they were the better side in extra time esp when Modric came off Croatia looked to drop a level but during the 90 id say they were outplayed Croatia has more possession and bar the Goal Japan didnt look too threatening. 

regardless it went to Pens and you dont want to go to Pens against Croatia - Japan bottled the shoot out the 1st Pen from Minamino was a disgrace he came on as a sub so he cant even say he has 'tired legs' when you miss the 1st pen it is always hard to come back from that. 

I feel for the Japanese because they had a good world cup but ultimately they tripped at the hurdle they always seem to fall at, mentally seems to be the issue they 'never really went for it' 

Not a good start

i think your Japan and S.Korea bets are dead in the water 

dw my multi had croatia to win in it so im down 40 bucks 

Korea and Australia were never good enough, but it's a real shame for Japan. They could and should have beaten Croatia, but once it got to penalties, there was only ever one winner. It's disappointing how badly they folded under pressure when it really counted. Croatia much too experienced for them. 

It's really sad how this has gone. For all the talk of the unpredictable group stage and how well Asia and Africa have done, the second round has killed all optimism. Europe + Brazil/Argentina are just too strong. Everyone else is just an also ran. It will never change. The gap can only widen. It's stupid and boring. Fuck FIFA and fuck football. 

why is this fifa or footballs fault 

all three Asian teams were beaten by 'superior' sides with superior mentality there is no shame in losing to a better opposition there is shame in 'giving up' and not trying to better ourselves

Japan and Australia should be proud for how they played - i personally am i know we got a long way to go but nothing 'easy' is worth doing. 

Korea is embarressing i wont lie 4-nil at half time and Brazil could be winning this 6-nil but Neymar has decided to do the party tricks instead of play football - needs to up them youtube highlights.  

anyway, it is why NFL and AFL will always been seen as 'shit sports' to the rest of the world - essentially you werent good at 'real' football so you made up a sport you can dominate in - instead of rising to the challenge 

We and Japan can improve and maybe even fluke it to QFs one day, but the structure of football is simply too Euro-centric. It actively prevents smaller confederations from ever improving enough to truly challenge the traditional powers. I was willing someone, anyone to challenge the established supremacy this time, but in the end it's even worse than usual - 6 European nations + Brazil/Argentina in the quarters. It's so disgustingly predictable and I see no way of it ever changing. It's virtually impossible to break into that exclusive club if you're a non-Euro nation. They have all the resources and all the power. It is not a world game sadly. 

South Korea did make the semi final 20 years ago and were quite unlucky in that game against Germany, so it can be done.  

I agree as long as talent is measured by how many players you have in the big 5 European leagues it will always be this way. Because you can then assume that those big 5 nations will always have a few hundred players in those leagues, so the teams outside these league will never be able to compete on a consistent basis (can always make the odd run in a tournament format) apart from Brazil/Argentina. 

Croatia is a nation of sub 5m people and have managed a world cup final appearance, a 3rd place finish and now at 1/4 finals birth 

yes they are in Europe but they are an example of a 'small' nation with a good structure that have shown they can upset the statues quo 

over 90 years of world cups on 13 nations have made the final and only 9 nations have 'ever' won it - you are on 'drugs' if you thought we were at the level required to challenge for the cup even if the entire AFC pooled their players together we wouldn't have a nation capable of beating this Brazil or the current French side. 

Asia cant ever be a 'serious' world cup contender at long as the Asian Champions league remains an joke the prize money is less then the Europa league prize money Group stage. - i dont know why people dont realise this....you want 'quality football' but you dont have quality competitions....the J-league and K-league have shown we can have some good leagues but you need more then that you need a strong champions league and we do not have that...

It takes money, time and planning - Japan are 20 or so years into a 50 year plan and imho they are well on their way to 'one day' winning a world cup. 

Totally disagree. Japan have conceded possession all tournament that's been their tactic to sit deep then counter. They were easily the better team in the first 45 mins, maybe Croatia slightly better 2nd half before Japan being better again in extra time. Shame as this was Japan's tournament to go deep into a world cup. Anyways

fair enough if you look at the statics and i know statics arent everything....

Croatia has more shots, more possession, more passes then Japan....

however watching the game i felt Croatia should of put Japan to the sword in the 90 but Japan in Extra time looked the better side they had more run and fresher legs but they seemed to 'scared' to go for the win and playing for Pens against Croatia is stupid considering they have won the last 3 pen shoots they have had in WCs - Japan on another day could of won but it is a results business it went to Pens and in the shoot out they were 'very' poor.

i might be bias i have Croatian Heritage but i honestly felt Japan should of beat us in the last 10 or so min of that game  

Looks that way

Had the same shots on target and Japan had more corners. From watching the game though japan simply had the more quality chances. Tomiyasu should have shot when he had the chance instead of squaring across goal. 

Watching Korea now they have actually looked really good going forward despite the scoreline- Alisson has simply been outstanding. 

Asian super league and the money it would attract is the future

Hadn't really thought about this idea since it was mooted about 20 years ago.

As long as there were  very few foreigners playing  for teams in it, like 2 per team, it could lift the standard of  football in the region.

How could an Asian Superleague manifest in what form?

Promo-releg?

Maybe it should be East Asia?

20 team league?

Japan - 2-3 teams - Tokyo - ?
South Korea - 2-3 teams - Seoul and Busan
China - 2-3 teams - a Shanghai team and a Beijing team 
India - 2-3 teams - 1 team based in Delhi the other in Chennai
North Korea - 1 team
Australia - 2-3 teams - SFC, Melb City, Brisbane Roar (based on population centres).
Vietnam - 2 teams
Malaysia - 1 team
Indonesia - 1 team
Thailand - 2 teams 
Vietnam - 2 teams
Singapore - 1 team

It  could include?
Kiwis (amalgamate Oceania with East Asia) - 1 team.
Pacific Islands team - 1 team

It  could provide a superior pathway to mid- ranked European leagues for Aussie players, and coaches. Essentially ATM, as  an international football entity, Australia is a superior international team in a big tournament context all over the globe, than the national teams of  European countries where most of our players ply their trade in  UEFA. Outside the big UEFA five leagues, and arguably Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey, Aussie Socceroo aspirants  would be better off playing in  East Asian Superleague with a 40 match season.

 An East Asian Superleague might blast Aussie egg ball codes, and their corporate  mates, and  the hegemony the high profile they currently have in the Aus media out of the water too. 

Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, Austria, Greece, Italy, (a dismal failure by failing to qualify for the last 2 World Cups, no longer a current powerhouse), have less globally competitive  national teams than  the Socceroos ATM. 

What a phenomenon Croatia is as an international football team.

Yet they have a very modest domestic league.

Croatia have two powerhouse clubs, Dynamo Zagreb and Hadjuk Split. Outside them, the rest of the clubs are virtually no better than the A L clubs.

Uruguay 4 million, Denmark 6 million, Portugal 9 million, Netherlands 16 million, are terrific for their sizes too. Serbia is not bad for 9-10 million as well. South Korea is only about 10 million.

Interesting, Davstar?

Admitting Japan deserved to win with Croatian heritage.

I could never believe you would have  done this until recently.

0/8 for AFC teams this WC tend to suggest that, in answer to OP, "No, Asia is NOT underrated"  Maybe they need to pay more attention to their BPOs and BMIs and extrapolate their xG through North American gambling sites rather than relying on the Malaysian gambling market?

Japan are not far off in fact they have come a long way, I think what's really holding them back now is their mentality.

They are technically and now physically too, tactically they can always improve their playing style so that comes down to their coaches maybe they missing a top class coach I dont think the current coach is that good.
Maybe they need a Bielsa more than us, I cant imagine what they will be like if they played in a high pressing system with their already world class technical ability.

And to be fair it was always going to be a tough ask for South Korea against Brazil who look like they will make the final, they looking very strong.
They also need a few more players in the top leagues but they can match it with teams on a technical level quite easily.

Also a good effort by the AFC confederation teams as well.

When you are up against some of the powerhouse it will always be a tough ask, its vital they continue they get exposed to the highest levels of football in Europe where the top players play on a regular basis.
Which means more in top 5 leagues and players playing in the UCL and in the Europa League.

Can the AFC improve for sure but I feel there is a sense of lack of ambition to improve with some countries especially the west AFC teams but also the champions league could do with a bit a revamp where more prize money on offer, and maybe the 5+1 rule could change as well where it go unlimited like its in Europe.

Either way a good effort.

Japan didnt deserve to win - no one deserves to win but they surely could have if they went for it instead of playing for Pens which was incredibly stupid - as i said in the 90 i reckon we were better but in the extra 30 we looked tired af and Japan seemed like they were able to run for days but they never went for it...they continued to sit back? 

I have always had an opinion 'based on facts' - In the end of the day i knew we won once it went to Pens Croatia simply very good at Pens - however i didnt expect Japan to be 'as bad' at Pens as they were but i was 'suprised' they didnt go for it when they had the advantage in the last 10-15mins as they might of won the tie (the issue Japan clearly have is a lack of a 'good' ST) 

The difference between me and most people is im happy to modify my opinion based on facts i dont get entrenched in my opinion (when you do higher education masters level you learn the difference between opinion and fact and how to best formulate an opinion based on fact) - dont let my immaturity at times fool you 

10-15 years ago i never would of said Japan would have a hope of making the final 8 but they have improved immensely but we need to realise 'so has Croatia' - this has nothing to do with personal bias but Croatia is a nation with a fairly small population but it is producing top level talent Gvardiol is 20 y.o and is one of the best CB in Europe (RB knocked back 80m from Chelsea last window for him)  - the bulk of there squad for the past 5-6 years has graced the top leagues in Europe they do not have 'loads of money' they do not have a 'top professional division' but they do focus on development and play to their strengths. Australia could learn a lot from Croatia in that sense the Croatian league is honestly not better then A-league but they do compete in Europe and sell players for big money which gives the clubs/leagues a giant boost. 

If the AL could get big transfers and if Asia could turn the ACL into a 'good competition' opposed to the trash fire it is now then Asia and Australia could fair much better in the WC

Yes and No 

Dont let hype get in the way of ability - England have won 1 WC in there entire history they have always had players at the top level I mean there golden generation flopped never even made a final

Spain 1 WC and 2 Euros always had top players 

Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay  all have more WC then the both two nations - you could easily argue Spain and England have the two best leagues in the world but i honestly  couldnt name 5 clubs from Uruguay and i have been a football fan since i was 9 

Holland have never won a world cup but they have 3 finals and the Dutch league produces great players but frankly it is not better then the J league 

Players wil always go were Money is - we need to make Asian clubs have more lucrative and we need the ACL to compete with the UCL and right now the ACL is not even on the level of Europa - the ACL is such a joke id rather it didnt exist if they are not going to do it properly. The Prize money should be >30m USD for the winner and every team competing should get at least 4m USD 

We need to realise Australia and Asia are now intertwined the only way for us to succeed is if the entire confederation improves - this is way i have always been in favor of both Russia and Turkey joining the AFC and why i hate our involvement with NZ and the NZ FA as it hurts the AFC and thus hurts us. (it is also why i hate the salary cap, and 3+1 rule) 

I only watched the mini match but I'm curious to see how Brasil will go against a proper Euro team.
South Korea actually carved out more chances than they should have even before the game was dead

Then there were none.

In the English speaking Argentinian media, very little of it, the Argentinian coach, Messi and their keeper paid  the Socceroos massive compliments!

They considered us the toughest team they have played at the Qatar World Cup, given  they played  much worse  against  Saudi.

The keeper said late in the game the Aussie Pressing was so good, they could not play  out from the back. He  added that being 0-2 down when this was occurring, most others team would have given up!

Messi said the Socceroos exemplified how high the quality was of all teams at the World Cup. That they needed a really, hard physical game like that, where they were forced   to the limit, to go far in the  World Cup.

The Argentinian  coach, said Aus was extremely well coached and are a very good team unit, given there are no star Aussie players with global reputations. He expected the Socceroos would be tough, but not that hard, and that Aus never gave up despite being behind.

I think Jamie Carragher and Chris Sutton,  former  English Premier league stars ought to read this!

Sutton said Argentina would beat us 5-0!

You’re way out. South Korea’s population is close to 52 million.

As the tournament has progressed I think it will be Argentina, Brazil or France who will win - unless any one of them have one  bad game.

I can't decide  whether Netherlands are knackered, or tried to win against USA by conserving energy?

Croatia may have improved as the  tournament has progressed too.

Thanks for that.

I've just looked it up. You are correct!

There he is!!!