A short preview on the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification third round in Asia – Matchday 8

The February stage of the qualification in Asia has already witnessed teams that qualified, and teams that won't. How would it play out, though, is still on the hand.

Group A

Iran vs United Arab Emirates

The 1-0 win in Tehran over arch-rival Iraq means Iran has officially become the first team in Asia to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, a complete turn around from the earlier troubles of the second round. Such remarkable turn around ensures Iran as the most powerful national team in Asia and a signal for any opponent to not underestimate the Iranian resolute.

This is best seen with Iran's ability to deliver goals in necessary moments, as well as having an extremely capable defence since the arrival of Croatian Dragan Skočić, conceding just three goals in process. Although Iran's World Cup record is anything but rosy, having never progressed beyond the group stage, the Iranians would try to obliterate its opponents to celebrate the revival of its fortune.

This makes the UAE an extremely easy target for Iran to shoot and score. Having won just one in the history, a friendly in 1997 (3-1), and a very negative record (D3, L13), Bert van Marwijk surely understands that the trip to Iran will be a trip not for the weak hearts.

While the UAE has shown some improvements, performing well in the Arab Cup in addition of gaining two consecutive WCQ wins, many of the UAE's wins are mostly against lower-ranked sides (Mauritania, Lebanon, Syria 2x). Still, the UAE has already tasted defeats against a high-ranked opponent with a somewhat similar quality to Iran (0-1 to Tunisia), so the UAE needs to take the Tunisian lesson if it wants to handle Iran.

Although not bringing the best squad with the absent of Sardar Azmoun, Iran is still very strong and in the side already has Mehdi Taremi, who scored in Iran's recent 1-0 triumph over Iraq as well as the sole scorer in Iran's away win earlier to the UAE. The UAE will need to have their marksman, the naturalised Brazilian-born Caio Canedo, who has played an instrumental role in the Emirates' 2-0 win over Syria at the absent of Ali Mabkhout, to put Iran into a sense of chaos.

Trivia: the UAE's 2-0 win over Syria was the first after 11 games the Emiratis could win with more than one goal margin.

Lebanon vs Iraq

After making history in some of the few first fixtures, Lebanon has begun to slip off from its momentum, losing to Iran, the UAE and South Korea consecutively at home soil. The string of agony seems to be the most disturbing fact for many Lebanese, whose country has already been rocked by economic and political crisis that is nearly bankrupt the whole nation.

Back to the squad, probably Ivan Hašek had failed to steer up his boys after Lebanon's dreamy start, with the inability to deliver decisive response being witnessed. And this is surely a grave threat for Lebanon, whose squad will have to handle against Iraq, an opponent it has won just two in the history (D7, L16), although the recent draw (0-0) brought a positive feeling among Lebanese that it would eventually triumph over Iraq.

Meanwhile, the Iraqis headed to Lebanon with what would be the worst performance ever in the final stage of a WCQ up to date, winless after seven games (D4, L3), despite a good beginning with a draw away to South Korea. Although a playoff spot is still on the hand, it appears that the current crisis that swept Iraq won't be addressed anytime soon, with changes in managerial staff in just one month, from Dutchman Dick Advocaat to Montenegrin Željko Petrović, due to unpaid wage. Let's not forget Iraq had also demonstrated a terrible form in the recent Arab Cup, eliminated after three group games without a win.

Probably, the quest to return to the World Cup since Iraq first appeared in 1986 might be a far, far away matter, which could be achieved only when the World Cup expanded to 48 teams in 2026. Even if Iraq can win Asian playoffs, it still has to face an opponent from South America - a real adversary for Asia. Iraq will have some chance to redeem its place when facing Lebanon, but it needs to put their heads on track, rather than being distracted to elsewhere.

Lebanon's lacklustre form currently could be worse if not for the talent of the goalkeeper Mostafa Matar, who has established his foothold in the Cedars. Iraq, in a desperate situation, will continue to count on the talent of Manchester United's Zidane Iqbal, who impressed in his first official international game in Iraq's 0-1 loss to Iran.

Trivia: Iraq's games frequently has more goals scored with an average of 2,5.

Syria vs South Korea

Syria is truly just the shadow of its former self, which is seen by how Syria is in bottom of the group with just two points out of seven games. While Syria is yet to be eliminated, the Syrians are facing an unwanted scenario as the second team to be eliminated from the WCQ in Asia.

This is not helped by the fact that it was led by Nizar Mahrous throughout the first six games, which oversaw Syria disastrously performed in the qualification, including a shock defeat to neighbour and minnows Lebanon 2-3. Improvement under Valeriu Tița appeared to be just in the recent Arab Cup, which it shocked with a 2-0 win over Tunisia, and when the WCQ returned, Syria still failed the mission to get lift off from the current mess.

Unfortunately for the Qasioun Eagles, the upcoming opponent South Korea is a continental powerhouse. While the Taegeuk Warriors had a slow start at first, South Korea soon demonstrated the quality, including an away draw to Iran.

While it is too early to state that South Korea is going to join Iran, the Koreans are just one step from achieving a record - ten consecutive appearances at the World Cup - the first in Asia. South Korea's consistency is what made the difference, under the guidance of Paulo Bento, the Koreans truly emerged as a force not to be reckoned with. Apparently, another key weapon is the defence, the South Koreans have impressed, conceding just only one goal each game in the current WCQ cycle.

To overcome the mighty South Korea, perhaps Syria will need to see if talisman Omar Kharbin returns to his form. Meanwhile, South Korea, at the absent of Son Heung-min, has Cho Gue-sung to count on, as he has already impressed in friendlies against Iceland and Moldova before scoring the winning goal against Lebanon in the WCQ.

Trivia: South Korea has won with a larger margin just five times against teams within top 100 FIFA ranking, as the majority of South Korea's wins are just one goal distance.

Group B

Vietnam vs China

The match may be little meaning for outsiders, but for both the hosts and the visitors, this falls directly in the Lunar New Year's Eve. Considering the Lunar calendar is promoted as the official New Year in both countries due to historical reasons, the game can be highly special.

Vietnam's 0-4 thumping to Asian powerhouse Australia in Melbourne officially confirmed the Vietnamese will not take part in the world's biggest festival in Qatar later that year. Adding with the earlier miseries, losing all six games in a row before this blow up, the sole objective of Vietnam this time is nothing more but fighting for pride and for the first points in the final round of the qualification, probably to prepare for the 2023 Asian Cup it qualified, which will be hosted by China - a mere coincidence.

The odd is clearly not in favour of the host, losing all seven meetings in the past to the Chinese. However, the latest meeting has seen a very close and tense contest, before a late Wu Lei goal sealed the Chinese a win in the heat of Sharjah. The Vietnamese are eager to take revenge against their northern neighbour and an arch-enemy for its history, and Park Hang-seo surely has enough fresh players for this encounter in front of home fans.

Meanwhile, China's upheaval continues after Li Tie surprisingly resigned as coach, and he was replaced by his teammate and former 2002 WC participant Li Xiaopeng for the final four match games. China had also been severely dented of its World Cup return, drowned 0-2 to the hand of the Japanese to end its undefeated streak to three. Worse, all of what China could do the best was only three shots, compared to about 15 that of Japan.

Anything but a win will be the end of China in this qualifying campaign, and surely the Chinese can't stand seeing more and more upheavals within the Team Dragon. They will rely more about their 100% invincible record against Vietnam when travelling to Hanoi, if it even thinks about keeping up with the impossible dream to chase after Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia.

Ahead the upcoming Lunar New Year showdown, the Vietnamese are likely to welcome the return of Nguyễn Tiến Linh, who was the scorer in Vietnam's unsuccessful fight back attempt in the previous fixture. Meanwhile, the Chinese will expect much from Wu Lei, who was the decisive scorer in China's Sharjah victory.

Trivia: Vietnam has failed to score a single goal at home soil for the first time since 2019, when it drew Thailand 0-0.

Oman vs Australia

After impressing in the first two months of the final round, Oman begins to falter away from their original form, starting with a poor draw against China and followed with two consecutive defeats to Japan and Saudi Arabia, stagnated in just the 4th place. It's clear that a required energy must be addressed for Branko Ivanković's men if Oman ever wants to achieve the failed task of qualifying to its first ever FIFA World Cup.

A significant reason among many here is Omani players appear to lose their elements of surprise, with their skilful display can't bully some of their common foes in the group, who probably had learnt to mark the danger man of the Gulf's Samba dancers. Moreover, Ivanković's adherent to attacking philosophy makes the Omanis vulnerable to counter-attacks, a reason why Saudi Arabia and Japan (who lost the earlier fixture) exploited out.

Australia has finally returned to the winning way, with a 4-0 demolition at home to Vietnam served as an inspiration for Australia to overcome the odds and to end its three winless streak. Though the situation doesn't change much, Australia can still try to find its composure when they will travel away to Muscat for this battle.

However, it is easier saying than done, though. Australia's away record against Oman isn't that impressive, both share a win and even a draw there each, not to even say the humid nature of Muscat doesn't really help too. The balance of this game and the fact that Australia seems to be not so ready for the fight, may put them into a weaker situation against the likes of the Omani hosts. Therefore, despite being ranked higher, the Aussies need to take the inspiration from their earlier 3-1 triumph in Qatar to gain the necessary three points, in case of Japan and Saudi Arabia's result in favour for either one of them and to avoid the dangerous prospects of heading to playoffs.

Oman's recent lacklustre performance makes the Omanis desperate and will be a force to push Khalid Al-Hajri, the young striker who had impressed in the previous Arab Cup, to push forward. In Australia's recent 4-0 thumping of Vietnam, Tom Rogic was the true composer of the Australians in the easy fight in Melbourne.

Trivia: every fixture between Oman and Australia frequently involve a goal average of 3.0, a high standard display from both sides.

Japan vs Saudi Arabia

Being the host team in this important fixture, probably Japan wants nothing more but a revenge against Saudi Arabia for the earlier defeat, and to prevent the Saudis from joining Iran. Three consecutive wins in a row saw Japan lifted off from third into the second place, which is enough to qualify to Qatar 2022.

This is hardly a surprise when Japan has an invincible home record against the Gulf rival in all six games (6W). The Japanese truly have the sense of becoming bold in applying the attacking method against the Saudis, and with the current ingredients Japan has, three points is a must.

Saudi Arabia is one step closer in repeating the form of the 2006 WCQ, when Saudi Arabia reached the World Cup undefeated, including two famous wins against Japan's East Asian fellows South Korea. Hervé Renard has been successfully engineering a steel defence for the Saudis, once considered to be its weakest point, and their top position is surely deserved for them.

However, H2H history when Saudi Arabia plays in Japan is not favourable, even when Saudi Arabia has some of the best coaches on the bench before, so it is hardly surprising that Renard, while expecting three points, would probably try to scale down Japanese attacks so to gain a single point for good, like how he did in Australia. Saudi Arabia will also need to ensure their good form ongoing, or an defeat mean they will have an unthinkable collusion with Australia at home soil.

Ahead of this fight, Japan will need much from the element named Yuya Osako, who scored in the recent fixture against China on its resurgence as well as being dominant throughout the game. Saudi Arabia can count on Firas Al-Buraikan, who stroke on Oman with a 1-0 win and also did the same against Japan in the recent Saudi win.

Trivia: Saudi Arabia has scored in three games as visitor to Japan.