Asia Cup Final

[Marvin]

Tournament has been in the UAE. Final Friday: Qatar v Japan

Been following the results and highlights. Very interesting to see the crowds and football. Media have almost entirely ignored it and you have to search for the highlights.

The none UAE games have not been well attended but good crowds for host countries games. eg semi-final v Qatar where there was about 35k...more that what SPurs got in their league game when they are trying to win the Premier League.

 

[Pell]

I managed to find time to watch both semi-finals on streams, and I was really impressed by Qatar, although the UAE were pretty poor. It looks like the results of the Aspire Academy are starting to bear fruit. Almoez Ali looks like a player with real potential, and definitely worth taking a chance on. Juventus have been linked with Iraq's Mohanad Ali, who's only 18. It's disappointing to see the media ignore it for the most part, when you consider how big an area Asia is, and the potential there. When it was in Australia last time, Eurosport did live games, but there's been none this time around.

It will be great for Qatar if they can win it, and go into their World Cup as champions of their confederation, they're a young team coming good at the right time.

 

[Dubai Blue]

I managed to find time to watch both semi-finals on streams, and I was really impressed by Qatar, although the UAE were pretty poor. It looks like the results of the Aspire Academy are starting to bear fruit. Almoez Ali looks like a player with real potential, and definitely worth taking a chance on. Juventus have been linked with Iraq's Mohanad Ali, who's only 18. It's disappointing to see the media ignore it for the most part, when you consider how big an area Asia is, and the potential there. When it was in Australia last time, Eurosport did live games, but there's been none this time around.

It will be great for Qatar if they can win it, and go into their World Cup as champions of their confederation, they're a young team coming good at the right time.

They play in the Copa America this year as well

 

[Pell]

Kicked off at 2, Qatar currently winning 1-0, brilliant overhead kick from Almoez Ali.

 

[jared]

Hopefully Qatar wins. Japan been very unimpressive, just getting through 1-0 or 2-1, until the semi when they thrashed Iran 3-0, the tournament favourite. So not sure what performance they will show today.

 

[Pell]

2-0 Qatar now, another great goal, looks like game over already, Qatar have been very impressive.

 

[PALESTINIAN HEARTED MANC]

Impressive team and some real good talents. Not on their top gear though so far tonight.

 

[Pell]

3-1 to Qatar in the end. Very good second half, Japan made a real fist of it, then undone by a VAR penalty for handball which looked a bit harsh imo. Well done to Qatar, first Asian Cup for them.

 

[jared]

people laughed when xavi predicted a Qatar and Japan final with Qatar the eventual champions.


The guy is a legend. Hats off to him.

 

[FCBarca]

Catalan correctly predicts it, Catalan & La Masia trainer was coaching Qatar - Felix Sanchez Bas. Impressive the progress in such short time