Silent Lonesome Man

When China surprised with a 1-1 draw over Asian powerhouse Australia in Sharjah (already downed 0-3 earlier), Russia had just lost to Croatia 0-1, thus missing out a direct place into the World Cup and relegated to the playoffs (even though if qualified, Russia would have not been allowed to use the anthem and flag of Russia). This may have taken you to an illusion that China has gone better, and it is just a matter of time. Believe it not, it is complicated. Well, Russia and China are neighbours, both develop a similar autocratic ideology, both have restless nationalist population, both have desires of redrawing border. By far, China is far ahead of Russia in everything: economics, science, technology, education, etc. You know it. But China is not always superior to the poorer Russian state. And yet in one of the most necessary tool to demonstrate Xi Jinping's autocratic dream, China has done fairly poor compared to Russia - football. China could have been a superpower - but it ha

It's said easier than done, and it has always been the case of so many nations when it comes to major international games. This has been the case of Colombia back in 1986 FIFA World Cup, the country was the original winner, but later pulled out due to insufficient infrastructures for the competition. Colombia was, by far, the only World Cup host to voluntarily retreat from hosting. And that could be what is going to happen if Southeast Asia has the potential to win the bid, which, in my expectation, unlikely.

The Houthis are notorious as it was born from the ashes of Hussein Badreddin Al-Houthi, a Zaydi Shi'a and also former parliamentarian of the Yemeni Cabinet. The former parliamentarian, who himself got educated in Iran and even met personally with Ali Khamenei (the current Iranian Supreme Leader), entered the Cabinet during 1990s with hope to raise concern about government's corruption, but instead got nothing except rebuffs from the officials. Unsurprisingly, Hussein Badreddin attempted to create a political party that would go on to be known after his death, Ansarallah, or the Houthis after the former's surname. He was killed in September 2004 when he clashed with government's troops, but his party persisted and even grew into a very powerful, notorious group. Of course, the group was not always at easy shape - the President of Yemen at the time of Hussein's death, ironically the Shi'a Ali Abdullah Saleh - tried to suppress the movement. However, the Houthis we

When you see the end of 2021 in every WCQs, there is a shocking pattern throughout November that has now caused a massive number of unwanted outcomes, some has become unchangeable. We will look back on these nations to see how had they gone wrong so bad - and how can it be fixed. Costa Rica Perhaps 2014 WC quarter-finalists is facing a serious backlash in the qualifying campaign, as the Costa Ricans have won just one, lost three and drew three others. While the Final Round of CONCACAF campaign remains open for the Costa Ricans, their miserable record right now is doing more harm than good for Costa Rica - though it may have been at least calm when Costa Rica beat Honduras 2-1 to end 2021 with somewhat hopes. It is worth noticing about some records here: Costa Rica has missed out chances to win against fairly weaker or unstable opponents like Panama (0-0 away), Jamaica (1-1 home) and Honduras (0-0 away), before the devastating 0-1 defeat away to Canada put Costa Rica in a serious crisis

Matchday 6 will mark the begin of the reserve fixtures, and there shall be no room for any mistakes. Several teams have begun to feel more and more wrath, while some are looking for a place in Qatar. Group A Lebanon vs United Arab Emirates A heart breaking late goal from Ahmad Nourollahi saw Lebanon fell from grace to a devastating home defeat, as Nourollahi was one of the two authors of Iran's injury time goals. Lebanon can still dream big though, as Lebanon has five points after five games, with a win and two draws as inspirations, something which is unthinkable given Lebanon's low status in Asian football stage. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates has left nothing but disappointments, with a loss to South Korea away extended its lacklustre in this stage with only three points from three draws. More worryingly, Bert van Marwijk's boys has failed to keep clean sheet in four consecutive games in this stage of the qualification. The UAE can still rally on the historical

A not-so-fond home return. Yes, I think we all know what does it mean. In November, a number of these teams will have homecomings, though with mixed feelings, except Iraq and Syria due to internal reasons. Australia bids a homecoming with a lot of emotions after two years of deserting elsewhere. China will come home after wandering for two months abroad. Lebanon will also return home after two years being absent. Yet both teams, no matter their levels, all face the wrath tests. Australia, a giant in the making, has to battle flying high Saudi Arabia. Lebanon's miraculous track is going to face a major big boy, Iran. China seems to be more relaxing, when Oman is its opponent, even though after four games, Oman has proven to be a serious dark-horse. There are also teams that have played home previously. South Korea will return for an important fixture against three points-hungry UAE, a game which the Koreans are surely holding the edge due to the UAE's poor forms. Vietnam will al

Matchday 5 will mark the end of the 1st leg of the qualification campaign. And already now, some teams have known their fates. Is this clear or not, perhaps only they can find out. Group A Lebanon vs Iran No one could imagine that after four matches, it is Lebanon , and not the likes of Iraq, Syria and the UAE, that are really chasing behind Iran and South Korea for a place in Qatar 2022, standing third with five points, which might guarantee a playoff spot. It's somewhat hailed as a glorious achievement for a country that is already plundered into a massive economic and political crisis, the key reason why Lebanon has to play away for two months. But as much as Lebanese people have been hoping for, the upcoming home return, to be scheduled in the city of Sidon, is a do-or-die battle against Iran , a major Asian football force. The Iranians had just slipped out with an unwanted draw at home to South Korea. However, South Korea is also an equal opponent for Iran, so this draw is jus