The teams in the same group of the round of 18 also lamented the "group of death", and the Saudi media was worried about losing points against the national football team

Football Newspaper

2024-06-28 12:55Football News Official Account

The teams in the same group of the round of 18 also lamented the "group of death", and the Saudi media was worried about losing points against the national football team

Reporter Han Bing reported that after the draw results of the round of 18 were released, the opponents in the same group also sighed that "this is the real group of death". Even the strongest Japanese team coach Mori Hoichi bluntly said, "Every game is a tough battle, and it is difficult to predict the outcome of the battle." "Japan and Australia have been in the same group for the final stage of the World Preliminary Championships for five consecutive times, and Saudi Arabia has been in the same group for three consecutive times. Mori stressed that the Japanese team did not go well in the last World Preliminary Tournament and will be even more difficult this time.

"Nikkan Sports" analyzed the characteristics of opponents in the same group one by one, especially emphasizing that naturalized players may bring strength improvement to opponents, including the national football team. Japanese media specifically mentioned that in the first game of the top 12 three years ago, Japan lost to Oman led by Ivan at home, and this time it will face an "old opponent".

"It's not easy to play in Asia." The leader of the Japanese team, Masakuni Yamamoto, agreed with Mori's judgment and promised to give the Japanese team the best logistical support.

Australia coach Trent Alexander-Arnold is confident of qualifying: "We are stronger than before and have more high-quality players to choose from. Many thought that the expansion of the World Cup would make qualifying easier, but the draw showed that it was the group of death. ”

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald analysed the group opponents (pictured above) and concluded that Nissa was the main competitor. Three years ago, in the round of 12, Australia was third in the group and finally qualified for the World Cup through the play-offs. Australia's goal is to qualify as the top two teams in the group, Saudi Arabia may be suppressed, and the other three teams, including the national football team, the Australian media believe that there is nothing to fear. Australia has never lost to Bahrain or Indonesia and has only lost to the national team twice in the last 40 years.

Mohammed, Bahrain's national team general manager who participated in the draw, will be hoping to continue his form in the round of 36 and will aim to qualify directly from the top two of the group rather than finishing third or four in the play-offs. Bahrain's Croatian coach Tarazzic has coached Saudi Arabia and Henan teams and is familiar with the football environment of his opponents in the group stage, which is the reason for the confidence of the Bahrain team. The Bahrain team is even planning to train in Slovenia from July 20 to August 2, during which they will warm up with clubs from Slovenia and Croatia.

Saudi Arabia's "Arriyadiyah" believes that once again being in the same group with Japan, Australia and China will help the Saudi team participate in the World Cup for the sixth time; Kooora believes that Saudi Arabia are in the "group of death", and it will be very difficult to play against Japan and Australia, and it is likely to lose points against Bahrain or the national football team (above). Saudi fans have been extremely disappointed with coach Mancini and hope that the Saudi Football Association will change the coach as soon as possible. In early June, the Saudi team lost 1-2 to Jordan, coupled with the defeat in the Asian Cup, which led to strong demands from the Saudi media and fans for a change of coach. Saudi media took the change of coach in Jordan as an example and hoped that the Saudi Football Association would act decisively.

As coach Shin Tae-ryong is undergoing rehabilitation in South Korea, Indonesia will participate in the draw by Football Association President Tohir and Assistant Coach Choi In-chol. Choi In-chul said that Indonesia has made great progress in the past five years under Shin Tae Long's coach, "Although the group is very difficult, we will try to move forward and aim for third or fourth place and try to reach the World Cup through the play-offs." Shin was happy with the draw result, although Indonesia avoided South Korea, which he wanted to face.

Indonesian media said that the Indonesian Football Federation plans to naturalize at least two more players with European league resumes before the round of 18 in September, with a focus on the forward line. However, the biggest variable in the Indonesian team is that Shin Tae-ryong has not yet renewed his contract, and there is news from South Korea that he will be included in the list of candidates for the new coach. Although the probability of contract renewal is high, it cannot be ruled out that there will be a reversal at the last moment, which will affect the team's preparation.

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