Asian Cup

  Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos said the Asian Cup hosts and defending champions have proved their critics wrong by reaching Saturday's final against Jordan. Tintin Marquez was parachuted in to replace Carlos Queiroz as coach just a month before the tournament, sparking criticism in some quarters. But the Spaniard's impact has been immediate, leading Qatar to their second consecutive final. Haydos said his team's "professional mentality" has allowed them to […]

  An Asian Cup full of late goals and surprises reaches a climax on Saturday when hosts and holders Qatar face a Jordan side looking to make yet more history. The 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, where Lionel Messi's Argentina beat France in the World Cup final 14 months ago, will stage the final act of four weeks of Asian football. Few would have predicted it would come down to a decider […]

  Jurgen Klinsmann's position as South Korea coach came under intense pressure on Wednesday after what local media called a "shameful" and "humiliating" Asian Cup semi-final defeat to Jordan. The Koreans crashed out 2-0 to a team ranked 64 places below them in the world and they failed to muster a shot on target despite boasting Son Heung-min in attack. The German Klinsmann, who came into the tournament vowing to […]

  Iran will meet pre-tournament favourites Japan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after surviving extra time with 10 men before defeating Syria 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday. Japan beat Bahrain 3-1 despite another mistake from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, as Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma made his first appearance in Qatar after injury. Skipper Ehsan Hajsafi scored the winning penalty for Iran, who are ranked 70 places above Syria and were comfortably […]

  The president of Saudi Arabian football said Roberto Mancini's disappearing act before the end of the penalty shootout in the team's Asian Cup exit was "completely unacceptable". The Italian did not stick around to see South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan eliminate his Saudi side in the last 16 in Doha with the decisive spot-kick. Following a 1-1 draw, South Korea won 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday and will face Australia […]

    Iraq's football association condemned the "abhorrent behaviour" of journalists who confronted coach Jesus Casas following the team's exit in the Asian Cup last 16 on Monday. Iraq conceded two goals in stoppage time in a surprise 3-2 defeat to lower-ranked Jordan in Doha. Tempers flared among some Iraqi reporters in the post-game press conference, who pointed and shouted angrily at Casas, and approached him at the front of […]

  South Korea launched their campaign for a first Asian Cup since 1960 with a 3-1 win over Bahrain while fellow former champions Iraq beat Indonesia by the same scoreline Monday. In the last game of the day, Jordan thrashed Malaysia 4-0 with Mahmoud Al-Mardi and Mousa Al-Tamari both scoring twice. Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in upstaged Son Heung-min with two goals for Jurgen Klinsmann's South Korea, who are among the […]

  The Asian Cup begins on Friday with defending champions Qatar the hosts, Japan favourites and Son Heung-min's South Korea vowing to win the title for the first time in 64 years. The 24 teams spanning Australia to Palestine will battle for regional glory over the next four weeks, culminating in the final at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on February 10. It will take something special to beat the last […]