Asia as a whole makes up about one-third of the world’s population, and as a region continues to be the future in terms of financial and economic growth. Yet on the world sporting stage, Asia continue to struggle.
All four teams finished bottom of their respective groups in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
With the African nations improving, CONCACAF absolutely flying with brilliant performances from the USA and Costa Rica and sides from Europe and South America making up the final four, the question must be asked.
What’s wrong with Asian teams?
Costa Rica is a country of five million people and while they are football lovers, it isn’t to the extent that we see from Brazil or Colombia. While Japan and South Korea had success as hosts in 2002, it has been something of a rarity. And with the continued improvement of African sides over the past 20 years Asian teams have suddenly become the whipping boys.
Asia seems to have a number of excuses on hand, but each of them come up short when explaining why they have struggled at major tournaments and cannot break through to produce consistent quarter-final sides.
When comparing Asian teams with Costa Rica, the excuses are not valid.
Costa Rica doesn’t have the structure in place domestically that the likes of Australia, Korea or Japan do. Nor do they have a greater pool of talent to choose from, with their better players being a young outcast at Arsenal and a captain who was surplus to requirements in a struggling Fulham side.
Perhaps the quality wasn’t there for Iran, South Korea and Australia in 2014 but that cannot be said of Japan, who have a number of world class talents in their squad. To think they finished fourth to the Ivory Coast and Greece is laughable when a quarter-final spot was staring them in the face.
Costa Rica have a wonderful keeper in Keylor Navas but so to do Australia in Mat Ryan, who I am positive will soon be playing in one of the major leagues in Europe.
Finally, while the Costa Rican players certainly gelled as a squad, there is no way they were any more united than Australia or Japan, who are both built around the idea of squad before individual.
Cases can be made for both Australia and Iran. Australia had a difficult group. Despite a great outing against Holland they were badly shown up by Spain and the first 20 minutes against Chile was nothing short of deplorable. Where would they be without Tim Cahill?
Iran at least showed some pluck, managing a tightly fought draw and heartbreak late on against the genius of Lionel Messi.
But South Korea and Japan were two of the biggest disappointments in the tournament. Not only did they show little resolve but both they were outworked and out-coached.
So for me it is simple, the number one reason why Asian teams continue to struggle is due to rigid formations and a lack of willingness to change. It was plan A or nothing for their managers.
The best example of this was Japan’s crucial contest with the Ivory Coast. After they appeared to be cruising, a shift to 4-4-2 by the Elephants completely changed the contest. It stretched the Japanese and saw them cut apart on the break. It would signal the end of the Samurais in the group stage.
Likewise, the ease at which Algeria cut apart Korea was frightening. They simply hadn’t prepared themselves for the slick passing and pace that the Algerians delivered and were tactically out-thought during the game.
Even Ange Postecoglou, so often hailed a genius on home soil, was unwilling to change the basic structure of the side despite swapping a number of personal throughout the three group games. It appeared to be shuffling the deck chairs on the titanic by the mauling handed out from a supposed shattered Spain.
Though in fairness, the Aussie squad seemed quite jaded by this stage. Clearly La Roja realised the Australians played a certain style and easily worked out how to exploit it.
Seeing sides like Algeria, Costa Rica and America progress so far into the 2014 tournament highlights the need for Asian teams to re-think their tactics and formations. Managers need to be willing to tinker and alter during matches, instead of just following play, to ensure they aren’t sending out lambs to the slaughter.
For a long time sides from Asia have been quite content to make up the numbers, but with the domestic leagues now well developed this mentality needs to stop.
Guus Hiddink showed in 2006 that a little bit of imagination can go a long way to not only improving your own game but putting the opposition completely off theirs.
The Socceroos need to start expecting more than honourable losses and believe in themselves. At least after being knocked out Ange acknowledged the need for Asia to become a force and make a better showing in Russia. Let’s hope the other nations follow.
nordster
Guest
I have watched the first eight or so seasons religiously ...so to speak....i dont think i watched more than one game last season. So i have paid my dues with time spent. The league now is showing its limitations. My 'insights' suggest i have a different view of what the HAL could be. Less restricted for teams at the top and more accessible to new entrants at the bottom. My willingness to keep pointing this out shows a deep affection for what it could be. And yes this is a classic 'free market' or 'rationalist' approach....i can only assume u are labelling me as such (continually) as a badge of honour ;) Or u going to call me a 'Tony Abbott' next? Even though he is imo not much of a free marketeer!
nordster
Guest
The ideal would be however it turns out. I have no 'ideal'....being a believer in free competition i am not so conceited as to think there is an ideal. That being said i have no problem with an unequal league, as an unequal league will.....a) condense the top talent at top clubs which will raise the standard compared to other leagues....and...b) mean that the bottom of the league is accessible to small to medium size clubs, allowing a pathway up the pyramid for any club with the ambition. The current model is a cartel effectively which only works for those already inside the tent.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Middy This news headline caught my attention this morning. "By 2030, almost all the world's biggest cities will be in Asia & Africa" http://qz.com/233334/almost-all-of-the-worlds-biggest-cities-will-be-in-asia-and-africa-by-2030/ Sponsors will follow the money & consumer purchasing power will bring the biggest dollars to Asia and Africa. The 19th century produced the economic boom across Europe. The 20th century produced the economic boom across USA. The 21st century will belong to Asia & Africa. Barring a major continental shift, Australia will be beautifully placed to bask in Asia's boom times.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I think Eddy Bosnar hit the nail on the head, Asian teams don't defend well at transition moments when they lose the ball. Football have evolved from "sit back and counter", to" tiki-takka" to "press and transition". http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/features/bosnars-verdict-asias-world-cup-campaign Australia were decent in transition moments when they won the ball, but pretty bad in defensive transition. The rest of the Asian teams were pretty bad at both.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
in 2002 and 2010 two Asian teams progressed to the round of 16,Sth Korea missed out by a point in 06 and of course we progressed though we weren't considered an Asian team at the time.Not a bad record by any means.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
I agree I thought with guys like Honda and Kagawa they had gained abit more steel about them but as usual they crumbled.You could actually se the fear when Drogba came on for Ivory Coast they just bottled it completely!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It's a troll, a nasty troll. Don't feed it people.
RipEnke
Guest
Lesser races? Take your white pointy hat off, ffs.
Ben
Guest
Which is a 1- 3 average across the 3 games. A loss but hardly a shellacing. Brazil - Germany....that is a shellacing.
pat malone
Guest
9-3?
pat malone
Guest
28% from where did this stat of 100 million people come?
Glenn Innes
Guest
Lets face it as far as winning is concerned it is a European,South American tournament.Lets be honest would you have even put stolen money on a team from Asia or Africa winning before the tournament kicked off? - not if you have any respect for money. One day it might happen but it is at least a generation away and nations like Japan and South Korea are always going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to height.
Bondy
Guest
Put your clothes on for Christ sake ...
Bondy
Guest
African football in general has a bad record at Fifa world cups. Where have Cotsa Rica been at say the last three world cups results wise ?. Its a nice first attempt by the author but you should learn the machinations to Global Football then write about them . Statistics mean sh^^ in this business ...
Simoc
Guest
It's a silly question as the commentators have been saying that about Argentina until the last week. The weakest Argentinian team. And Argentine fans interviewed say the German side is much stronger but in 90 minutes strange things can happen. But people are such experts in hindsight.
Kurt
Guest
Fosters an idiot
Flick
Roar Rookie
Who's to blame ?, Asians i would imagine.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"If FIFA decides to take a spot away from Asia, why would Africa & Oceania care?" It's called "quid pro quo" .. as Tony Abbott & his right wing nuts are finding out when they deal with Clive Palmer. At some stage Africa & Oceania will want AFC's 22% of the votes. If you get a chance, watch "House of Cards" .. not the US version; the original with Ian Richardson playing Francis Urquhart. Fascinating insight into the art of "scratching backs" in politics.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
My concern would be how these two bodies would get on remembering the problems over IPL and ICL in cricket.
Fadida
Guest
Not denying that mate, but compared to a few of the WC groups, CR's group was of average difficulty. My argument stands