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From BBC Scotland Sport
Irish Clubs To Return in Challenge Cup Revamp
Teams from the Republic of Ireland will return to the Scottish Challenge Cup from the 2026/7 season after representatives from the Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Northern Irish football governing bodies agreed wholescale changes to the competition.
The new format will see a total of 64 clubs will take part in what has been rebranded the Celtic Challenge Cup. This will include all 30 SPFL sides, 12 clubs from the Highland and Lowland leagues, under-21 teams from each of the 12 SPL clubs, and 10 from the three guest nations - three each, with a floating fourth spot given to the guest nation whose representative most recently lifted the trophy.
SPFL chief executive Isla Harrison said: “We’re delighted to announce the expansion and rebranding of the Celtic Challenge Cup in partnership with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All four nations are excited by the prospect of competing against varied opposition, and we hope the Challenge Cup can provide an excellent spectacle for fans of all clubs involved.
“We’ve seen this season how strong our guest clubs can be, and felt it was only fair to recognise that. We have great memories of matches involving our friends from the Republic of Ireland from 2016 to 2020, and are looking forward to bringing them back into the competition.
“All four nations agree that the new format will bring exciting football, opportunities for player development, and greater commercial potential for the clubs. We’re sure the new Celtic Challenge Cup will be a resounding success.”
BBC Scotland understands that energy firm SSE has agreed to be the title sponsor of the rebooted competition, the first company to do so since Tunnock’s in the 2019-20 season - although the tournament was sponsored by the SPFL Trust from 2021-2024.
The revamp brings to an end several weeks of speculation over the purpose of the competition, with its future brought into the spotlight after Northern Irish giants Linfield and Welsh Premier outfit Bala Town booked their place in this year’s final - which Linfield won 3-0 - the first time since its foundation in 1990 that no Scottish team contested the trophy.
The new format will come into effect in the 2026/7 season, with the existing schedule set for the next two seasons.
--That's all for this short story - a single in-game result that took me down a 'what if' rabbit hole that hopefully you've found interesting! Thanks for reading, and see you in the next one!
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“Congratulations on tonight’s performance Josh, you’ve got to be happy with that?”
“Cheers, yeah, we’re pretty happy with the result and the performance. We always wanted to make sure we got qualification sorted early, and we’ve managed to do that so yeah, really pleased.”
“Two more goals for yourself, and in two minutes as well. You’re leading the Golden Boot race at the moment with four, is that on your mind?”
“Nah, obviously it’s nice to win the accolades, but it doesn’t mean anything if we get knocked out in the next round. The lads have been creating some great chances for me, and thankfully I managed to put two of them away early on.”
“How much difference does it make to have the home fans on your side like this? We’re told it’s a capacity crowd here in Sydney?”
“Oh it’s massive, definitely. I know not all of the games have been full for every team, but wherever the Socceroos go we always get amazing support, it makes you proud to be an Aussie. We’re playing for them, and hopefully that shows.”
“I don’t know if you’ve been keeping an eye on other results, but Japan beat Tajikistan to qualify, Uzbekistan qualified yesterday, and Iran beat Turkmenistan 4-0 to join you at the top of the group. Do you talk about who else is doing what, or who you might want to avoid?”
“Not at all, the best thing we can do is focus on our own game - we’re at home, we’ve got the fans on our side and we’re confident in our abilities. The groups are taking shape now, but there are so many good teams that there’s no easy route to the final.”
“Your game against Iran will decide who wins the group, is that something that matters to the team?”
“It matters because it’s a game of football and we want to win every time we step onto the field, but you can’t spend too much time looking at who plays who if this or that happens. We’ll go out looking to win, I’m sure Iran will do the same, and we’ll take the same approach in the knockout games.”
“Finally, a word on Alex Susnjar, who got the final goal tonight. You boys celebrated a long time considering the goal made it 4-1, what’s the story there?”
“Yeah, Alex is a good lad and he’s never scored for Australia before. There are a few guys in the team looking for their first goal, and we’ve promised to go nuts if they get one. He was the first, and hopefully there are a few more later in the competition.”
“Congratulations again on the win and your goals tonight Josh, best of luck for the rest of the tournament.”
“Cheers.”
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From eurasianet.org
Uzbekistan: Politicians Rally Round White Wolves’ Win
Uzbekistan’s political leaders are hoping that success for their country’s international football team will lead to a dampening of recent discontent.
After following up a surprise win over China with a 2-0 victory over Yemen in Melbourne’s AAMI Park, the White Wolves became the first side to book their place in the knockout round of the current Asian Cup.
Even at this early stage of the tournament, leading politicians are already attempting to jump on the team’s bandwagon - including President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who made a point of congratulating the team on social messaging app Telegram.
Mirziyoyev’s official account posted just three minutes after the final whistle: “Congratulations to the Uzbekistan national football team on their 2-0 victory over Yemen and passage to the AFC Cup round of 16. The whole nation is supporting our brave footballers to win the trophy.”
One of Uzbekistan’s two deputy prime ministers also joined in the congratulations, Jamshid Khodjaev adding: “Congratulations to the Uzbekistan national team. Making us all proud at the Asian Cup.”
These somewhat dry statements of praise come against a backdrop of discontent in the Central Asian nation, where Mirziyoyev has recently proposed constitutional changes removing the number of terms a president can serve consecutively, and limiting the power of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) - in short, setting himself up at a run as life president.
It is a move familiar to Central Asia watchers, and one that is likely to succeed - compared to his predecessor Islam Kerimov, Mirziyoyev is more favourably looked on domestically and internationally, having made some liberalising concessions and opening more of the country’s economy up to overseas investment.
However, there is considerable concern among civil society, with protests against Mirziyoyev’s proposals being organised in Qarshi, Bukhara, Andijan and the capital Tashkent over the last week. No one organisation has claimed to be behind the protests, but they clearly have the authorities rattled.
The hope, therefore, is that Mirziyoyev and his supporters can claim association with, and even credit for, the success of the nation’s football team. Uzbekistan has never won the Asian Cup - a fourth placed finish in 2011 their best result - and are considered an outside bet to win the competition in Australia. But by connecting the team’s fate with their own, the nation’s leading politicians are potentially playing a dangerous game - should the football team be seen as failures, the protests may grow stronger still.
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Thank you gents, I appreciate the kind words. The dual bracket approach is an intriguing one 10-3 - not one in Scottish minds this time!
--“Thank you Mr Ross, you’ve made your point quite clearly. Now we have a second proposal to consider, and I understand, Mrs Gordon, that you’re able to give us a few more details than yesterday?”
“Thank you Mr Chairman, that’s correct. My proposal is rather in the opposite direction to Mr Ross’ here - rather than reduction from the current 54 teams to 48, I’m suggesting an expansion of the competition to 64 clubs. That would be the 30 SPFL sides, six each from the Highland and Lowland Leagues, a ‘B’ team from the 12 SPL clubs, plus 10 guests. This would be three each from Wales and the Republic of Ireland, with four from Northern Ireland to honour Linfield’s triumph.”
“Mrs Gordon, that would involve some significant changes compared to Mr Ross’ format. How do you envisage this working?”
“Of course - this would require six knockout ties, and I’d propose all clubs enter at the first round, with guest clubs ineligible to face one another until the second. This would mean that a Championship club would play one more match to win the trophy than under the current system, but would remove any accusations of favouritism.”
“And the finances?”
“If I may, Ava?”
“Of course, Isla.”
“According to Ava’s proposal, the competition would continue to be funded proportionally by each federation - which would be divided four ways rather than three with the inclusion of the Republic of Ireland, thus lowering each country’s costs. Additionally, I have title sponsorship proposals from three international firms, all worth more than double our previous arrangement with Tunnock’s.”
“That is quite the case, Miss Harrison. Are there any conditions to these sponsorships?”
“Only one of them has made a further request, and is something Mrs Gordon has alluded to previously. SSE would like to be the title sponsor of the Celtic Challenge Cup. The other two companies have no such preference. These proposals are only preliminary, but I am confident that any of the three can be secured with few complications.”
“Mrs Gordon, do you have anything to add?”
“Nothing, Mr Chairman.”
“In that case, I thank you both for laying out the proposal. I’m glad to see such cooperation amongst colleagues. Given that there are only two competing proposals, I suggest we move to voting. Does anybody wish to abstain? No abstentions, very well. All in favour of the proposal forwarded by Mr Ross?..."
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From the Daily Record
Linfield Shrug Off Controversy to Claim Challenge Cup
Northern Irish champions Linfield brushed aside vocal protests against the competition’s organisers as they defeated Bala Town to lift the Challenge Cup at Firhill.
An own goal from Rhys Henderson and a second half double from Ciaran Gallagher were enough to beat the Welsh underdogs, with David Healy’s side making history as the first guest team to lift the trophy.
With just 1,100 fans making their way to Maryhill and two clearly mismatched teams, the game had the feeling of a pre-season friendly rather than a controversial cup final. Once Henderson deflected a low cross past his own goalkeeper midway through the first half, it was evident that Bala were not going to be able to put up much of a fight.
Other than Gallagher’s superbly taken second goal - a curling strike from the edge of the penalty area - the game was most notable for the protests of one group of supporters, who held placards demanding the resignation of the SPFL board, deriding the presence of the guest teams, and decrying the death of Scottish football. Given the lack of supporters in the stands, their protests were loud and clear.
They may also be acted upon - representatives from the SFA and SPFL have been meeting with their Irish and Welsh counterparts in a bid to establish the format of the competition in future years, with abolition rumoured to be one of the suggested options.
Irrespective of the drama surrounding the competition’s future, there could be no stopping the celebrations of the Northern Irish giants, with Healy rightly delighted with his side’s achievement.
“It’s a great day for the club and for Northern Irish football, we’ve done ourselves proud today. To come out so strong in a cup final is testament to the lads, they executed the plan perfectly and got their rewards. Credit to Bala for a hard fought game, but we were so good today, it was great to watch.
“I know there’s been some chatter about whether or not we should even be here, but the way I see it, it’s been a great chance for us to prove ourselves against different opposition. We’ve taken out two Championship sides, our domestic rivals, an SPL reserve side - I don’t think anyone can claim we don’t deserve it. It’s a great day for the lads, and I’m sure they’ll celebrate hard tonight.”
While the Blues celebrate their historic triumph, attention now turns to the game’s decision-makers. With a resolution expected in the coming days, the SPFL has the opportunity to turn one of the more embarrassing chapters in their recent history into something more positive. Given their previous record, we’ll believe it when we see it.
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“A late third for Ali Saweh put an end to any hope of a North Korean equaliser, and it finished United Arab Emirates 3, North Korea 1.”
“Thanks Rob, a great result there for the UAE and one which will do their qualification prospects no harm at all in a very open Group F. Mark, now that every team has played their first game, who has stood out for you?”
“That’s a tough question, and ignoring recency bias for a moment I think the UAE have done a good job tonight. North Korea are a tricky opponent, but they’ve come through very well. I think Uzbekistan did very well to beat China on opening night, Japan looked very comfortable against Iraq, and South Korea barely looked threatened by the Saudis.”
“Would you make them favourites at this stage?”
“It’s too hard to say after just one game each, but as defending champions you come to a tournament with a target on your back, especially against your biggest group rivals in the opening match. I think they coped very well with that, looked well-drilled at the back and threatening up front - if anyone else is going to win the tournament, I think they’re going to have to go through South Korea.”
“How about the hosts then Steve? A 5-0 win in their first match, can the Aussies expect a genuine challenge?”
“I think they can, but you can’t take too much from a 5-0 thrashing of a team as poor as Turkmenistan. Don’t get me wrong, they did what they needed to do and put on a bit of a show with the five goals, they’ll take confidence from that, but they were always going to breeze through the group and the real test will start in the knockouts.”
“As you look at the standings after these first matches, is there anything that surprises you? Will we see a big side going home early, do you think?”
“Group A was always likely to be Uzbekistan and China, and with China beating Vietnam earlier today you’d have to say that’s still the case, even if they haven’t been at their best. The Uzbeks should be looking at three from three, and Vietnam are looking for third at this stage.
“Group B is Japan’s to lose after that 2-1 win over Iraq, but Tajikistan are in with a real shout of second after beating Lebanon. There’s a lot riding on their final round game against Iraq now, you’d imagine that’s winner goes through. Group C, on the other hand, is just a case of which of Australia and Iran goes through as winners - Oman and Turkmenistan are miles away from those two.”
“And the other three groups? It looks like there’s a bit more up for grabs in that half of the draw.”
“You’d have to think so. The champions should be through after beating the Saudis in Group D, so it’ll be Saudi Arabia vs Qatar in the final round for second place - Indonesia are gone. Group E is a really interesting one, especially after the draw between Thailand and Syria. Even Bahrain are in with a chance despite losing to Kuwait, so that’s definitely a group to keep your eye on.
“Group F is another curious one - Jordan and UAE are in strong positions after winning today, but North Korea are definitely capable of winning their next two and going through as well. My money would be on UAE topping the group and Malaysia going home, but it’s a coin flip between the other two.”
“OK Mark, thanks for running through that for us. I’m going to put you on the spot now - based on what you’ve seen so far I want your two finalists and one team to be a surprise package. Ignore the permutations of the draw, just based on the opening round.”
“Blimey, no pressure then? I’ve already backed South Korea so I’ll put them in my final along with maybe Iran, and as for the surprise package - Thailand to make it to the quarters at least. I know they struggled a bit against Syria, but I think they’re an improving team, technically very good, and could spring a surprise or two if the opposition take them lightly.”
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From goal.com
As Champions Shoot Down Green Falcons - What’s Gone Wrong For Saudis?
In one of the highest-profile games of the opening group fixtures, defending champions South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 courtesy of Jun Se-Jin’s first-half strike, putting the holders in a strong position to qualify from Group D. However, with Qatar beating Indonesia 3-0 a day earlier, three-time champions Saudi Arabia could yet face a real struggle to progress.
The question that many are asking of the Green Falcons is a simple one - why? After all, this is a nation which won three out of five titles between 1984 and 2000, finishing as runners-up in the other two tournaments. The Saudis have qualified for no fewer than seven World Cups, a tally bettered in Asia only by South Korea and Japan.
Yet since reaching their last final in 2007 - a surprise defeat to Iraq - their record has been mediocre at best. Group stages eliminations with just one win from six games across 2011 and 2015, and defeat by Japan and Uzbekistan in the 2019 and 2023 rounds of 16. For a side that regularly finds itself in the first pot of seeds, something is amiss.
Perhaps it should come as less of a surprise. The Asian confederation is a lot more competitive than it once was, with the likes of Uzbekistan, Qatar and Iraq joining historical powerhouses Japan, South Korea and Iran as well as relative newcomers Australia as genuine contenders for the Asian title. There is some credence to the suggestion that the AFC field is the most open of all its equivalents.
But there is also something to be said for a lack of long-term planning for the Saudi Arabian FA. In the two decades since Brazilian coach Helio dos Anjos led the 2007 cohort to the final, the team has seen no fewer than 13 managers come and go - not including caretakers. Some of these have been highly successful in previous roles - Bert van Marwijk took the Netherlands to a World Cup final, Frank Rijkaard had lifted the Champions League and Herve Renard won back-to-back African Cups of Nations with Zambia and Ivory Coast. But none were able to make the Green Falcons soar as high as they would like.
With a domestic league that seems as least as keen on importing world-class veterans to boost its international image as it is on developing a pipeline for young talents to develop - Cristiano Ronaldo by far the biggest name, but by no means the only player to see out the final years of their career on huge wages in the Middle East - and it perhaps becomes a little clearer as to why the next generation of Saudi stars are finding it harder to break through.
A final factor clipping the Falcons’ wings is something of a contradiction - their nation’s ongoing battle for sporting supremacy in the Middle East, or more specifically the appearance of it. With vast sums of money being spent on the ownership of the likes of Newcastle United, hosting tournaments and events across a multitude of sports, and a constant battle of public image one-upmanship with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the domestic league has not been entirely forgotten, but certainly neglected. As ageing stars are brought in to sell shirts and generate positive news coverage, the native talent pool is squeezed ever further - all to the national team’s detriment.
All of which makes a possible group stage elimination less and less surprising - a result of other nations catching up and overtaking one of Asian football’s grandees, lack of managerial consistency, and questionable decisions affecting the Pro League. If they are beaten by Qatar - one of the upstart nations threatening their status - or somehow fail to beat Indonesia, it will almost certainly spell the end of their competition. It could be a long time before the Green Falcons fly again.
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“We can’t finish the show without mentioning the Challenge Cup final this weekend, although I think it’s fair to say there are plenty of important people who wished we didn’t. Linfield and Bala then Chris, who wins it for you?”
“I mean if you compare pretty much anything about the two teams - their history, their players, the quality of their leagues - Linfield come out on top. Bala aren’t even a professional outfit, and I think it’ll be a one-sided affair. It’s a disgrace it’s come to this, mind.”
“I’d agree that Linfield are strong favourites, but let’s stick with that a minute - what’s so disgraceful about the invited teams reaching the final? What do the governing bodies need to do about it?”
“Oh I’m not blaming the organisers - not directly anyway. I just think it’s pathetic that we set up this competition for the SPFL sides, invite a couple of other clubs almost as a second thought, and then somehow we’re so bad that a side from Wales winds up in the final. If I’m a Championship or League One player and I get beaten by Bala, I’m embarrassed with myself.”
“How does it happen then? Are teams just not taking the competition seriously?”
“I don’t think they are, and to a point I can understand it. There’s only 10 teams in each division, so there’s a good chance you’re fighting at one end of the table or the other. Then there’s the FA Cup and League Cup, so it’s not at the top of your priorities. But at the same time, you’ve got to have a bit of professional pride. If you’re going through the motions and picking up your paycheck, of course you’re going to get beaten.”
“Should there be more incentives in that case? Is money the solution?”
“It shouldn’t be - and if you bump the prize money up here, you have to do it for every other competition as well. As far as I see it, it’s the players and clubs themselves that have to take responsibility for this one. At the end of the day it’s a trophy up for grabs, and that’s one of the biggest markers of success in sport. If you’re getting beaten by a little village in Wales, I think you have to be asking some serious questions about your own commitment before you start questioning the FA.”
“Do the governing bodies have any responsibility in your eyes?”
“For this specifically, no. In general, absolutely - resources have gone in the wrong places for years, there have been countless reviews without any change, the same names rotate around the leadership positions - you’ve heard all this before. But the Challenge Cup? No, that’s squarely on the teams taking part as far as I’m concerned, and this should be a kick up the backside for them.”
“Back to the game itself though, you’re predicting a Linfield win?”
“Yes, and they’ll thoroughly deserve it - as will Bala if they surprise us all. But if the backlash means they don’t get invited back or the whole thing gets scrapped, it’ll be a crying shame. It’s time for our own teams to sort themselves out before we start looking for someone to blame.”
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When the rest of the attendees had left the conference room, SPFL chairman John McIntyre turned to his chief executive, Isla Harrison.
“Isla, the statement you gave to the BBC was excellent. Have you considered a career in marketing?”
He smiled at his own humour as Miss Harrison - who had headed an international marketing division before being headhunted for her footballing post - gave a polite chuckle before responding.
“There’s a way of giving them what they want without telling them anything, and fortunately it’s fairly simple.”
“I wish it were all that straightforward. I’m still none the wiser as to where this is all heading.”
“It seems to me there are two clear options. Ava’s proposal, or closing the door.”
“You don’t think the status quo is viable?”
“No, not after this season. Had Morton won their shootout, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. But for the sake of our credibility, we have to do something.”
“Regrettably I suspect you’re right, which is a crying shame. I actually think the current system works rather well.”
“That may be, but this is a time for action. You realise there’s a chance you’ll have cast your deciding vote, don’t you? The room seems pretty divided.”
“I’m rather afraid it might come to that. Closing the door makes the format a lot simpler, but risks alienating our neighbours and frankly undoing a lot of our good work. Leading with Ava’s proposal makes the numbers somewhat unwieldy, and would mean we’d need significant sponsorship, which has so far eluded us.”
“People are always fond of what’s new, John.”
“You’re in favour of Ava’s proposal?”
“If it’s that or complete withdrawal, then yes I’m in favour. I don’t believe it’s a perfect option, but it’s better than the alternative.”
“And you’re confident we could deliver on a title sponsor?”
“I believe we could have one by the final whistle on Sunday if we made a decision tomorrow. Our Irish and Welsh colleagues will need convincing to dip into their pockets, but I’m sure they can be persuaded.”
“Isla, if we’re going to get anywhere with this I’m going to need you to be forceful tomorrow. In the room, and out of it. We don’t need this to be unanimous, but we mustn’t be seen to be divided. Can you do that?”
“Of course, Mr Chairman,” came her smiling reply.
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“This is an experienced Syrian side, they’ve been through a lot together and they’re demonstrating that now, just 20 minutes to hold out now against an increasingly desperate Thailand.”
“You’re not wrong Chris, Thailand have had plenty of possession but haven’t really been able to do anything with it against a very disciplined defence. You’ve got to applaud the Syrians, they’re come with a plan and they’ve executed it very well so far.”
“Chance here for Mueanta… just wide of the far post, Kaman put him under just enough pressure and Thailand’s main threat couldn’t find the angle to threaten the target.”
“No, but that’s better from Thailand - a lot of the play has been in front of the Syrian defence, but Sarachat threaded the gap nicely and Mueanta just had a little too much to do. Still plenty of time for an equaliser.”
…
“Syria now with a rare chance to get forward, and the ball is with the goalscorer Al-Mawas, using all his 34 years of experience to slow the game down and let his team-mates join the attack. Finds Rihanieh in the middle, both sides have caught up with the ball now.”
“Al-Mawas made a decision to wait there and eat up a few seconds rather than get his head down and run, good awareness from the veteran. He’s open again on the right though.”
“He is, and Rihanieh finds him in space. This time he takes on his man, checks back, delivers the cross, Shaban gets up highest and it’s just over the crossbar. Good effort from the substitute but the ball was always behind him.”
“He couldn’t get the direction he wanted on the header. Good work again by Al-Mawas on the right though, we thought he might have been taken off by now but he’s providing an outlet for Syria as well as getting the goal.”
…
“Thailand coming forward again, nice exchange of passes between Sarachat and Panya. Sarachat out to Chaided, looks for Mueanta but the pass is blocked.”
“It was a good run from Mueanta, he’s trying to find space between the defenders. Thailand still on the ball though.”
“Back to Sarachat, he’s their main creative force in midfield. Looks for his strikers but nothing on so he goes back to the defenders, patient build-up from the Thais here.”
“They’re not rushing despite the scoreline, this is good stuff from them.”
“Chaided out wide now, he flicks in inside to Sarachat and moves past his man for the one-two.”
“I don’t think he’s going to get it…”
“Sarachat! Whistles wide of the post from 20 yards, he’s put his laces through that one and I’m not sure the goalkeeper would have reached it.”
“Great effort, I thought it was in and I don’t think I’m the only one. He’s been Thailand’s best player today, and he so nearly capped it with the equaliser. Can they find one in the last 10 minutes?”
…
“Arnaout does well to win it back there, and it’s a calm pass to fellow defender Kurdaghli. Oh he’s slipped!”
“Mueanta is onto it in a flash, looks up and slides it to Promkaew, equaliser! Thailand have the leveller with two minutes remaining, but what a disaster for Khaled Kurdaghli!”
“You’ve got to feel for him there, he lost his footing on the edge of his own area, and Thailand took full advantage. Great play from Mueanta, it would have been easy for him to go for glory from the tighter angle, but he read the situation and put it on a plate for the substitute Promkaew.”
“He’s only been on the pitch five minutes, and he’s got the equalising goal. Syria will be absolutely gutted, but it’s hard to say Thailand don’t deserve something from this game. Now, can they go on and find a winner?”
…
“That’s it, the final whistle blows and we have our first draw of the 2027 Asian Cup. Syria led for so long but were finally pegged back by a persistent Thailand side, and it ends 1-1.”
“You’d have to say a draw is a fair result, but you can’t imagine either manager being thrilled with the outcome, especially after Kuwait’s win over Bahrain earlier today. It means the Kuwaitis top Group E after their 1-0 win, and these two sides will need decisive results if they want to make further progress.”
“It’s one of the competition’s more open groups on paper, and today’s results aren’t changing anybody’s mind. It finishes Syria 1, Thailand 1 here at Stadium Australia - more reaction from the studio after the break.”
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From the australian.com.au
Five Star Socceroos Thrash Turkmenistan
John Aloisi’s Socceroos laid down a marker for the rest of the continent with a 5-0 thrashing of Turkmenistan at Suncorp Stadium in their opening game of the Asian Cup.
Josh White took advantage of some poor Turkmen defending to put the hosts ahead after just eight minutes, grabbing his second five minutes before the break before turning provider for Daniel Arzani to make it 3-0 before half time.
Turkmenistan, one of the lowest ranked teams at the tournament, barely troubled Mat Ryan’s goal throughout the 90 minutes, registering just a single shot on target as they struggled to get a foot on the ball against a confident Australian midfield.
If the game wasn’t already over as a contest, two goals in four minutes either side of the hour mark from James Jackson and Mark Caruana made it 5-0 and killed off any faint hope of a Turkmen comeback.
With Iran breezing past Oman 4-1 in the other Group C match, the scene looks to be set for a third-round clash between the two top-ranked sides for the group win. Meanwhile in the Group D clash at the Adelaide Oval, Ayoub Al-Kuwari scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win for Qatar over Indonesia.
Socceroos boss Aloisi said: “We’ve been itching to get started for a while now, and the boys wanted to put on a show for the home fans. Whitey got us off to a great start, and I was pleased to see us keep the pressure on all the way to the whistle.
“In a group setting like this you’ve always got to look at your goal difference, but every goal you score is good for the team’s confidence - you’d much rather go into your next game after winning by five than by one, so I’m very happy with tonight.”
Three points from the opening game opens up the possibility of Aloisi rotating his squad for the Stadium Australia game against Oman, but he was coy about his selection plans.
“We’ve got a squad of players who are very capable of getting a win, and the games come thick and fast so there’s that too. But Oman are no pushovers, we’ve got to respect them and can’t afford to get complacent. That’s how you get knocked out.”
After a 5-0 opening win and with Oman next on the fixture list, that outcome seems highly unlikely. Instead, hopes of a second Australian title - 12 years after Ange Postecoglou’s side delivered the first on home soil - are increasing by the minute.
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From BBC Scotland Sport
Talks Take Place Over Challenge Cup Format
The SFA and SPFL have opened talks with the Irish Football Association (IFA) and Football Association of Wales (FAW) over the format of the Scottish Challenge Cup, with the hope of revamping the competition when the current contract expires.
The current format, which features two guest teams from each of Wales and Northern Ireland, is fixed for the next two seasons. Two guest teams - Linfield and Bala Town - will contest this year’s final at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium, leading to a public outcry and concerns over the Scottish game and suitability of the tournament.
There have been rumours that the organisers are proposing an expansion of the tournament to include clubs from the Republic of Ireland, while some pundits have questioned whether cancelling the competition entirely would prove more beneficial for the SPFL clubs involved.
SPFL chief executive Isla Harrison told BBC Scotland Sport: “All parties are deeply proud of the Challenge Cup and what it has achieved. It has brought our three nations closer together in a unique footballing competition, and nobody wants to lose what we’ve worked hard to build.
“However it’s only right to review the format, explore our options and see how we can make things better - for the teams involved, for the fans, and for our commercial partners. We’re committed to making the tournament a success, and are hoping to produce an exciting and competitive event that will be a highlight of the footballing calendar.”
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“I’m Dotun Adebayo and you’re listening to the World Football Phone-In, with a special focus tonight on the Asian Cup and the three games that took place earlier today. With me to discuss all things AFC is, of course, John Duerden. John, three matches today, three wins, and not too much in the way of surprises - is that fair to say?”
“Thanks Dotun, and that’s just about right. After Uzbekistan beat China yesterday I think there were high hopes of a few more upsets, but on the whole things have gone pretty much as you might expect today. You could argue Tajikistan beating Lebanon is a bit of a surprise, but there are only a handful of places between them in the world rankings so that’s a bit of a stretch.”
“Let’s start with that one then, and it all looked so good for Lebanon in the opening moments. What went wrong for them?”
“I think the Tajiks just grew into the game, if I’m honest. Kristoffer Stahl’s goal was a scrappy finish from a bit of a scramble in the early exchanges, but Lebanon never really managed to take advantage of their momentum.”
“You’d expect them to have the majority of the crowd on their side in Melbourne, was it particularly partisan?”
“The goal was well celebrated, no doubt about it, but when Sulaimonov equalised in the second half it all went very quiet. Tajikistan don’t have many fans here in Australia, but they did a good job of silencing the diaspora crowd. They got the winner 10 minutes later, and basically kept Lebanon at arm’s length for the rest of the game.”
“You’d have to think that’s Lebanon out at this stage unless they pull off a big shock in their remaining games, but have Tajikistan got a chance to go through?”
“There’s always a chance with this format, with four of the third-place teams going through they’re in with a real chance now they’ve got a win on the board. You’d expect them to need a point to be sure of things though, and you’d imagine that would have to come against Iraq in the final game - I can’t see them getting anything from Japan.”
“Speaking of Japan, a strong opening win today, 2-1 against Iraq, who you’d expect to be their biggest rivals in Group B. Job done do we think?”
“It’s too early to say, but it’s very hard to picture a scenario in which Japan don’t qualify. It wasn’t a spectacular performance, but it was very professional - two goals in the first 20 minutes, and then they barely got out of second gear for the rest of the game. Iraq had plenty of shots, but they couldn’t get in behind the Japanese defence and even when they pulled one back, there wasn’t any panic.”
“It was a great goal from Mhawi.”
“It was, for my money better than the Uzbek goal yesterday. 20 yards out, corner of the box, arrowed into the bottom corner by the right back, no less. Great finish, but unfortunately for him, the only thing his team could produce.”
“So that’s Group B’s opening round done with a couple of 2-1 wins for Japan and Tajikistan, what about the second game from Group A? Vietnam and Yemen at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium.”
“This one had the potential to deliver a really big story. We all know the difficulties Yemen has had as a country, and they’ve done brilliantly just to make it to Australia. It’s only the second time they’ve qualified, they didn’t score a goal last time, and then five minutes in you get Ahmed Al-Haifi, just turned 33 and having never scored for his country in more than 60 appearances, heading in a cross to put them 1-0 up. It was a great moment, and I think will be one of the images of the tournament.”
“But they couldn’t make it stick.”
“They couldn’t - Hemyar Hamsan poked past his own keeper after 20 minutes, and the Vietnamese side kept up the pressure. Nguyen Tien Linh put them in front three minutes later, and they got a third in the second half for good measure. That puts them top of the group, and like Tajikistan they’re at the very least in with a shout of going through in third, if not better - although China and the Uzbeks will be tough opposition.”
“Three more games tomorrow John, which one are you most looking forward to?”
“I’d love to play the hipster and tell you I can’t wait for Iran vs Oman, but all eyes tomorrow are on Australia. A tournament like this feels like it needs the hosts to get going before it’s really started, and against Turkmenistan in Brisbane you’d expect them to grab a few goals as well. I’m hoping for a good crowd and a good Australian performance - I think the competition needs them to do well.”
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“We’re now joined live on air by Colin Caton, long-serving manager of Challenge Cup finalists Bala Town. First of all Colin, congratulations on making it to the final, you must be very proud.”
“Thanks Andrew, and yes - it’s a massive achievement for the club, and something we’re delighted with. At the start of the season we didn’t imagine we’d be in the running for the trophy, and yet here we are 90 minutes away.”
“What do you think your chances are against Linfield? They’re on course to win the Northern Irish Premiership again, and many would make them favourites.”
“We’re quite happy as the underdogs - I think every team we’ve faced has been favourites against us, but here we are. Linfield are a massive club and we’ve got a lot of respect for their achievements, but at the end of the day it’s a one-off final and we’ve got every chance of causing the upset. We aren’t kidding ourselves thinking it’ll be easy, but we’ll be well prepared.”
“Your team picked up a good point away at Connah’s Quay yesterday, how is the cup final fitting into your own season? What are your hopes from here?”
“The New Saints are 11 points clear and closing in on the title, they’ve had a great season and we can only congratulate them and see how we can get the better of them next year. Unfortunately we went out of the Welsh Cup early on at Aberystwyth and League Cup against TNS, but that has meant we haven’t had to worry too much about fixture congestion. We’re fighting with Cardiff Met for the runners-up spot, and want to finish as strongly as we can.”
“I don’t know how much of the reporting you’ve read on this Colin, but there’s been quite the reaction to there being no Scottish team in the final, and it’s obviously evoked some strong emotions. Is it something you’re worried about? What’s your take on it?”
“I’ve not read much, but you can’t avoid it - and to be honest, I’m not sure what people are expecting me to do about it. We were invited to the tournament, we set out to win every game we play, and so far we’ve managed to do that. It doesn’t matter whether we’re playing Barry Town or Bayern Munich, we go out to play our game and hope that gets us the result. What am I supposed to do, tell the lads to roll over and be nice to the hosts?”
“You have to admit though Colin, it’s not a great look for the Scottish game is it?”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, but it’s also none of my concern. I’ve been managing this football club for more than a decade now, and that’s where my remit starts and stops - with Bala Town, not the state of Scottish football. If the SFA wants to use this as a reason to make changes then all power to them, but I also think it shows some pretty thin skin for people to be upset about us winning a few football matches. If we’re not supposed to try, why invite us?”
“What changes would you make to Scottish football?”
“Look, as I’ve just said, that’s not for me to decide. There are some very well-qualified and no doubt well-paid individuals who get to make those decisions, I’m fortunate enough to get to manage this football club. I’m not willing to get involved in the politics of it all, I’m sorry.”
“OK Colin, we’ll leave it there. Thanks again for joining us, and good luck in the final.”
“Thanks Andrew.”
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“Before you go Scot, we have to ask about the Challenge Cup final. I’m sure you’ll be aware that Linfield will play Bala Town - how do you feel about the fact that there is no Scottish team in the final?”
“Obviously it’s disappointing for the national game and for the SPFL sides that have done their best to get there. I’m sure both sides will put on a good show though, and it should act as an incentive for our teams to come back stronger next year.”
“Do you think it speaks of a lack of quality in the Scottish leagues? You’d expect a Championship side to be beating a team from the Welsh leagues, surely?”
“Maybe, but you have to remember that for that Welsh team it might be the biggest game of their season, and the home clubs are trying to juggle several different competitions. You can’t read too much into one cup competition in one season.”
“Are you happy with the way the current system serves your national team? Is the SPFL fit for purpose?”
“Again, I’m not sure we can be looking to overhaul the entire football pyramid on the basis of one Challenge Cup campaign. The fact is I’ve got an excellent group of players to choose from and work with. Scotland isn’t the biggest nation and we’re never going to have the talent pool of a Brazil or a Spain, but we’re in contention for tournament qualification and getting good results.
“That said, there is a drop in quality outside the SPL, and that makes it hard for young Scottish players to get meaningful minutes. There are the colt teams in the Lowland League but the standard isn’t as high there, and if you’re an SPL side looking to loan out your youngsters you want them to be playing at the best possible standard. Sometimes there’s a win-at-all-costs mentality down the leagues - these are proud clubs struggling to get by - and that isn’t always the best environment for young players to grow in.
“But if you ask the fans of Peterhead or Airdrie or Dundee what their priority for their club is, it’s their club - it’s not getting someone in the Scotland squad. That’s the same at any club in any country, and those of us fortunate enough to be in the national set-up have to work with it. So it’s not perfect, but it’s no different to what anyone else is working with.”
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Thank you - I quite enjoy shifting perspectives and trying to strike a balance, so I'm glad you're a fan. I'm not sure I'll be delivering full-blown propaganda pieces though!
--
From Guardian SportAsian Cup - Have Ambitious Australia Gone Too Big?
The 2027 Asian Cup kicked off with a surprise result as favoured China were defeated 1-0 by Uzbekistan in Melbourne, but the sight of tens of thousands of empty seats at the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground must beg the question - have the hosts been overly ambitious with their plans?
In the course of its storied history, ‘The G’ has hosted Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Cricket World Cups and countless AFL Grand Finals, often being packed to the rafters in the process. However, on an opening night which, in a change from tradition did not feature the host nation, the official attendance was recorded at 56,819 - a significant crowd, but far short of the ground’s six-figure capacity.
The Asian Cup has long struggled with lower attendances than its AFC organisers might have hoped for. In the 2011 edition in Qatar, local authorities were accused of drafting in the military to boost spectator numbers, whereas the last time Australia hosted in 2015, a quarter final between Japan and the United Arab Emirates was watched by less than 20,000 fans at Stadium Australia - which seats more than four times as many.
Whether it is the high costs of travel for overseas fans or a perceived lower standard than other, more popular competitions, the Asian Cup is a tournament still seeking to prove itself on the international stage. At present, it does not seem to boast the same prestige as the European Championship, Copa America or African Cup of Nations, despite being Asia’s flagship tournament.
Uzbekistan’s well-deserved win would not have been out of place at any of those competitions, nor would Jasur Lalolidinov’s 70th minute winner. The CSKA midfielder is far from a prolific goalscorer, but his rising strike from 25 yards was the perfect combination of power and pace. At the other end, determined defending from the White Wolves denied China's star striker Zhang Yuning more than half a sight of goal, and his two second half attempts both sailed wide of the mark.
But in a nation where football is a distant fourth to Aussie Rules, Rugby League and a multitude of cricket competitions, and where the domestic competition is still finding its feet, it seems that the competition’s organising committee have gambled on crowds that may not exist. Utilising the 100,000 capacity MCG, 82,000-seater Stadium Australia and 65,000-strong Optus Stadium in Perth alongside a host of grounds in the 40-50,000 capacity range speaks of both high levels of ambition and a determination to show off the best of Australia’s sporting facilities. However, if these grounds are only half-full - as is a distinct possibility with the likes of Syria vs Thailand being held at Stadium Australia and Jordan vs UAE scheduled for the MCG - the image projected to the watching world will be less than ideal.
Perhaps a different approach would have been more appropriate, hosting games in grounds with capacities in the 20-40,000 range rather than looking to push higher, and recognising that a stadium 80% full generates a better atmosphere and looks better for the TV cameras than the same number of fans scattered among rows of empty seats. Perhaps organisers were swayed by the potential revenue of packed-out crowds, or felt they needed to offer their bigger names to secure the tournament in the first place. Whatever the reasoning, there will no doubt be some serious conversations if the longed-for surge in demand does not materialise. In aiming big and falling short, the Australian FA will not be doing their hopes of hosting a future World Cup any favours whatsoever.
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“We turn our attention now to North Korea, who are of course relatively unknown outside their homeland and arriving here in Australia with an aura of mystery to them - what do we know about the North Koreans coming into the tournament?”
“North Korea are an interesting side, because they’ve been up and down quite a lot over the past couple of years. They actually qualified for this tournament by making it to the final round of World Cup qualifiers for 2026, and on the face of it they did quite well - they beat Uzbekistan away to reach a play-off with Jordan, and only lost that on away goals after two drawn games.
“But if you look into the detail it starts to look a little less positive for them. In that same qualifying campaign, they only won two other games in their group of six teams, and they were home and away against Lebanon, the lowest ranked team. Against the top sides - Japan, China, their neighbours to the South - they were comfortably beaten every time.
“You go from there to the East Asian Cup, which last took place in December 2025, a little over a year ago, and those same teams humiliated North Korea. Losing 1-0 to Japan is nothing to be ashamed of, but 3-0 against the Chinese and a 6-0 thrashing against the South meant they ended up bottom of the table and sacking their manager.
“It’s a been a mixed bag for Yun Sung-Joo, the new man in charge, over the past 12 months as well. They’re on a three-game winning streak after qualifying for this year’s East Asian Cup, but those games were against Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei, so hardly worldbeaters. In their friendlies over the past year they lost to Saudi Arabia, drew with Kyrgyzstan and beat Nepal, who at 191st in the world are technically the ‘best’ team North Korea have beaten in over a year. So it’s hard to say where they are at the moment.”
“It’s fair to say they’re probably not among the contenders to win the Asian Cup then?”
“Definitely - they don’t have the depth of ability to take on the top teams, and for all their exposure to the world game at the 2010 World Cup and talk of inviting foreign specialists to improve their game, North Korea is still a very insular footballing nation. Only two players play outside of their domestic league, and tactically they’re quite limited.”
“Who are those players then - are they the stars? How did they end up abroad?”
“It’s quite interesting really, the two have very different stories. Choe Ju-Song is the one you might remember from the news - he was the best player in the North Korean league for two years running, and as part of the ongoing dialogue with the USA, was targeted by Major League Soccer, almost as a study abroad type option. Eventually he got government permission to make the move, and he’s been at Cincinnati for four years now and by all accounts has done very well for them on the left wing.
“The other man is striker Han Kwang-Song, and he’s the star of this team. He got spotted touring with the national youth teams as a teenager, got signed by Perugia and then Cagliari, and then Juventus took him only to sell him straight to the Middle East for a profit. Two years later Atalanta paid nearly €10m for him, and while not a first team player he’s a regular off the bench. He’s the only North Korean ever to play in a European competition too after a few appearances in the Europa League. If the national team are struggling, they often look to get the ball to Han and hope.”
“You mentioned that the team is tactically limited, what do you mean by that? How can we expect them to play?”
“More often than not, it’s quite an old-school 4-4-2. The defenders aren’t expected to play out from the back, the wide midfielders stick to their wings, and there isn’t much positional rotation. It’s quite novel to watch at first, and there is something to be said for the simplicity of it, but it doesn’t give them many options and when they’ve suffered big losses before, it’s because teams have found it too easy to control the midfield.”
“And here in Australia, they’re up against the UAE, Jordan and Malaysia - can you see them getting out of the group?”
“Well all three are ranked above them at the moment so the form book says no, but I can see them beating Malaysia and Jordan will be a close game - they drew 1-1 at home and 0-0 away in the World Cup play-off. I think the Emiratis will be too much for them, but if they pick up four points that’ll see them through, and that’d be a good result.”
“Well that’s North Korea taken care of, we’re now going to head west to Jordan and see what their chances are for the tournament. Joining us live from the streets of Amman to gauge the thoughts of the local population is Omar Hassan, good afternoon Omar…”
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From modernfitba.com
Is Anybody Even Watching?
While there has been plenty of fire and fury in the press relating to the absence of a Scottish team in the Challenge Cup final, and a growing campaign in the media for yet another review of the national game from the grassroots up, the prospect of Linfield and Bala Town facing off in the Firhill showpiece had created yet another problem for the games’ administrators - there are going to be precious few there to actually see it.
To the cynic, this provides the perfect opportunity for the game to be airbrushed from history. After all, if a match is played behind closed doors, who can truly bear witness to its ever taking place? But for those running the show, and who were expecting to cover the costs of booking a century-old 10,000 seater stadium for their grand final, they need to get fans in seats by hook or by crook.
Even in a good year, the final of Scotland’s third-most important cup competition would attract struggle to hit a five-figure attendance - it has only done so twice since the turn of the century, and both instances were thanks to Rangers’ demotion to the lower leagues rather than any sudden interest in football outside the SPL. Livingston vs Alloa in 2015 drew less than 3,000 spectators, Raith Rovers vs Queen of the South in 2022 settled at about 4,500, and on the one previous occasion a guest team reached the final back in 2019, Connah’s Quay’s defeat to Ross County was witnessed by just 3,057 fans despite being held just a 20 minute drive away from the eventual winners in Inverness.
This time, distance is going to be far more of a problem. Linfield regularly pull around 3,000 in as the dominant force in Northern Ireland, but there remains the small problem of the Irish Sea between Belfast and Glasgow. The novelty of a new trophy to play for may well excite a portion of their support, but travel costs are not insignificant and so demand for tickets has so far remained low.
It’s a similar story in Bala, although on a very different scale. The Welsh Premier League outfit can only count on a weekly gate of around 200 for their home games at Maes Tegid - a figure which nonetheless represents around 10% of the town’s population. Such a figure could make it to Firhill on just a handful of supporters’ coaches, but the prospect of a near 600 mile round trip for a match their side is heavily favoured to lose is not one many are likely to take up.
And while there will always be neutrals looking for a day out at the football - an optimist may suggest the opportunity to see two unfamiliar sides do battle might heighten demand from this group - that will undeniably make up only a small percentage of the tickets sold. Corporate favours, sponsors’ tickets and those reserved for the ‘football family’ tend to be given away rather than paid for, all of which begs the question - how many tickets are actually going to be sold?
Estimates at this stage range from the pessimistic end of 600 to the more hopeful figure of only 30% full, with plenty of red and yellow seats left empty for the television cameras to focus on. Not only that, but the SPFL will be looking at a significant loss on their big day. In short, not a great look for anybody involved.
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“Ladies and gentlemen, something needs to change.”
John McIntyre, chairman of the Scottish Professional Football League, addressed his board. The reality of a Linfield vs Bala final in the Challenge Cup, and the reaction in both the media and wider footballing public, had led to an extraordinary meeting being called in a bid to come up with some sort of solution - or at the very least calm the furore.
“As you know, we find ourselves looking at the Challenge Cup final being played out between two guest clubs, and people are not happy. Nor should they be. Given that we can’t simply cancel the final, does anybody have any suggestions as to where we go from here?”
An uncomfortable silence filled the room, nobody wishing to be the first to speak up. Ava Gordon, representing League One’s Ayr United, broke the tension.
“Could we lean into it with a rebrand? Expand the competition by bringing back the League of Ireland sides, maybe make it four from each league, slap the word Celtic or Gaelic in there somewhere, and I think a genuine international tournament generates more interest.”
“Interesting Ava, thank you. Any thoughts?”
“From a marketing point of view, Ava’s idea checks out,” came the response from non-executive director Hugo Cochrane. “But what we’re hoping to do in the first instance isn’t to get more eyes on, it’s to make our clubs more successful. Surely we don’t want to increase the incentives for the guests?”
“Hugo is right.” The next interjector was Sinclair Ross of Bonnyrigg Rose - Bala’s victims in the Third Round. “If anything, we need to go the other way. The only guaranteed way to make sure an SPFL team wins the trophy is to stop the guest gimmick completely.”
The chairman’s eyebrows shot up at Ross’ proposal, and he was quick to shoot it down.
“I understand the sentiment, but that will only lead to accusations of sour grapes. Besides which, we don’t want to damage the relationships with our friends at the IFA and FAW. I can’t countenance that as an option Sinclair, I’m sorry.”
The uneasy silence resumed. While the chairman was quite happy to let his colleagues sit in it indefinitely, the board’s chief executive was not. Isla Harrison spoke up.
“I’ll remind you now, the format is fixed for the next two years as per the contracts - so we aren’t going to be able to change anything overnight. I’m not prepared to risk our international relationships, so Mr Ross’ option is off the table. And while I agree that Mrs Gordon’s proposal risks this happening again, it does raise a further notion.”
“What would that be?” inquired McIntyre, his interest piqued by his colleague’s tone.
“Well,” replied Harrison, “if we agree to open up more spots for the Welsh and Irish sides and market it as a Celtic competition, it only seems fair to ask them to contribute to the running costs and prize pool, don’t you think?”
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From theasiangame.net
Asian Cup: Time for Thais to Complete Rise?
Anybody who cared to look at the seedings ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup may have encountered a surprise when looking through the top ranked sides. Of the six groups, four are led by sides regarded as regular powerhouses in the Asian game - hosts Australia, holders South Korea, regular challengers Japan, potential behemoths China . But the other two - the United Arab Emirates and Thailand - may be a little less expected.
The UAE are a side that have established themselves as a contender in the Middle Eastern game, rivalling three-time champions Saudi Arabia and relative newcomers Qatar for regional dominance. They may not have made a World Cup since their 1990 debut, but they have reached the semi finals of the Asian Cup on no fewer than four occasions, including two of the last three editions. They may not be among the bookies’ favourites, but their seeding is no surprise.
Thailand, on the other hand, have a story worth telling. In 2014, the War Elephants slumped to their lowest ever FIFA ranking of 165, a position currently occupied by the Caribbean island of Cuba. A year later, the 2015 Asian Cup took place without them - Thailand finishing bottom of their qualification group, without a point and conceding 21 goals in six matches against Iran, Lebanon and Kuwait. Their footballing situation was bleak.
But 13 years later, they arrive in Australia ranked 83rd in the world - between Israel and Jamaica, for references - and among the top pot of seeds after breezing through a qualification group of Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Hong Kong. They reached the last 16 in 2019, the quarter finals in 2023, and are now being listed as dark horses for the coming event. A dramatic turnaround - but how?
The story starts in 2017, with the election of Somyot Poompanmoung to the presidency of the Thai FA. While there are undeniable question marks over the former police Commissioner-General’s personal dealings - a roughly £7m loan from a fugitive brothel owner raised plenty of eyebrows when eventually declared - under his leadership there has been a concerted improvement in the team’s fortunes.
Building on their regional domination of the bi-annual AFF Championship for Southeast Asian nations - they have nine titles, while closest rivals Singapore have just four - there has been a change in policy at the top of the Thai game. There has been significant investment in youth football, improving the standard across the country. A greater focus has been given to coaching staff of the age group sides. And for the national team themselves, managerial appointments have moved away from well-known journeymen (Peter Reid and Bryan Robson, anyone?) to those with more relevant experience. For example, Serbian coach Milovan Rejevac, the new regime’s first appointment, had international experience with Qatar, Ghana and Algeria. Alexandre Polking, the Brazilian in charge since 2021 and who holds the highest win percentage of any Thailand manager in history, spent eight years managing three of the nation’s club sides, and had previously worked with the under-23s.
All this has led to a national team where the coaches both know and can communicate well with their players, and where the quality of those players is improving. Captain Supachok Sarachat plays in the top tier of Japan, forward Suphanat Mueanta is a regular starter for French side Nantes, while Ekanit Panya is an overseas star for Australian champions Melbourne City. Whereas past Thai sides pinned all their hopes on one key player, years of development and growth have led to a more competitive domestic league, a deeper player pool, and a national team stronger across the board.
In short, Thailand’s seeding should no longer be a surprise. You could argue that the likes of Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran can consider themselves unlucky to be ranked below the War Elephants, but there can be no denying that Thailand have earned their spot. While not yet one of the favourites for the competition, they are certainly among that second tier of nations looking to make their move. The Thai story has been one of slow but deliberate improvement, and there is much to be admired and perhaps copied by similarly-sized nations looking to improve their footballing lot. Australia 2027 may come a couple of years too soon for their full potential, but they certainly should not be overlooked in the coming weeks.
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“Welcome back to our Asian Cup preview show, where we are just about 90 minutes away from the opening game between Uzbekistan and China here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The atmosphere is building ahead of the opening ceremony, due to start in about an hour’s time, and there’s a real sense of anticipation as the tournament prepares to get underway.”
“We’ve been taking a whistle-stop tour of all 24 teams who have qualified for this year’s competition, and after taking a closer look at groups B and C before the break, it’s now the turn of Group D, and a set of four teams which some are labelling this year’s ‘group of death.’”
“That’s right, and you can see why. We’ve got the title holders and three-time champions South Korea, another three-time winner in Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, who of course lifted the trophy back in 2019. Rounding out the group is Indonesia, but I think everybody would be surprised if they’re in contention to qualify for the last 16 given who they’re up against.”
“Let’s start with the Indonesians, who are very much the underdogs of the group but who have done well to get here in the first place. They qualified for every tournament from 1996 to 2007 but haven’t been back since, have had their team suspended by FIFA in the meantime, but have bounced back in the last couple of years to make it to Australia. That should itself be seen as a success, but against three former winners in the group stage you’d have to assume that even a point would be a remarkable achievement for them.”
“Qatar are a bit of a wildcard in this competition - a lot of people expected them to really kick on after their 2019 win and then of course hosting the World Cup three years later, but they’ve had some really mixed performances since then. They reached the last eight in 2023 but failed to even qualify for the most recent World Cup, and once again they arrive in Australia with their entire 26-man squad playing in the Qatar Stars League. It’s an ageing squad - there hasn’t really been that regeneration you might expect in a national team over the last few years - but with that comes experience, and that can be crucial in these big tournaments.”
“Moving on to Saudi Arabia, who have a rich history with this competition and of course have been standard-bearers for the Asian continent with so many World Cup appearances. They’ll come into this with high expectations as they always do, but there have been some doubts about whether or not the team is strong enough. They’ve won three titles but none since the 1990s, and last got to the final 20 years ago. There’s a sense they’ve fallen behind the East Asian sides, and will want to prove a point here in Australia.”
“Finally there’s South Korea, who won the title last time in Qatar and are many people’s favourites to do it again here. That win broke a bit of a jinx that they had in this competition, with so many failures since their last title way back in 1960, but since tasting that winning feeling they’ve been looking for more. A penalty shoot-out away from the World Cup semis less than a year ago, on paper they’re the strongest team in Asia, they’ve got players at some of the biggest clubs in world football, and they’ll be looking to retain their title and establish something of a dynasty in the Asian game.”
“They wouldn’t be the first team to retain their title either - over the years it’s been something of a theme for the Asian Cup. The South Koreans themselves won the first two editions, Iran won three in a row in the 1960s and 70s, and since them we’ve seen Saudi Arabia and Japan both go back-to-back. If they want to be viewed as one of Asia’s great teams, that’s what they’ll be looking to replicate.”“We’ve already had a look at some of the teams who might stand in their way, and now it’s the turn of the teams in Group E - which also features a former champion, although not one expected to be competing for silverware this time round…”
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Thank you for the kind words, both - glad to have you on board!
--The TV broadcast cut to a replay of Linfield’s match-winning goal, pausing on a frame a few seconds before highlighting the Falkirk defence.
“The more I look at this, the worse it gets. Linfield have got one man breaking forward against three defenders, and somehow he ends up free. If you play the next clip, you’ll see Gallagher doesn’t even do anything special. It’s a quick feint one way, a step the other, and he’s got half the penalty area to himself. It’s baffling defending.”
“Do you give Linfield any credit for the goal?”
“Don’t get me wrong, once Gallagher gets that ball it’s a great finish - he had a lot of time to think about it, and plenty of players panic in that situation. But he should never have been given the opportunity, it’s criminal defending.”
The studio emerges back into view after the video is allowed to continue, concluding with the Linfield players’ wild celebrations by the corner flag.
“We weren’t expecting to talk about this tonight Ross, but we’ve just had confirmation that Bala Town have beaten Greenock Morton on penalties in the other game tonight. That means no Scottish club in the final for the first time ever. Your thoughts?”
“It’s a massive shame, and I think it says a lot about the state of the game right now. Falkirk are midtable in the Championship, looking to get to a cup final, and they’ve got what, 2,000 fans here? They aren’t bothered. Then you look at what they’re putting on the pitch, and you can see why. The football was poor, the players don’t look like they’ve met each other before, it’s pitiful.”
“Has the Challenge Cup served its purpose do you think? If the idea was to give clubs from Wales and Northern Ireland the opportunity to play stronger opponents, and now they’re winning the competition…”
“Nonsense, you can’t look at the players in the Championship and tell me your average Welsh Premier players would get into any of those teams on a technical level. They’re winning because they’re trying harder, they’re putting the effort in, and the Scottish boys out there just aren’t.”
“What do you put that down to?”
“That I don’t know. I don’t know whether it’s a money thing, but then there’s not much money outside the SPL. More than in Northern Ireland for sure, but even so. There’s just a malaise at the moment - you’ve seen it here, they’ll have seen it at Bala, you see it every weekend around the grounds. There’s a big problem that needs fixing, and I don’t know what the answer is.”
“Well if that is the case, I certainly hope someone has some answers, because failing to win your trophy is not a good look for the Scottish game right now. Just confirm, the Challenge Cup final will be played between Linfield of Northern Ireland and Bala Town of Wales. I wonder how many we’ll get at Firhill for that one.”
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From The Daily Record
It Can’t Get Any Worse
It’s been a long time since Scottish football was on top of the world. It’s hard to say exactly when our proud nation sat atop the pile, but for much of its storied past Scotland, a nation of fewer than six million, has punched significantly above its weight. We are, after all, the nation which gave the world the famous Lisbon Lions, produced managerial giants such as Ferguson, Shankly, Stein, Busby and Struth, and contests one of the most ferocious derbies anywhere on the planet.
But while there have long been grumblings about Old Firm domination being bad for the health of the Scottish game and the riches of clubs south of the border reducing the SPL to little more than a feeder league, very few have been prepared to sound the death knell of our national game. Until now.
Last night, in the semi finals of the Scottish Challenge Cup - now in its second season without a title sponsor - Falkirk were beaten 2-1 at home by Northern Irish guests Linfield. Roughly 300 miles away in North Wales, Greenock Morton were taken to a penalty shoot-out by Bala Town, who triumphed from 12 yards. For the first time in history, a Scottish cup final will take place without a Scottish team contesting it.
Even the venue is a source of embarrassment. Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium was chosen late in the day, as all final venues have been historically, for its relative equidistance to the remaining Scottish sides in the competition. The Scottish FA themselves simply assumed their sides would win through, and while they could hardly have asked to host the game outside their own jurisdiction, it makes the situation all the more ridiculous to the observer.
The talent drain from Scottish football has long been a cause of concern, but the fact that this final will take place is a nadir which should never have been reached. Linfield are at least a strong club in their own right, with a rich history of success in their native league and a culture of victory. Bala Town on the other hand, have never won even the Welsh Premier League, a competition made up largely of semi-professional clubs. That they have managed to beat the likes of Montrose and Alloa in addition to last night’s visitors is a damning indictment indeed.
The SFA and SPFL must now act to save face. The game will go ahead, of that there can be doubt, and a guest club will lift the Challenge Cup for the first time. But it cannot be allowed to happen again. Reforming the competition and excluding such sides would smack of sour grapes, so the onus must instead be on improving the Scottish game to the point where another Bala Town reaching the final is unthinkable. It doesn’t matter how it happens - league reform, financial incentives, or something else entirely - but last night’s results must act as a wake-up call. The future of our game depends on it.
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Inspired by something that I spotted when combing through the game world for 'Continent from the Couch.' This will only be a quick one, but I hope enjoyable nonetheless!
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From the australian.com.au
Aloisi Confident Ahead of Asian Cup
Socceroos manager John Aloisi has dismissed concerns over his inexperience ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup, claiming his side has what it takes to lift the trophy on home soil.
Aloisi, 50, was only appointed to the role in July following a disappointing World Cup campaign under Graham Arnold, and has managed the side in only a handful of friendlies with mixed results. But the two-time A-League champion is confident in his ability to get the most out of his players.
“It’s not ideal coming into the competition cold, but that’s one of the things you trade in for getting to host the tournament. We haven’t played a lot of football together, but these guys are coming in the middle of their seasons and are at peak fitness. You can tell they’re ready, they’re excited to play for their country, and they’re a talented bunch.
“I’ve not got a lot of experience managing at international level, but I know what it’s like to represent your country and what it means to play for Australia. I know the passion, the nerves - I know what it’s like to go to a World Cup or an Asian Cup with all the expectations. We’re a country that expects to win, and I know what that pressure feels like.
“When you look around at the players we’ve got, it’s a strong group. We’ve got guys playing at the highest level in Europe, we’ve got guys in the top leagues around Asia, and we’ve got the top guys from the A-League here at home. All of them have got what we need to win it, especially with the home fans on board.”
The Socceroos have been drawn in Group C alongside Oman, Turkmenistan and regular contenders Iran, and with four of the six best third-place finishers progressing to the last 16, the hosts are strongly favoured to make a comfortable passage to the knockout rounds. Aloisi is confident, but unwilling to countenance complacency.
“You can’t make any assumptions in top level sport. Iran are a top side, and both Turkmenistan and Oman are here on merit, you can’t just fall into this tournament. We’re coming in looking to win all three games and set ourselves up well for the elimination games, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves - Turkmenistan will be a good test for us in Brisbane, we’ll be going full strength and we won’t be looking past them until the final whistle blows.”
Those in favour of Aloisi’s appointment have pointed towards his wealth of international experience as a player, plus the significance of his domestic titles with both Western United and Melbourne City, as reasons he is the right man to lead the Socceroos on home soil and towards the 2030 World Cup. On the other hand, his detractors have questioned whether he has the track record and reputation required to tame a squad featuring several European stars - but the man himself does not appear worried.
“I don’t buy into the argument you need to have been a world class player to manage at this level - some have, some haven’t, and I got my fair share of caps in my time. I’ve spoken with every one of the guys, and there’s a healthy, mutual respect in the group. I can learn from Daniel Arzani’s experiences in England, he can learn from my championship wins. There’s good communication, a great atmosphere - everything you need for success.
“Of course I count myself fortunate to be in this position, to be managing my country in a home tournament. But I also think I’ve earned that chance, the FFA believes in me, and the players have caught the vision of what I want from them. We’ve got a huge opportunity to do something really special here, and we’re well prepared to take it.”
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Continent from the Couch II - An Asian Adventure Down Under
in FM Stories
Posted
From theasiangame.net
Asian Cup: Champions Cruise, Saudis Recover, Thais Soar
With the Asian Cup group stage reaching its midpoint, the number of teams establishing their place in the knockout stage is steadily growing, with several sides already on the brink of elimination. Very few nations are completely out courtesy of the four best third-place slots available, but a number of key match-ups are being set up for the final round of fixtures.
Defending champions South Korea are the latest team to book their place in the last 16, topping Group D with an impressive 4-1 win over Qatar. A brace from Hwang Hee-Chan and a third from Lee Tae-Ryung inside the first 30 minutes put the holders on course for a comfortable 90 minutes, and while Hamza Sanhaji pulled one back before the break, a fourth from Jun Se-Jin 15 minutes before the final whistle put the exclamation mark on a very impressive performance from a side cementing their place as pre-tournament favourites.
Saudi Arabia bounced back from their opening day defeat to the reigning champions with a solid if unspectacular 2-0 win over Indonesia at Suncorp Stadium, who require nothing short of a miracle to progress after back-to-back defeats. Abdulfatteh Adam and Mansour Al-Balawi grabbed the first-half goals to send the Green Falcons on the way, and set up a final-day showdown with [b]Qatar[/b] for second place in the group.
Across Brisbane at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre, Thailand produced a superb performance as they put five unanswered goals past Kuwait in a thumping victory. Three of the goals came in the final 10 minutes to add a thick layer of gloss to the final score, but the win puts the Thais in a strong position heading into their final Group E game with four points, not to mention cementing their position as a genuine dark horse for the title. Meanwhile, despite seeing their goal difference take a hammering, Kuwait remain in with a chance after their first round win over Bahrain and a third game against Syria yet to come.
Few will have expected anything other than wins for the three victorious sides, but the manner of the Korean and Thai wins will certainly make plenty of people sit up and take notice. Qatar won the tournament just two editions and are one of a group of outsiders waiting in the wings should the favourites fall short. For South Korea to be three goals to the good inside half an hour is a statement of real intent - the defending champions have now beaten both of their biggest rivals in what some had christened the tournament’s ‘Group of Death,’ and are surely now favourites to retain their crown.
Thailand are a more intriguing prospect - a nation which has seen steady improvement over the last few years without managing to break through into the top tier of the Asian game. A 5-0 win against a side above them in the group, and after a disappointing draw with Syria in their opening game could be the catalyst for them to make that jump. The manner of the victory, which saw star midfielder Supachok Sarachat score twice and set up two more of his side’s goals and the whole team apply relentless pressure even when comfortably ahead late on, was perhaps as impressive as the scoreline, and stands them in good stead for their best run since claiming the bronze medals in a six-team tournament they hosted back in 1972.
Finally, a Saudi side in transition grabbing a win against the outmatched Indonesians should come as no surprise to anybody, but should perhaps be celebrated nonetheless - seeing the Green Falcons crash to the bottom of their group and out of the tournament would be a real shame for a side with their proud record at the competition. Their entire campaign now hinges on a winner-take-all, politically charged clash with rivals Qatar - while defeat and three points in the group would still present a chance to go through, it would be hard to imagine them then picking themselves up to defeat the likes of South Korea, Australia or Japan in the latter stages. Conversely, a victory in that decisive game would generate huge momentum for the team, and potentially set them on a path for unexpected glory. Such is the fickle nature of the Asian game, and a huge part of why we love it so.