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[VIDEO] Qatar defeat Japan to win the AFC Asian Cup 2019

India jumped from Number 2 to Number 4 in their group during dying moments of the game.

From being in a position of Direct qualification to next round falling over to the last spot in a matter of last few minutes. Shocking.
 
India out in the first round. Shocking performance after an amazing first match against Thailand.
 
We actually over performed imo.

Yeah Bahrain deserved this victory India were rubbish and deserved to lose. Indian midfielders are way below international standards like way below mariana trench below.
 
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Next time brother.

We may actually have players with all-round game to play with big boys. :(

I guess. Shockingly it was Pranoy of all people who committed that schoolboy foul. He was comparatively decent tonight.
 
Yeah Bahrain deserved this victory India were rubbish and deserved to lose. Indian midfielders are way below international standards like way below mariana trench below.

It was super rare for Indian midfielder to be seen touching the ball let alone controlling or passing throw.
 
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It was super rare for Indian midfielder to be seen touching the ball let alone controlling or passing throw.

Yeah an absolute spineless performance.
Chalo at least there's Cricket tomorrow to look forward to.
 
We deserved to lose this match for playing such negative football. I am not even sad right now, my blood boils to see this defeatist attitude. If you have to fail, fail gloriously and not like cowards. Bahrain put us in our place today, well done to them.
 
We deserved to lose this match for playing such negative football. I am not even sad right now, my blood boils to see this defeatist attitude. If you have to fail, fail gloriously and not like cowards. Bahrain put us in our place today, well done to them.

This is a bit harsh imo. India knew a draw would be enough so it was vital for them to keep things tight, put their bodies behind the ball which they did pretty well. The defence wasn't organised but India is knew to this level of football and it takes time. Sure Bahrain had many chances to score but to go out with the skipper giving away a pen right at the end is a tough pill to swallow. I think India gave it their all and should have done their nation proud the way they played. Good signs for India's future in the most competitive sport on Earth.
 
Heart breaking..well played though, ISL.has helped us, the loss against UAE was unlucky but good improvement overall, wonder if ISL is helping..
 
I am hoping Thailand can pull and upset and beat China their fans are some of the rudest I have ever met lol. Looking forward to the Japan vs Saudi match as well
 
First upset of round 16 vietnam beat Jordan in penetlies :) this has to be the best Asian cup so far
 
Some great scenes in Vietnam after that victory

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In most of last 5/6 Asian cups, Iran and Korea have ended up playing each other in quarter finals, glad to see that not happening this time

If Iran play japan in semis, would make an exciting match

Qatar-UAE semi would be interesting as well

I wouldn't put it past China to shock Iran though, China plays a very direct style, which none of Irans opponents, in Asian Cup or in World Cup 2018, did.

Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Oman, Iraq all play nifty passing games, which works to Queiroz's advantage
 
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Qatar beat hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 to reach the final of the Asian Cup in a game that witnessed UAE fans throwing shoes at opposition players.

The home fans threw bottles and sandals as Qatar players celebrated their goals during the game in Abu Dhabi.

The Qatar national anthem was also loudly booed by home fans amid political tensions between the nations.

Qatar has been cut off by some of its Arab neighbours, including the UAE, over its alleged support for terrorism.

"It wasn't an easy situation," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.

"The players were aware there was going to be a lot of pressure but they managed their emotions quite well. I'm very proud of them."

Boualem Khoukhi put Qatar, the hosts for the 2022 World Cup, in front in the eighth minute before Almoez Ali increased the lead later in the first half with his eighth goal of the tournament.

Hassan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail added further goals after the break as Qatar reached the Asian Cup final for the first time.

They will play four-time winners Japan in the final on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47049246
 
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Qatar beat hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 to reach the final of the Asian Cup in a game that witnessed UAE fans throwing shoes at opposition players.

The home fans threw bottles and sandals as Qatar players celebrated their goals during the game in Abu Dhabi.

The Qatar national anthem was also loudly booed by home fans amid political tensions between the nations.

Qatar has been cut off by some of its Arab neighbours, including the UAE, over its alleged support for terrorism.

"It wasn't an easy situation," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.

"The players were aware there was going to be a lot of pressure but they managed their emotions quite well. I'm very proud of them."

Boualem Khoukhi put Qatar, the hosts for the 2022 World Cup, in front in the eighth minute before Almoez Ali increased the lead later in the first half with his eighth goal of the tournament.

Hassan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail added further goals after the break as Qatar reached the Asian Cup final for the first time.

They will play four-time winners Japan in the final on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47049246
[MENTION=148941]Mann Bharya[/MENTION] What do you make of the behaviour by the local fans? Poor behaviour from the Emiratis, I must say. :inti
 
Before the Asia cup started former barca star Xavi predicted the final would be Qatar vs Japan with Qatar winning it we will see on Friday who will win but good on him for predicting the finals right
 
The Asian Football Confederation has launched an investigation into the throwing of objects, including a barrage of sandals, at Qatar players during Tuesday’s Asian Cup semi-final against United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

Three Qatar players were showered with footwear and drinks bottles thrown by a hostile crowd while celebrating goals in the 4-0 thrashing of hosts UAE, which secured a place in the final against Japan.

“The AFC is conducting a thorough investigation into events at the Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-final between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi,” an AFC spokesman said on Wednesday.

“Once that investigation has been completed the AFC will decide on the appropriate next steps.”

Throwing a shoe at someone is considered a major insult in the Arab world, where it is rude to sit with the sole of a shoe pointing at another person.

The incidents followed the booing of the visitors’ national anthem and were an embarrassment for the host nation, which with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain launched a diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar in 2017.

The four nations accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which the Gulf emirate -- host nation for the 2022 World Cup -- denies.

With no Qatar fans travelling to the match because of the boycott, local sports officials had ensured a full house for the fixture by giving away thousands of free tickets to Emiratis.

Neither the UAE’s General Sport Authority nor the local organising committee responded to requests for comment on Tuesday.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/foot...-semi-final/story-k3z1qm4aU9BVbLQDLvqjSL.html
 
Throwing Qatar’s appearance in the Asian Cup final in doubt, organisers are investigating a complaint by the United Arab Emirates about the eligibility of two Qatar players from the semifinal.

The complaint adds another layer to Qatar’s politically charged progress to Friday’s final of the continental soccer showpiece in the UAE, which as a country is part of a quartet boycotting Doha diplomatically and politically.

There was an angry reaction from the home crowd in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as the UAE was beaten in the semifinal, with shoes thrown at Qatari players after striker Almoez Ali scored the second goal in a 4-0 win.

The UAE soccer federation has now questioned whether Ali, with a tournament-leading tally eight goals, and Bassam Al-Rawi meet FIFA’s requirements to play for the 2022 World Cup host nation.

“The Asian Football Confederation has received a protest from the United Arab Emirates FA regarding the eligibility of two Qatar players,” the governing body said in a statement on Thursday. “This protest will now be reviewed in line with the AFC regulations.”

The ultimate sanction would see Qatar having to forfeit the match. Qatar is due to play Japan on Friday in its first-ever Asian Cup final.

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, however, insisted the 2022 World Cup hosts were confident ahead of the country's first appearance in the final after comfortably winning all six of their matches and keeping a record six clean sheets.

"To us it's no surprise that we are in the final," said the Spaniard, who has received messages of support from Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.

"I have full trust in the players, they are motivated to make history."

Sanchez dismissed fears of AFC action.

"I'm not concerned at all," he shrugged. "All the players are working with us, so no worries."

Yoshida blasts Asian Cup 'stupidity'
Japan's captain Maya Yoshida calls for fair play ahead of the Asian Cup final on Friday against Qatar. ─ AFP
Meanwhile, Japan captain Maya Yoshida warned that problems on and off the pitch are embarrassing the Asian Cup.

The Southampton defender called on tournament organisers to deal swiftly with incidents of "stupidity" that, according to Yoshida, risk damaging the reputation of Asian football.

"I think the AFC should control stuff about penalties and suspensions," Yoshida said Thursday, noting also that Japan's tempestuous 3-0 semi-final victory over Iran had ended with rival players almost coming to blows.

"But I would mention that if (the tournament) is broadcast all over the world, you don't want to see any stupid things, especially after the game," he added.

"We are representing Asia under the hashtag #bringingasiatogether ─ so it's important to represent Asia by playing good football and with fair play."

The tournament slogan has rung hollow in the Emirates, where finalists Qatar have been frequently abused by hostile local fans over the Gulf blockade of the tiny, energy-rich state.


Japan's upset of title favourites Iran also came close to boiling over, with Yoshida himself needing to be restrained by team mates after reacting furiously to a petulant slap from Sardar Azmoun.

The Asian Cup has seen its share of controversial refereeing decisions, with hosts UAE twice awarded soft late penalties that left rivals players and coaching fuming.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1461014/u...ainst-qatar-players-with-asian-cup-organisers
 
Poor form by UAE and their fans, sore losers. You cant throw a sweet towards players in the PL and these fans were throwing their own shoes? :inti

I hope Qatar go on to win the Asia Cup and UAE are never allowed to host this tournament again.
 
The Asian Cup has been a tournament marked by mediocrity, with swathes of forgettable football leaving behind nothing more than blank patches of memory.

But a tournament in a country the size of the United Arab Emirates has also given a glimpse of what the 2022 World Cup might be like for football-hungry fans in an equally small nation.

The proximity of stadia meant that when the knockout stage began, fans and journalists could go to more than one match in a day.

As the last 16 began, I went to Jordan-Vietnam in early afternoon in Dubai and, despite extra-time and penalties, made it to Iran-Oman an hour and a half away in Abu Dhabi in the evening.

The distances in Qatar will be even shorter.

Another instructive taster of what might come in 2022 has been the team that will play as hosts.

Perhaps because of the backdrop of mediocre football, Qatar's bright and technically superior game has caught the eye.

They have scored more and conceded fewer goals than anyone else. In fact, no-one has been able to score against them yet.

In marauding left-back Abdulkarim Hassan they have the reigning Asian Player of the Year, in Almoez Ali, they have the tournament's leading scorer and in Akram Afif, its top assist-provider.

They have defeated three former Asian champions en route to the final, where they will meet a fourth in Japan on Friday at 14:00 GMT.

Qatar's coach, Felix Sanchez, says it's the most important match in the national team's 49-year history and team captain Hassan Al-Haydos doesn't disagree.

"There are no words for me to describe how it feels. The final is the most important thing for me," he said.

"I've played nearly 130 times (for Qatar) but this game is something completely different."

In short, Qatar are ahead of schedule in their World Cup preparations.

Their success in the United Arab Emirates has come against adversity, but it is also the result of eye-watering investment.

Due to the blockade of Qatar by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, it's almost impossible for Qataris to enter the Emirates.

That has meant that the Maroons, as they are known, have been the ultimate away team.

When they played North Korea in a group match, the official attendance was 452. When they played Saudi Arabia, their anthem was booed.

And when they played the UAE in a semi-final in which the hosts were humbled 4-0, shoes were thrown at them.

"It's difficult for everybody," said Qatar's Portugal-born right-back, Pedro Correia. "But all the players were ready because we play like a family and we don't care about the (lack of) supporters."

In this case, the description of the team as a family is more than a casual platitude. Two-thirds of Qatar's squad grew up together as scholars in the world-class Aspire academy that has also produced the reigning high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim.

The Qatari defensive midfielder, Assim Madibo, is one of those graduates.

"I've known Almoez (Ali) for eight years," he said.

"We are not only team-mates, we are a family. We're one group, inside and outside the field."

Aspire's cost is thought to be close to a billion pounds. In addition to the academy, it owns European clubs which it uses to give exposure to its young players.

So perhaps, this success is nothing more than investment should provide.

The man who has had a profound guiding impact on many of Qatar's players is the 43-year-old Felix Sanchez.

He was a coach at Barcelona's La Masia academy before moving to Aspire in 2006, when he began by coaching under-11 teams.

But it was in 2014 when he made a mark internationally, by taking Qatar to the Asia Under-19s title with a squad that included several players who will face Japan.

"I was 15 or 14 when I met him," said Madibo. "He's like a father for me."

Sanchez says that victory over Japan would be a vindication for Qatar's extraordinary investment in football.

"If we win the trophy, it will mean that a lot of things have been done the right way and this group of players have been going in the right direction with the right mentality," he said.

"It doesn't matter what happens (in the final) because we are feeling very proud about that."

The appeal by the UAE to have Qatar thrown out of the tournament for fielding ineligible players is a reminder that the Qataris' past practice of liberal naturalisation has only recently ended.

For many years, Qatar's national team was known sneeringly and rather hypocritically by its Arab neighbours as the 'United Nations of Qatar'.

In those days, Qatar would bring a Latin American feel to Asian football, but only via the teamsheet.

But in the current squad, the overwhelming majority of players were born in the country.

The Qatar Football Association decided that using swiftly naturalised players was nothing more than a quick fix.

What it needed was a generation of players with a native attachment to the country, who will be around for years to come.

So stand up Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos and the rest.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47082188
 
Qatar are certainly not going into the WC merely as hosts. Not to be taken lightly.
 
Congratulations Qatar!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#55356;&#57286; C H A M P I O N S &#55356;&#57286;<br><br>&#55356;&#56822;&#55356;&#56806; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar</a> are the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsianCup2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianCup2019</a> winners. Their first ever title! History! <a href="https://t.co/ceRMnUwCtL">pic.twitter.com/ceRMnUwCtL</a></p>— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) <a href="https://twitter.com/afcasiancup/status/1091363811481796608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar won their first ever Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over four-time winners

Forward Almoez Ali broke the record of goals scored by a player at a single Asian Cup when he notched his ninth with a brilliant overhead kick.

Abdulaziz Hatem made it 2-0 with a 20-yard curled shot before Japan's Takumi Minamino fired in from inside the box.

It was 3-1 when Akram Afif converted from the spot after Southampton's Maya Yoshida had handled in the area.

VAR confirmed that the Saints defender had intentionally handled, although TV replays suggested he was unfortunate to see the decision go against him.

Afif's penalty meant he scored one goal and provided 10 assists, including two in the final, during Qatar's seven games at the competition in the United Arab Emirates.

Coach Felix Sanchez Bas' side had gone 10 hours and eight minutes without conceding a single goal at this year's competition prior to Minamino's strike.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47092164
 
Congratulations to Qatar. Nice to see they will have a decent team when hosting the World Cup in a few years.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#55356;&#56822;&#55356;&#56806; Lost 3-1 to Qatar in the Asian Cup Final.<br><br>&#55357;&#56785; Cleaned the dressing room, left the floor spotless...<br><br>&#55357;&#56541;...and left a “Thank You” note in English, Arabic and Japanese. <br><br>&#55357;&#56399; Pure class from Japan. &#55356;&#56815;&#55356;&#56821; <a href="https://t.co/lH4N2Zm8VM">pic.twitter.com/lH4N2Zm8VM</a></p>— SPORF (@Sporf) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/1091650060255969281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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