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Australia would have to fancy itself it they meet in the play offs.

Syria 1-0 over Iran in Tehran:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_nAC3BroI4

Half Time
Syria 1 Qatar 1, South Korea 0 Iran 0, China 0 Uzbeks 0

Also Thailand 0 Iraq 1 at HT in our group

All 3 Group A matches being played simulatneously, 25 minutes gone
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/all-matches.html

All 3 goals in the UAE win over the Saudis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZTshHxnJxE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC5PqA4SxhE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp2LETaXEXg

Full highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDjLWgsmRDc

the table is now
Japan played 8, 17 pts 15-6 +9 GD
SA played 9, 16 pts  16-10 +6 GD
Oz played 8, 16 pts 14-8 +6 GD
UAE on 13 points but need a 6-0 win over Iraq to get anywhere close to SA and Oz on goal difference

Japan now needs either 3 points on Thursday or at least 1 point away to the Saudis on MD10, however there is no difference between a draw or a loss for them on Thursday in terms of their qualifying chances unless the Thais can sneak a point against us in the last match.

For Australia a win against Japan would seal qualification while a draw would mean needing 3 points against Thailand to go though. In the event of a 1-0 or 2-1 loss to Japan the goal difference then goals scored criteria puts pressure on us unless we expect Japan to draw or win the match against the Saudis.  We would then most likely need something like a 2-0 win or 3-1 win against the Thais to put the pressure on the Saudis to have to score 2 against Japan.

Let's get a result on Thursday night.

According to wikipedia there are 2 players picked in June who were not picked for their last 2 WCQ, both appear to be fringe squad members.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia_national_football_team

Here's hoping for a 2-0 UAE win next Wednesday morning.
http://www.the-afc.com/2018-fifa-world-cup/road-to-russia-2018-hopefuls-all-set-for-asian-qualifiers
http://www.the-afc.com/2018-fifa-world-cup/12-players-to-watch-in-the-final-2018-fifa-world-cup-asian-qualifiers

Highlights and other 2018 WCQ videos from the AFL youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPkuWEMcRg4FwdPKnnw8Z2nB4KXwmQ0jm
https://www.youtube.com/user/AFCCHAMPIONSLEAGUE/videos?flow=list&live_view=502&view=2

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/thailand-name-strong-squad-for-caltex-socceroos-fifa-world-cup-qualifier/117b6tbk3c3rl13tkk6xa7uouq

I missed this at the time but the South Koreans sacked their coach after the last match

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=6/news=korea-republic-sack-uli-stielike-2895285.html

If South Korea do not defeat Iran at home on MD9 then the Uzbeks WILL finish 2nd if they win the MD10 clash between the 2 sides.

MD9 results will determine whether a draw on MD10 will be enough for the Koreans.

So Sth Korea could end up third! What a turn up! 

We better ensure direct qualification.

South Korea lost to Qatar 3-2 as well so the other group is also very tight for 2nd place. 

Uzbekistan are playing away to China on MD9 with South Korea hosting Iran then away to the Uzbeks  on MD9 and MD10.

1-1 at Full Time

A win and a draw in the last 2 matches will put Australia through to Russia on 20 points

Iraq have scored against Japan 1-1 after 75 minutes, if the Iraqis can hold on a draw would be HUGE for Australia

Why can't we produce someone like an Azmoun ffs

At this trajectory Iran will be the clear best in Asia in a few years. 

This is the Age's take on tonight's games

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-hoping-for-japan-world-cup-slip-20170612-gwp9hm.html

Iran are now through after winning 2-0.

The Uzbeks will be hoping that tonights Qatar vs South Korea result is favourable, to make it likely that the MD10 WCQ at home against South Korea decides 2nd place in the Group.

Iran vs Uzbekistan is on a day earlier than the other matches (245am Oz East Cost time Tuesday morning)

Thailand vs UAE and Iraq vs Japan  are on at 10pm and 1025pm respectively on Tuesday night - ie right after the Brazil friendly

Japan dropping points to Iraq would be ideal, hopefully that goes in our favour.

While the numbers suggest that UAE dropping points might help Australia by guaranteeing at least 3rd spot I think we would want UAE to win so that they are still in contention when they play Saudi Arabia on MD9.

Japan 1 - 1 Syria
United Arab Emirates 4 - 0 Laos
Iraq 0 - 0 Korea Republic (played in the UAE)
Uzbekistan 2 - 0 Thailand

Iraq host South Korea in  friendly today. Japan host Syria while it's China vs Philippines and Hong Kong vs Jordan.

Group A Standings as of March 28th:
1 Iran 7 5 2 0 6 0 +6 17
2 South Korea 7 4 1 2 9 7 +2 13
3 Uzbekistan 7 4 0 3 6 4 +2 12
4 Syria 7 2 2 3 2 3 −1 8
5 China 7 1 2 4 3 7 −4 5
6 Qatar 7 1 1 5 3 8 −5 4

Matchday 8:
Iran v Uzbekistan
Syria v China
Qatar v South Korea

Group B Standings as of March 28th:
1 Japan 7 5 1 1 14 5 +9 16
2 Saudi Arabia 7 5 1 1 13 5 +8 16
3 Australia 7 3 4 0 11 6 +5 13
4 United Arab Emirates 7 3 0 4 7 10 −3 9
5 Iraq 7 1 1 5 7 10 −3 4
6 Thailand 7 0 1 6 3 19 −16 1

Matchday 8:
Australia v Saudi Arabia
Thailand v United Arab Emirates
Iraq v Japan

2-0 after 20 minutes for Japan

Youtube streams for the upcoming matches per the AFC website 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj0TjaM0wyxkAWW_nz8_1g

Oz vs UAE  8pm  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ZtTbZKYoI

Japan vs Thailand 930pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52nuhstZh0

South Korea vs Syria 10pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BP2yNiHJ2k

Iran vs China 11pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWGB7NzYDuo

Uzbek vs China midnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGqoMxTMj4

Saudis vs Iraq 430am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHLLSjOuxBs

Despite our series of draws the UAE game on Tuesday is really a major opportunity to get back on track. 

As stated above it would be handy for other teams to take points from the Saudis and/or Japanese.

Losing to us would put UAE 4 points behind us with 3 games to go which would pretty much put them out of the running for a direct  WC spot.  Hopefully they can still snag a point from the Saudis in the 2nd last match which is their only home game remaining.

Given that the Saudis have to travel back from Thailand while Iraq have a shorter trip from Iran to Saudi I have my fingers crossed Iraq can pull off a draw early Wednesday morning. If not then hopefully they can pull off  a draw in Iran against the Japanese in June.

I don't think we should expect the Thais to get a result on Tuesday night away to Japan.

One game at a time, let's just hope that we finally play well AND get a win !

http://ultra.zone/2018-FIFA-World-Cup-qualification-AFC-Third-Round#group=b

I really  hope Saudi stuff up on Tuesday. If they beat UAE we're going to be in massive trouble I think. The way UAE play gives some hope. If Iraq can hold Japan away then they can frustrate Saudi.

We should even be in this situation. Saudi had lucky penalties at the end in the first 2 games. UAE shouldn't have won in Japan while Japan needed a 96th minute winner against Iraq. Japan should have beaten us while we really needed a win in Thailand or Iraq. In Dubai Cahill should have been called for the push before the goal.

I know it's all hindsight and it is how it is. A lot of crazy moments in this qualifying. 

Youtube streams for the upcoming matches per the AFC website 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj0TjaM0wyxkAWW_nz8_1g

China vs South Korea (1030pm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTt_Zgm6wvE

Iraq vs Oz (11pm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSMn-g8pw00

Thais vs Saudis (11pm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOenMxTIJAY

Syria vs Uzbeks (11pm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtdV2Z1HTHI

UAE vs Japan (230am)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU-c9VFWYoo

Qatar vs Iran (300am)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ezb3Dhpm4

Japan captain Hasebe out for the season. He'll miss the next 3 qualifiers no doubt.

UAE vs Japan is apparently kicking off at 230am Oz East Coast time on the Friday morning (24th March)

http://ultra.zone/2018-FIFA-World-Cup-qualification-AFC-Third-Round#group=b

Handy simulator to save on the math. 

Thursday March 23rd:
10.35pm China v South Korea in Changsha
11.00pm Syria v Uzbekistan in Seremban
11.00pm Iraq v Australia in Tehran
11.00pm Thailand v Saudi Arabia in Bangkok

Friday March 24th:
3.00am Qatar v Iran in Doha

TBC:
United Arab Emirates v Japan in Al Ain

Tuesday March 28th:
8.00pm Australia v United Arab Emirates in Sydney
9.35pm Japan v Thailand in Saitama
10.00pm South Korea v Syria in Suwon

Wednesday March 29th:
Midnight Uzbekistan v Qatar in Tashkent
4.30am Saudi Arabia v Iraq in Jeddah

TBC:
Iran v China in Tehran

That's pretty big.