AFCON & Asian Cup Mega Thread

[John Arne]

more freds.

Asian Cup kicks off today. Being hosted, of course, in Qatar.

Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia favourites. My pick is Japan. 6 groups of 4, top 2 qualify + 4 best runners-up.

First round of fixtures:

Friday, Jan. 12
Group A: Qatar vs. Lebanon

Saturday, Jan. 13
Group B: Australia vs. India
Group A: China vs. Tajikistan
Group B: Uzbekistan vs. Syria

Sunday, Jan. 14
Group D: Japan vs. Vietnam
Group C: United Arab Emirates vs. Hong Kong
Group C: Iran vs. Palestine

Monday, Jan. 15
Group E: South Korea vs. Bahrain
Group D: Indonesia vs. Iraq
Group E: Malaysia vs. Jordan

Tuesday, Jan. 16
Group F: Thailand vs. Kyrgyz Republic
Group F: Saudi Arabia vs. Oman


AFCON

Starts on Saturday, hosted in Ivory Coast. Hosts also appear to be bookies favourites, alongside Morocco, Senegal and Algeria. My pick is the hosts to win it all.

6 groups of 4, top 2 qualify + 4 best runners-up.

Saturday 13 January
Group A: Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau

Sunday 14 January
Group A: Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea
Group B: Egypt vs Mozambique
Group B: Ghana vs Cape Verde

Monday 15 January
Group C: Senegal vs The Gambia
Group C: Cameroon vs Guinea
Group D: Algeria vs Angola

Tuesday 16 January

Group D: Burkina Faso vs Mauritania
Group E: Tunisia vs Namibia
Group E: Mali vs South Africa

Wednesday 17 January
Group F: Morocco vs Tanzania
Group F: DR Congo vs Zambia

[Ben]

Asia Cup would usually be some good viewing at work but because they've sold out to the sand crew, many games are on a night so it'll clash with AFCON, and there's only one winner there.

[Don]

The amount of football over the next month, buzzing

Fancy Hezbollah to get something today against Qatar.

AC Notes:

- Only Japan and SK can surely win. Iran have a fucking idiot in charge and everyone else doesn't have the talent to compete. Uzbekistan are the up and comers but maybe coming a little too early for their young talent.

- Because of the above, it may be a very competitive affair with some nice results for minnow nations. Do like the idea of Palestine possibly going deep too a la Iraq 2007.

AFCON notes:

- Senegal and Ivory Coast only sides that look like they can compete with the North African brotherhood of Algeria, Egypt and Morroco. Hopefully Egypt storm it though for Mo.

- Hopefully the football isn't as god awful as 2021.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I am quite interested to see if Afcon is going to see a few sides attempt the modern style with the high press and whatnot. I can't think of anything less suited for African conditions than a high intensity running and quick tempo short passing game. So I imagine it will still be a clogfest, but with the usual points of difference that make it such a fun tournament.

[niko_cee]

Hang on, is Onana in the Cameroon squad? Is he just sacking off their opening game for United's game this weekend or is he in the throes of one of those Cameroonian retirements that seem to affect a lot of their players?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The former. I don't think he's played for them since flouncing out of the last World Cup because Rigo asked him to kick it long. Clearly just thinks he's bigger than playing for them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hang on, is Onana in the Cameroon squad? Is he just sacking off their opening game for United's game this weekend or is he in the throes of one of those Cameroonian retirements that seem to affect a lot of their players?

He apparently was planning on playing for United then flying and playing for Cameroon.

He's now decided to play for United at the weekend, will skip the first Cameroon game and then fly out.

[Shindig]

Hopefully the other keeper gets settled and they don't change them all tournament.

[Mike]

Are any channels doing MOTD type highlight shows for either of these?

[Don]

Of course not, brav. You're in fucking brexitland not some actual football country.

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State of media in this country

[Lofty]

Not very diverse, they need a strategy meeting to adress it and set up some targets.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Presumably one of them is Omar Sy, off to steal the trophy.

[Shindig]

BBC must've grabbed this at the last opportunity. I'm ready.

[Manc]

The Beeb coverage is a little easier on the eye and the commentary a little easier on the ears.

[Don]

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[Jimmy Floyd]

Tempo and press is quite good in this game, bodes well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It really is noticeable how much the west African crowd loves a skill move, regardless of outcome. No time for the collective over there, it's all about individual expression. The opposite of the folks across the desert.

[Manc]

Can't imagine we'll see a worse attacking outfit than GNB. Horrendous.

[Lewis]

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[Jimmy Floyd]

Scenes in progress as Egypt's 1-0 half time lead against Mozambique has been turned into a 1-2 deficit by the hour.

[Waffdon]

Of course Egypt are going to go out in the group stages and Salah is back before the end of the month

[Jimmy Floyd]

Salah has been awful, although it looks as though they're going to salvage something with a late penalty.

[niko_cee]

Of course Salah would score that penalty.

Isn't he always pretty terrible for Egypt? Whenever I've watched them it's been the likes of Trezeguet carrying the main threat.

[Manc]

Egypt spending more time in the barbers than on the training pitch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Salah's penalty clouted the post pretty hard but enough angle to go in on the other side.

Chris Hughton's Ghana now stinking the place up, despite firing in an equaliser just now that was VAR'd on the old line of sight chestnut.

[Waffdon]

Cape Verde genuinely dominated Ghana there lol

[Lofty]

Yes my chucking them onto a Sunday evening acca based on history was foolish in hindsight.

[Manc]

Rigobert Song has the look of a man who has no idea where he is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a cross that is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wins for both Iraq and Jordan today which are the two origin nations of my best buddy the Arab. I asked him which one he was backing in the tournament, he said he didn't care and was only bothered about 'Barshelona' and their 4-1 thumping at the hands of Real Madrid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Such a shame he's offside because that is stunning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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The technique is beautiful.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Missed the first half of Tunisia/Namibia but surely this has 1-0 Tunisia written all over it.

[Ben]

Absolute dross but this is what it's all about. Commentators (Sky) are class.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Absolute dross but this is what it's all about. Commentators (Sky) are class.

Yeah the commentators are great, these lads should be on every game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Namibia

Banging cross in and the commentator reactions was brilliant.

[Ben]

Nice to hear commentators react like fans of the game for once.

Chalk AFCON up for having better VAR than us too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unreal result for Namibia. Carthage might have their work cut out qualifying now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I love how the main commentator is saying Percy Tau's name.

"Passy Tau".

[niko_cee]

Tom Kerridge on co-comms in the Bristol game never ceases to amaze me.

[Ben]

"The referee makes it clear the only thing you're allowed to kick on the pitch, is the ball"

Absolutely majestic commentary from these African fellows.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oooooo, I didn't realise Avram Grant was here.

Edit: Holy shit, Gael Kakuta too. What a throwback.

[Manc]

Gael Kakuta currently playing his club football alongside Andy Carroll.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh dear DR Congo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kakuta was coming through during the period when I was going to Chelsea quite a lot, and he was one of those few young players who was genuinely thrilling to watch. Tiny little bloke darting in every direction like a flea. You could see why they were willing to get a transfer ban to get their mits on him. Guess it didn't work out because he was ultimately not strong enough physically.

Zambia are Afcon royalty, DRC are always about 500% less than the sum of their parts, and their parts are not too hot these days either.

That however is a nice goal.

[Manc]

That's a classic AFCON goal. No tournament like it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm surprised DR Congo are still using Bakambu.

Although that wasn't a bad pass by him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's a classic AFCON goal. No tournament like it.

This is the best one for years, based on the first round of games. Teams are actually going for it full throttle and the 'smaller' nations have no fear. Refereeing not as catastrophic as usual yet either.

[igor_balis]

Great run and pass by wissa, followed by an absolute comedy finish from bakambu. Quality.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's never a pen.