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Confederation analysis
CONFEDERATION ANALYSIS
Asia
After Asia’s success at the 2010 FIFA World
Cup in South Africa, when two AFC teams
– Japan and Korea Republic – qualified for
the knockout stages, there were high hopes
that history would repeat itself four years
later in Brazil. The disappointment was
understandably all the greater, therefore,
when all Asian teams were eliminated at the
end of the group stage.
Australia were always going to be up
against it in a strong Group B with Spain,
Chile and the Netherlands, and although
they lost all three games, the Aussies were
never outplayed in any of their matches.
Japan, however, might have felt confident
of progressing from a group containing
Colombia, Greece and Côte d’Ivoire. Despite
opening the scoring early on against the
Africans, the Japanese lost control of the
match, and despite playing against a ten-man
Greece for more than 50 minutes, they were
still unable to make their advantage count.
Colombia then dashed all remaining Japanese
hopes with three second-half goals. Iran
started with a goalless draw against Nigeria
before putting in an excellent performance
against Argentina that deserved at least a
point. Of their three opponents, only Bosnia
and Herzegovina left the Iranians trailing
in their wake. Korea Republic took the lead
in their first match against Russia but were
unable to see the victory out, losing two
priceless points in the process. They were then
overrun by Algeria, who scored three first-half
goals, and finally beaten by Belgium, who
played the second half with only ten men.
The Asian teams’ disappointing performance
can certainly not be attributed to a lack of
fighting spirit, as all four teams competed
right up until the final whistle of every game.
Ultimately, however, they lacked creativity,
ideas, penetration and players who could turn
a match in their favour.
past Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second
game. The 2013 African champions also
gave a good account of themselves against
Argentina by pushing the eventual finalists
all the way. Their journey came to an end
against France in the round of 16, however,
with two goals from set pieces in the final
15 minutes sealing their fate. Algeria were
one of the surprise packages of the World
Cup. After relinquishing an early lead in a
defeat to Belgium, they bounced back against
Korea Republic by firing three goals past their
opponents in the space of just 12 first-half
minutes. They then sealed their place in the
round of 16 by deservedly holding Russia to a
draw. In the next round, their rapid counterattacking
game also caused Germany a
number of problems in a goalless draw after
90 minutes before they fell to a narrow defeat
in extra time. After securing a victory over
Japan and losing to Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire
went into their final game with Greece
knowing that everything was at stake. A draw
would have been enough for a place in the
knockout phase, but a last-gasp Greek penalty
shattered the Ivorians’ dreams. Following
Africa
There were scenes of celebration in Africa as
CAF had two representatives in the second
stage for the first-ever time. Nigeria got off
to a disappointing start by drawing with
Iran but they picked up the pace by edging