, China, Qatar, Iraq Pot 4 (teams ranked 13-16): Bahrain, Kuwait, DPR Korea and Challenge Cup 2014 winners. www.the-afc.com/en/tournamen...6-asian-cup-2015-draw-mechanism-revealed.html This draw will take place in Sydney Opera House on 26 March 2014. Seems like an interesting mix-up later...
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 27, 2014 2:12:43 GMT 8
AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 hosts Australia will face off against two-time continental champions Korea Republic after the draw for next year’s finals was made at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday evening. Oman and 1980 winners Kuwait round out Group A of the AFC Asian Cup, with the Australians facing Kuwait in the opening game of the tournament on January 9 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Defending champions Japan, who defeated the Australians in the final of the 2011 tournament in Qatar, have been drawn in Group D, where they will take on Jordan, 2007 champions Iraq and the winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, which will be played in the Maldives in May. IR Iran, who have won the title on three occasions, head up Group C where they will take part in an all Middle Eastern group also comprising the United Arab Emirates, finalists in 1996, Qatar and Bahrain. Uzbekistan, semi-finalists in 2011, are the top seeds in Group B, where they meet three-time winners Saudi Arabia, two-time finalists China PR and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea. The tournament will kick off on January 9, with the final to be played at Stadium Australia on January 31. Group A: Australia, Korea Republic, Oman, Kuwait Group B: Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, China PR, DPR Korea Group C: IR Iran, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain Group D: Japan, Jordan, Iraq, AFC Challenge Cup 2014 winners www.afcasiancup.com/match-schedule/en/
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 27, 2014 2:48:31 GMT 8
Well certainly Dan Palami and Neil Etheridge hopes we make the final slot:
/photo/1
RT @dscpalami: leaving no stones unturned to realize every AZKALS fans dream of playing in the AFC Asian Cup. Let's go for this!
Neil Etheridge ?@neil38etheridge 6h
“@dscpalami: @neil38etheridge @s17stephan we are doing this, right?” I'm all over it.. I want to go to Australia
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 27, 2014 10:26:13 GMT 8
I guess you can't stop people from speculating about it: www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/rampaging-fullback-azkals-in-the-asian-cup-not-an-impossible-dreamRampaging Fullback: Azkals in the Asian Cup — not an impossible dream Japan’s midfield talisman Shinji Kagawa races down the left side, looks up and sees teammate Keisuke Honda make a run. Kagawa delivers a pinpoint cross; Honda, with eyes on the ball, is poised to break the scoreless deadlock. Azkals captain Rob Gier, who sees the play developing a mile away, is first to the ball and is quick to snuff out the challenge. Fantasy football? Perhaps. But it need not be just reveries from our very fertile imagination. The scenario could well and truly become a reality on January 12, 2015 in the Newcastle Stadium in New South Wales Australia, but with one very important caveat: The Philippines will first have to win the Challenge Cup this May. As we all know, the winner of the 2014 Challenge Cup will get to participate in the 2015 Asian Cup Down Under, together with the likes of Asian footballing powerhouses South Korea, Uzbekistan, and hosts Australia. Excitement is understandably high for all participating nations. In the Philippines, which is aiming to join the big party for the first time, there is a quiet anticipation all around. Qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup and firmly putting the Philippines in the Asian footballing map should serve as an inspiration. If the Azkals need further motivation, the very real prospect of going up against the likes of Europe-based Shinji Okazaki, Yuto Nagatomo, and Atsuto Uchida should do the trick. 2007 winners Iraq and 2011 quarterfinalists Jordan make up the rest of Group D where the Challenge Cup winners will be bracketed. It must be added that Jordan almost made it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, losing in the qualification inter-confederation playoff match against Uruguay. Azkals coach Thomas Dooley was asked recently whether he would prefer victory in the Suzuki Cup or winning the Challenge Cup and his answer was as sure as it was unequivocal: the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup is the bigger prize. Not only does the Challenge Cup give the winner a direct ticket to play with our more illustrious neighbors, it will be the last time that teams can go to the Asian Cup via this route. “The 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will be the last edition of this competition” states the official AFC website. Although the next Asian Cup will include 24 teams instead of 16, qualification will be tougher as qualification rounds for the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers will be merged for the preliminary rounds. As such, there will be no more venues for “emerging nations” to crash the party via the proverbial back door. Thus, the 2014 Challenge Cup may well prove to be our best chance to qualify for the Asian Cup in the near future. With the new coach earning plaudits from players and fans alike, the Azkals have every right to exude quiet confidence going into the tournament. Make no mistake however; Afghanistan, Myanmar, Palestine, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and host Maldives are all looking to go too. In the build-up to the tournament proper, it is important for Azkals waging wars in their respective domestic leagues to stay fit while at the same time stay injury-free. Team manager Dan Palami has declared that he wants “to realize every Azkals fans dream of playing in the AFC Asian Cup.” For us fans, we continue to dream the dream, but not to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s classic. Dan Palami says “It is not an impossible dream anymore.” Indeed. For us Azkals fans, we dared to dream that impossible dream. Now, it doesn’t seem so impossible now.
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