Silent Lonesome Man

The drawn has made many ASEAN sides facing their own tasks with a lot of difficulties. However, this is typical since ASEAN zone is mostly regarded as a blackwater for many football pundits, due to its low international recognition in the footballing stage. Excluding Australia, the abnormal member of AFF that has the football capability beyond the reach, I take my personal discussion with the remaining national teams of Southeast Asia in their final pushes to get further attention. The Philippines can make surprises Group A: the Philippines have never been known as a football nation, and we can thank the Americans for that: colonisation, the introduction of English and America-based sports like basketball and boxing meant the country has languished outside the world's football map. From 2010s, the Philippines however started its football revival, which culminated in the country's greatest success up to date: 2019 AFC Asian Cup, which was the first time the Philippines qualified

When the conflict in Gaza broke out, it appeared that most Arab countries would state solidarity with Palestinian people, in line with the majority of the Muslim world. Yes, it is. The Arab states have to love, defend and respect Palestine, no? Well, if you're not a Palestinian, nor even an Arab who have insight about the Arab states, then it will be a problem. Actually, the reaction between Arab nations do not show any sight about unity - it is rather, a conflicted, if not saying deeply sectarian situation among the Arab states. But why Arab countries are unable to find a common solution? And how does it affect its status? Palestinians burning portrait of UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2018. Unfortunately, relations between the Palestinians and other Arab nations are not so wealthy. There is a deep disgust and resentment against the other Arab entities from the Palestinians, a tribute to the infamous Arab-Israeli War of 1947. Before Israel became a nation like today, t

Sweden has been historically recognised as one of the world's best men's football teams, and frequently appear in the major international arena, be it FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship. Leave alone a Swedish player trained in Sweden would also receive highly by other European counterparts. So no doubt, Swedish players are viewed with gold. For a country with only more than 10 million people, this achievement is beyond expectation. Who else forget 1958 World Cup when Sweden as hosts almost occupied their first World Cup trophy had not for Pelé's brilliance shone against? And who forget Sweden almost knocked out Germany in the 1992 Euro also on Swedish soil? Sweden's competitiveness has made football more entertaining and contributed to Europe's rich sporting tradition. But today, so many Swedish players are flooding Russia. Why? Well, it'd be a bitter case. This has something to do with the Euro 2008. UEFA Euro 2008 was hosted in two countries: Austria

When Israeli military and Palestinian militants clashed over the decision by the Israeli court to evict six Arab families from Jerusalem, little expected it would escalate into a full-blown conflict, with Israeli military now tries to flatten entire Gaza strip in accusation of the Hamas militants firing rockets to the country. Usually, Israel's actions would always receive condemnations from the majority of Muslim world. This time, no exception. But one country, once being Israel's strongest ally in the Islamic world, has now instead only expressed reservation. This was Azerbaijan, the Caucasus Shiite Muslim nation bordering Russia and Iran. The country's strange silence is abnormal because, in the past, Azerbaijan played an even more active role: it mediated between Israel and the Muslim nations; being one of only a few Muslim-majority states to not condemn Israel. So what happened? Israel and Azerbaijan have a unique relationship that made Azerbaijan the best Muslim ally

Speaking about South America, I don't have so much knowledge outside sharing similar Spanish heritage, beautiful women and passionate football fans. Yet, when going to the Latin American world, I always have a fascinating question: why is the region so uniquely difficult to characterise? Well, my favourite country in South America has to be Chile, or maybe Uruguay. I'd say Brazil and Argentina when it comes to football. I admire the Chileans for their eagerness to progress despite difficulties to maintain a healthy, though far from a perfect society. I like the Uruguayans because of their progressiveness that allowed Uruguay to become one of the wealthiest. I can also add Ecuador and Bolivia, because of Leo Rojas, mountainous music of freedom and their native cultures untouched by time. But in the mind of a Vietnamese person, I'd expect more to speak about two South American countries that are definitely worth making the world feel sympathy. It has to be Colombia and Peru -

When Park Hang-seo received a call from Lee Dong-jun in an apartment in Changwon telling that he would be appointed as coach of Vietnam and should schedule a trip to fly from his homeland to the Southeast Asian country, few could imagine his fate would change forever within only a year. He was ignored and struggled with a third-tier Changwon FC when he terminated his contract with the club and moved south. Vietnam wasn't better either, it struggled to gain a difficult away win over Cambodia to move second behind Jordan in the attempt to qualify for 2019 AFC Asian Cup. It shows how much has changed. A man who had nothing to offer at the first place became a widely acknowledged national celebrity. Many Korean nationals were surprised to hear the news, and many were happy. Yet, Park Hang-seo is just one of the string of strange connection that was created by fate, destiny and history. 2002's Band of Brothers It was June 142, 2002, when Park Hang-seo jointly celebrated with the man