1 sept. 2021
-
FIFA.com continues its analysis of the figures we will see in the third round of the Asian preliminaries
-
We focus on some of the players who can be decisive in Group B
-
Six superstars capable of getting the fans on their feet
The Asian qualifying campaign for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™ has reached its most decisive phase. The 60 matches that make up the third round, which will be played between September 2, 2021 and March 29, 2022, will decide the four teams that will represent the AFC in next year’s planetary event.
There are 12 teams that remain in contention, divided into two groups of six. And with the action starting this Thursday, FIFA.com takes a look at some of the figures aspiring to make their respective countries’ dream of qualifying for Qatar 2022 come true. the turn of the most brilliant stars of Group B.
Maya Yoshida, Japan
Defense (Age: 33)
Yoshida is a fierce defender who has played a huge role in Japan’s successes for the past 10 years. He was a member of the team that won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and was runner-up in the same tournament two years ago in the United Arab Emirates. He also participated in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 and was one of the Blue Samurai players over 23 years old in the Tokyo 2020 Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament. In addition to his long international career, he has served in the major European leagues in Netherlands, England and Italy, where he currently plays for Sampdoria.
Matthew Ryan, Australia
Archer (29)
Ryan has participated in two editions of the World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Russia, as well as winning the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia. A huge background that he now brings to the renewed national team of coach Graham Arnold, who has made up a very young team since he took office. Ryan took part in six Asian second round matches, conceding just one goal and proving his reliability under the sticks with Australia in their fight to pocket the ticket to the world event.
Salem Al-Dawsari, Arabia Saudí
Midfielder (30)
Al-Dawsari made his debut for his national team in 2012 and has since established himself as one of the great figures of Saudi football. He scored in his baptism of fire, against Australia in the preliminary competition of Brazil 2014, and participated in Russia 2018, where he scored the winning goal in the last match of the group stage of his own, against Egypt. Al-Dawsari has maintained his superb marksmanship in the current qualifiers, with five goals in as many games, thus cementing his status as one of the most prolific gunners on his team.
Wu Lei, China
Front (29)
Lei is China’s top active scorer. He currently plays in the ranks of Espanyol and is the only footballer of his team living abroad and its most prominent figure. He was called up for the first time in 2010, but had to wait three years to gain a foothold as a starter. He took part in the 2018 Russia preliminary competition and the 2015 and 2019 editions of the AFC Asian Cup. He also played every game in China in the second round of this qualifying campaign, with eight goals in seven games that helped his team advance to the final round, where he hopes to maintain his aim and contribute to China’s qualification for Qatar 2022. .
Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali, Oman
Front (32)
Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic has transformed the Omani team, dispensing with the old guard led by veterans Ali Al-Habsi and Ahmed Mubarak. As it is, the focus is now on striker Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali, the most experienced footballer of the current team. He made his international debut in 2011 and took part in the qualifiers for Brazil 2014, in which he scored twice before repeating the feat in the preliminaries of Russia 2018. Al-Muqbali, who also has two goals this season, has He worked in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and is Ivankovic’s henchman.
Que Ngoc Hai, Vietnam
Defense (28)
Hai is famous for his physical prowess, an asset that has helped him establish himself as a starter since his international debut in 2014. He was captain in the 2019 Asian Cup, in which Vietnam reached the quarter-finals with a historic victory on penalties against Jordan. And he continues to lead the Golden Star Warriors to success. In fact, in the second round he took part in every game and scored two goals as his own reached the final round of qualifiers for the first time in their history.
–
