As an Asian Cup that has seen an extraordinary number of upsets winds its way to a conclusion in Qatar, two teams with storied histories are eyeing the prize which has eluded them for generations. Qatar, defending champions and hosts, will enjoy frenetic support from the stands, but for South Korea and Iran, this is an opportunity to write new chapters in books that have become yellow with age.
Iran won a hat-trick of titles between 1968 and 1976, but have not even made a final since. A quarter-century ago, when their football was at its peak, with stars like Ali Daei, Karim Bagheri and Mehdi Mahdavikia plying their trade in Europe, the best they managed were third-place finishes in 1996 and 2004.
Their progress through the draw has been patchy. After topping one of the weaker groups, complacency nearly cost them dear in the round of 16 against Syria. Omar Khribin’s equaliser from the penalty spot, after pretty much Syria’s first attack of note, was compounded by Medhi Taremi idiotically getting himself sent off. Only Alireza Beiranvand’s heroics in the shootout took them through after a nerve-shredding extra-time period.
Against a Japan side that never quite clicked into gear, they were deserving winners despite falling behind in the first half. Japan’s dangerous wingers and forwards were kept to half-chances, and Sardar Azmoun led the line magnificently. Though the Japanese dominated possession, they could have few complaints when the latest of late penalties sent them out.
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Team Melli now face a Qatar side that were indebted to Uzbekistan losing their nerve in the shootout. Having fallen behind to Palestine in the round of 16, Qatar have looked jittery at the back in both knockout games. What they do have is the class and quality of Hassan Al-Haydos and Akram Afif, though Almoez Ali looks a shadow of the striker who terrorised defences when they won the tournament in 2019.
If Azmoun and Taremi get space and time, Qatar’s backline looks ill-equipped to keep them out. Once again, though, the crowd could be a major factor, having roared their lungs out to get the team back into the shootout against the Uzbeks.
South Korea, the other powerhouse, play on Tuesday against Jordan, the rank outsiders in their first semi-final. Unless you’re over 80, you won’t remember South Korea’s Asian Cup wins in 1956 and 1960. In fact, it’s one of the few feathers in Indian football’s cap that they were the first team to defeat South Korea in an Asian Cup, in Haifa in 1964 – on the day that Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister, passed away.
The Koreans have ridden their luck to get here, with Son Heung-min’s magical free kick in extra time against Australia glossing over what was another wretched display from Jurgen Klinsmann’s side. Australia had scored first and looked set to see the game out when Korea were given a penalty in the dying seconds of added-on time.
It was almost a carbon copy of the round-of-16 clash against Saudi Arabia, when Korea decided to start playing only after they went behind. There too, the equaliser was impossibly late. The eight goals they’ve conceded in five matches asks serious questions of Klinsmann’s ability to organise the backline. Even the redoubtable Kim Min-jae, ‘The Monster’ who plays for Bayern Munich, has looked shaky at times.
Jordan held Korea to a 2-2 draw in the group phase, and would have won if they hadn’t switched off in the closing stages. In Yazan Al-Naimat, they have a forward of genuine quality, but he may well have to scrounge for scraps against a team that dominated possession against both Australia and Saudi Arabia. Son’s first goal away from the penalty spot was a good sign, and with Hwang Hee-chan back to his rampaging best, Korea should have too much for a Jordan team that has been brilliantly coached by Morocco’s Hussein Ammouta.
It’s now over 50 years since Iran and South Korea met in the 1972 final, and time will tell whether we get a repeat. Qatar, in front of their fans, may well have different ideas.
Predictions
South Korea 2, Jordan 0
Iran 2, Qatar 1
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