Silent Lonesome Man

I previously wrote a blog over expectations to the final twelve in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification in Asia , where I only wrote only a few short understanding of these teams based on their Pots, rather than a full-blown examination. This, however, would be a bit different: I'd try my best to give a clearer view of the last survivors, and what are their chances to progress to the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar next year. Japan Overview: Japan might have been a newcomer in professional football when it only began to do so in 1990s, but just only two decades saw Japan established its fame and position as one of Asia's elites. Not surprising, Japan won four Asian Cup and qualified for every World Cup, since 1998, three times progressed of the group stage successfully. The team composes many talented players, as well as promising youngsters. The power of Japanese football is undisputed, and chances to progress for the upcoming World Cup is totally 99%. Being seeded to Pot 1 mad

As with every football federations across the world, Vietnam's one doesn't ignore the fact it wants the national team to be the face of the nation. Indeed, since its re-establishment in 1989, it has tried to promote football. But there is always something I feel not okay. Seriously, not okay at all. But I have always wondered, had the Vietnamese realised it? Fate from the civil war The situation of Vietnam back in the 20th century was full of oppression, occupation, then internal conflicts. Vietnamese football still flourished in such a bad condition, thanks to the British and French merchants carrying this sport to the country. It wouldn't take long before football finally gained official recognition as one of the country's most popular sport. Yet, it was only the Vietnam War almost began that the country seriously took parts in various international competitions. South Vietnam joined the two first AFC Asian Cup in 1956 and 1960, winning fourth place both times. The So

The campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Asia has come to a close. And I mean here is, a bit close enough to place some challenge. The final twelve was full of many dramas and, in some aspects, shocking absentees. This fell to three countries, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Thailand, both missed out the final phase, with the Uzbeks suffered a destructive defeat away to Saudi Arabia that confirmed the country being unable to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup final phase for the first time ever. On the other hand, Jordan and Thailand rarely appear in this phase, but previous performances meant it was also full of disbelief, too. Thailand beat the UAE but failed to overcome Malaysia and Vietnam proved to be a game-changer. Jordan used to play the final round only one: in 2014 qualifiers, yet this qualification was so impressive that Jordan even almost reached the World Cup, only to be knocked out by a formidable Uruguay led by Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlán and Luis Suárez in the intercontinental pl

The national team of Vietnam had lost 2-3 to the United Arab Emirates in a game that Vietnam needed to be assured to be on the third round. However, Vietnam got the luck blessing: Australia, another member from the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) overcame Jordan by one to nil. By the time the match between Australia and Jordan ended, Vietnam had just ended its first 45 minutes suffering two goals deficit, but because of having 11 points overall, thanked for the good results the Vietnamese gained from Malaysia, Thailand and especially a 1-0 win at home to the Emirates earlier. Hence Vietnam progressed already. For Vietnam, the achievement was historic: it was the first Vietnamese appearance at this stage. Previously, only Thailand had the honour, twice, not once. Well, the AFF had already had two World Cup participants: Indonesia, back in 1938 as Dutch East Indies; Australia, first in 1974 and from 2006 onward. And yes, only one has the fame: Australia is the only AFF nation on the knoc

Comparison in the most popular sport in the world appears not wrong overall. If you are a deeply passionate football lover, then football has no border. But even then, that doesn't make sense for me to not think about one of the most absurd comparisons. Yeah, the most popular comparison has to be taken, seriously - South America vs Europe, or... else? That's what I'm talking about. Why is it so absurd? I would rather address the reason for this comparison to be taken. Map of South America. Map of Europe. Already who learnt geography will be very clear about South America and Europe be like. South America is a bit special because it is a subcontinent within a continent: it is part of the Americas, the New World named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian merchant who discovered the continent. Henceforth the development. This was also what started the complicated situation. When it comes to football, South America has been, rather, treated like a separate continent

North Korea was competing for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well as the 2023 Asian Cup held in neighbouring China when the country surprisingly announced its withdrawal from the qualifications in early May 2021. Prior to North Korea's withdrawal, the country was fourth in the group, but only one point behind Turkmenistan, the group leader, gathering eight, including two important draws to South Korea and Lebanon, and a win against the latter, leave aside its easy win over Sri Lanka. North Korea's withdrawal, as we later know, proved disastrous for Turkmenistan, since they were the only team in the group to beat North Korea prior to the Chollima's disqualification - they lost three points and was no longer able to decide its fate, while South Korea utilised this advantage to crush Turkmenistan 5-0, officially confirmed its qualification for Asian Cup 2023 and the final round of 2022 World Cup. But we won't talk so much about Turkmenistan and South Korea. Instead, we wou

When the United States President, Joe Biden, officially announced his recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish President Erdogan has been infiltrated to his dismay. Like the majority of Turkish nationals, many are strong nationalists, he has rejected the genocide accusation. Yet in the past, only a minority of countries in the world would do this recognition, Uruguay and Cyprus spearheaded. Once the Cold War ended, however, the world shifted to a multipolar order, and the Armenian Genocide began to be remembered widespread. But the United States was, until 2019, not one of the countries that acknowledged the tragedy. With Erdogan's relationship with the West worsened, the United States had seized the opportunity. The American Congress in 2019 made a shocking move, officially denounced the Ottoman massacre of Armenians in 1915 as a genocide. The news from Washington D.C. delivered to the world with surprise because the United States never tried to recognise this before. Erd