World Soccer - UK (2022-05)

sia looked at the

controversial and

dramatic end to

Africa’s World Cup

qualifiers in wonder.

The road to Qatar

that ran through the world’s biggest

continent was also the longest as it

Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Japan

head to Qatar, with Australia and the United

Arab Emirates facing a tricky play-off route

A

Usual suspects

advance from

Asian region

started back inJune 2019. The ending

was, however, dull and predictable –

a carbon copy of the last time around

with Iran, South Korea,Japan and Saudi

Arabia as the four automatic qualifiers.

The quartet all made it with at least a

game to spare, but there will be drama

to come in theJune play-offs. The two

Asia

JOHN DUERDEN

Talisman...

Son Heung-

min topped

the scoring

charts for

South Korea

third-placed teams, United Arab Emirates

and Australia, meet in Doha, with the

winner taking on South American

representatives Peru a week later.

In Group A, Iran and South Korea had

the two automatic spots sewn up from

the start, finishing a massive13 and11

points respectively ahead of the UAE.

R

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