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Asia remain football's laggards, as Latin America dominates

27th June, 2014
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Is Asia football's strugglers. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Roar Rookie
27th June, 2014
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The round of 16 in this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil won’t see any Asian teams, but seven teams from Latin America. How can the Asian confederation improve?

Australia was the first Asian team to go, followed by Japan, Iran and South Korea.

Meanwhile, five of six qualifiers from The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) are through to the next round, with some tantalising South American match-ups on Saturday (Sunday AEST) between Brazil and Chile, followed by Uruguay and Colombia.

Argentina are the odd ones out, tackling Switzerland next Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

Europe has had mixed fortunes, with six through from thirteen qualifiers. Germany, France, Netherlands and even Belgium would all fancy themselves as contenders for the title. Greece could go on a run as the potential dark horse, but I can’t see them going all the way, nor Switzerland.

European powerhouses and world champions from 2006 and 2010, Italy and Spain, are already home, while England failed to reach the second round, despite some promising play.

Moving across to The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Costa Rica and Mexico have impressed so far this tournament and, along with the US, CONCACAF is well-represented with only Honduras not making the cut.

Flying their flags for Africa will be West African heavyweights Nigeria and North African history-makers Algeria.

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Returning to Asia, the confederation has had a mixed bag in recent World Cups.

Japan and South Korea qualified to the second round in 2010. 2006 saw slim pickings, with only Australia stepping up, but Australia qualified through Oceania, then via Uruguay, joining as a formal Asian member at the beginning of 2006, so Oceania can really claim that one.

2002 in Japan and South Korea really marked the emergence of North Asia as a footballing region to be reckoned with, as both hosts qualified out of their groups and South Korea made a run to the semi-finals. It marks the first and only top-four finish for Asia.

2014 echoes 1998, with not one qualifier from Asia through, while Saudi Arabia was Asia’s sole standard-bearer in 1994’s second round. That makes five (excluding Australia) in the past 20 years, and five since establishment in 1982.

It is clear the footballing centre of gravity today continues to be Latin America, with Europe close behind, then a decent gap to Africa, and Asia clearly the worst performing region.

People have long talked about Africa’s potential, with Pele famously predicting an African victory before end of the twentieth century, which still remains unfulfilled.

But what about Asia? You won’t find anyone arguing an Asian team will soon win a World Cup.

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The question is, how is the Asian confederation going to bridge the gap, like ambitious Australian coach Ange Postecoglou aims to do.

Do you see a positive future for the Asian confederation, and Australia’s part in it? Can we compete against the South Americans and Europeans? Or is the Asian confederation going backwards?

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