2014fwc_tsg_report_15082014_neutral

82Confederation analysisCONFEDERATION ANALYSISAsiaAfter Asia’s success at the 2010 FIFA WorldCup in South Africa, when two AFC teams– Japan and Korea Republic – qualified forthe knockout stages, there were high hopesthat history would repeat itself four yearslater in Brazil. The disappointment wasunderstandably all the greater, therefore,when all Asian teams were eliminated at theend of the group stage.Australia were always going to be upagainst it in a strong Group B with Spain,Chile and the Netherlands, and althoughthey lost all three games, the Aussies werenever outplayed in any of their matches.Japan, however, might have felt confidentof progressing from a group containingColombia, Greece and Côte d’Ivoire. Despiteopening the scoring early on against theAfricans, the Japanese lost control of thematch, and despite playing against a ten-manGreece for more than 50 minutes, they werestill unable to make their advantage count.Colombia then dashed all remaining Japanesehopes with three second-half goals. Iranstarted with a goalless draw against Nigeriabefore putting in an excellent performanceagainst Argentina that deserved at least apoint. Of their three opponents, only Bosniaand Herzegovina left the Iranians trailingin their wake. Korea Republic took the leadin their first match against Russia but wereunable to see the victory out, losing twopriceless points in the process. They were thenoverrun by Algeria, who scored three first-halfgoals, and finally beaten by Belgium, whoplayed the second half with only ten men.The Asian teams’ disappointing performancecan certainly not be attributed to a lack offighting spirit, as all four teams competedright up until the final whistle of every game.Ultimately, however, they lacked creativity,ideas, penetration and players who could turna match in their favour.past Bosnia and Herzegovina in their secondgame. The 2013 African champions alsogave a good account of themselves againstArgentina by pushing the eventual finalistsall the way. Their journey came to an endagainst France in the round of 16, however,with two goals from set pieces in the final15 minutes sealing their fate. Algeria wereone of the surprise packages of the WorldCup. After relinquishing an early lead in adefeat to Belgium, they bounced back againstKorea Republic by firing three goals past theiropponents in the space of just 12 first-halfminutes. They then sealed their place in theround of 16 by deservedly holding Russia to adraw. In the next round, their rapid counterattackinggame also caused Germany anumber of problems in a goalless draw after90 minutes before they fell to a narrow defeatin extra time. After securing a victory overJapan and losing to Colombia, Côte d’Ivoirewent into their final game with Greeceknowing that everything was at stake. A drawwould have been enough for a place in theknockout phase, but a last-gasp Greek penaltyshattered the Ivorians’ dreams. FollowingAfricaThere were scenes of celebration in Africa asCAF had two representatives in the secondstage for the first-ever time. Nigeria got offto a disappointing start by drawing withIran but they picked up the pace by edging