Doha: Just eight months after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil concluded with Germany lifting the trophy at the Maracana, the bid for the next global extravaganza at Russia 2018 takes centre stage with Asia’s qualifying first round kicking off today.
Six pairs of the continent’s lower ranked sides will battle over two legs, on March 12 and 17 , with the aggregate winners progressing to join the remaining 34 teams in the next stage.
This phase also serves as the first round qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
With so much at stake, the competition looks set to capture the imagination of football fans near and far.
Many eyes are on India, the highest ranked of the 12 sides as they welcome familiar regional rivals Nepal.
A much-improved Pakistan travel to Doha to face Yemen seeking their first win against the west Asians in over three decades, while Cambodia entertain Macau hoping to build on their dominant record against the fellow southeast Asian side.
Elsewhere, Chinese Taipei face Brunei Darussalam on the back of their goalless draw against Korea DPR, and Sri Lanka are confident of maintaining their unblemished record against Bhutan.
Mongolia, meanwhile, enter the unknown in the form of hosts Timor-Leste.
The matches between the two neighbouring countries, India and Nepal, has developed a marked rivalry over the past four-and-a-half decades, having met no less than 13 times.
On the surface, coach Stephen Constantine’ hosts have boasted a clear mental edge with ten wins and two draws but the Englishman is aware that if they underestimate the rivals it will be at their own peril.
The visitors have, indeed, made fast progress since Jack Stefanowski took over three years ago.
Under the Polish-born American tactician, Nepal notably edged India 2-1 on home soil for their only victory in the 2013 SAFF Championship.
The hosts will look to Sunil Chhetri, the team’s all-time leading scorer with 45 goals from 82 international appearances, to create the chances up front.
Besides, Constantine’s intimate knowledge of his rivals gives the home team an added advantage, having coached Nepal from 1999 to 2001.
Nepal, for their part, can count on the striking partnership of Anil Gurung and Ju Manu Rai, both of whom were on target in their defeat of the Indians. Anything but a heavy loss will see the Gorkhalis boosted ahead of the return match.
Pakistan to face Yemen in Doha
Pakistan arrive in Doha to face Yemen with a score to settle, having lost both legs by big margins in their previous World Cup meetings on the road to USA 1994. Despite their disappointing record to date, the visitors emerge a different side this time around, reinforced by a squad with eight players plying their trade overseas. Revenge is also on the minds of Brunei when they travel to Chinese Taipei, having conceded five unanswered goals in their previous meeting with their opponents in a friendly in 2009. The team will look to their DPMM FC stars, particularly a pair of brothers in Mohd and Adi Said who will shoulder the goal-scoring tasks.
If their recent 2-2 friendly draw against Singapore is anything to go by, it seems that Macau look set to turn the table in Cambodia, who lost to the Lions 4-2 in last year’s AFF Suzuki Cup. The hosts, coached by Korean Lee Taehoon, can draw inspiration from their proud record with three wins from four previous meetings.
Elsewhere, Sri Lanka look to make light work of Bhutan, the world’s lowest ranked side who have been the losers in all the past five encounters.Agencies
