Qatar's Asian Cup triumph offers hope of 2022 respectability

AUSTRALIA FLOP

A format that left some teams still in with a chance of advancing despite losing their first two matches did not help, and neither did a lack of marketing which resulted in many UAE residents being completely unaware the Asian Cup was going on.

Champions Australia flopped in the quarter-finals mainly because of their inability to turn dominant performances into goals, while Saudi hopes that they could end their long wait since their third title lasted only until the round of 16.

Carlos Queiroz's Iran looked like they might end their 43-year drought until they were undone in the semi-finals by the only Japan performance that came anywhere near the dominant style that won the Samurai Blue four titles.

With some emotion, Portuguese Queiroz drew a close to his eight years in charge of Team Melli, as did China's Italian World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi following his error-prone side's defeat to Iran in the last eight.

There were some bright notes from nations with less footballing pedigree -- India were denied a first run to the knockout stages only by a stoppage-time penalty and Vietnam's effervescent style took them to the last eight.

South Korea were joined by the one Asian player of world stature for their third match but a fatigued Son Heung-min failed to revive their lacklustre campaign and returned to Tottenham Hotspur after the quarter-final loss to Qatar.

Ali was named Player of the Tournament but the award could easily have gone to his skilful forward partner Akram Afif, who sealed the title for Qatar when he coolly despatched a spot kick for the final goal of the 17th Asian Cup.