• Indonesia feature in Qatar 2022 qualifying as AFC matches resume next week
• Midfielder Evan Dimas eyeing victories despite early elimination
• Playmaker has drawn inspiration from Spanish idol Andres Iniesta

Indonesia’s Evan Dimas is all too aware that his team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ have already been extinguished. But AFC Asian Cup qualification is still on the cards and a fresh approach means reason for optimism when action resumes next week.

With five straight losses, the Southeast Asians can no longer finish top two in a fascinating group which also features Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates. The disappointing results not only cost coach Simon McMenemy his job, but also dented the team’s confidence.

The new boss in charge is none other than former Shin Taeyong, who guided Korea Republic to a famous 2-0 defeat of world champions Germany at Russia 2018. With the memory of that amazing victory still fresh in mind, Dimas is hoping that Indonesia can produce similar heroics under Taeyong.

“Coach Shin took Korea Republic to great results so it is an honour to be coached by him,” the 26-year-old Dimas told FIFA.com. “I will give my all in training and on the field under his guidance.”

With the remaining Group G fixtures to be staged in United Arab Emirates, Indonesia will tackle Thailand on Thursday, before crossing swords with leaders Vietnam four days later. Awaiting them in the closing match are the hosts, who will pose a formidable final hurdle. Despite the uphill tasks, though, Dimas is hungry to regain some lost pride.

“We failed to show our best in the previous games but with three games left, I hope we can get positive results,” he said. “Every game gives you the choice and I will choose to do my best to defend our pride. So we have to win these matches.”

Spanish experience

Standing at 167cm tall, the skilful Dimas is one of the best midfielders Indonesia has seen over recent years. Signed by Persebaya Surabaya as a teenager, Dimas was presented with a rare chance to hone his skills in Spain. 

“I was selected by a youth program and sent to train in Spain in 2011. I worked hard as I was aware that I was representing Indonesia,” he recalled. 

The early overseas tour opened Dimas’s eyes to what was possible in the game, and he returned to Spain in 2016 spending four months training with the likes of UE Llagostera and RCD Espanyol. 

“I gained a lot of experiences there which helped me understand the game and I learnt new knowledge about the game. Everything there is very different [from Indonesia]. 

“I started from scratch like passing and possessing. For instance, in Indonesia our passes are slow but in Spain they make hard and fast passes. From there, my playing style has changed.”

Iniesta fan

It was during his time in Spain that Dimas became a fervent admirer of Spanish midfield maestro Andres Iniesta. “He [Iniesta] is an inspiring figure for us. The first thing I like him is that he always keeps a low-key profile but on the pitch, he is outstanding. With him as our idol, we can always work hard to improve our own game.”

As it turned out, Dimas returned home a different player. He exploded onto the Asian scene during 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers scoring five times, notably striking a hat-trick in a 3-2 defeat of Korea Republic to fire Indonesia to the continental finals. 

The following year made his senior international debut in a 5-1 victory against Laos in the 2014 AFF Championship, scoring one as well as providing an assist. He would go on to represent country in three Southeast Asian Games including helping Indonesia to the silver medal in the 2019 edition. 

Indonesia may be out in the race for Qatar 2022 but, with the campaign doubling as qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup, hopes of a place in the continental finals are still alive and stand-alone qualifiers are scheduled for later this year. 

“Indonesia football has made significant progress these [past few] years and I hope we can maintain the momentum. We want to showcase our improvements in the next [qualifying] matches.”

FIFA.com
FIFA.com News

• Japan beat Myanmar 10-0 to reach the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers
• Yuya Osako grabbed the headlines with a five-goal haul
• Hajime Moriyasu’s side have scored 37 goals without reply in Group F

Japan have cruised through to the third round of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ after a resounding 10-0 win over an under-strength Myanmar side in Chiba.

Yuya Osako scored five and Takumi Minamino bagged a brace as the Samurai Blue – 14-0 winners against Mongolia in their last World Cup qualifier – delivered another ruthless, double-figures demolition job.

Hidemasa Morita, Daichi Kamada and Ko Itakura were also on target in a victory that further cemented Japan’s position at the summit of Group F, a section in which they have won all six matches by an aggregate score of 37-0.

Hajime Moriyasu had named an entirely European-based squad for the match, with domestic players unavailable, and five-goal Osako was just one of the players who grabbed the opportunity to impress.

Japan have now won nine of their last ten internationals and will head into their next fixture with Tajikistan on 7 June relaxed, confident and already looking ahead to the challenges that the third round will pose.

Myanmar, meanwhile, remain four points adrift of Tajikistan in fourth place, and will face Kyrgyz Republic – one point ahead of them in third – on 11 June.

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FIFA.com News

Following the recent withdrawal of Korea DPR from the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers has taken a decision in order to ensure the fairness of the competition for the remaining teams.

In accordance with this decision, the results of all of the Round 2 matches already played by Korea DPR are declared null and void. Consequently, after the conclusion of all groups’ Round 2 matches, the results of the matches between the second-placed teams and the fifth-placed teams in groups A to G will not be counted in order to have a balanced final comparison between all group runners-up and therefore, alleviating any possible imbalance between the seven qualifying groups caused by the sudden reduction of Group H to only four teams.

Once this levelling of all groups to four teams has been achieved, the four best runners-up will be determined in the following order of criteria:

1. Greatest number of points obtained from the group matches.
2. Goal difference in the group matches.
3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches.
4. Fair play points system: fewer number of points calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received by the team in the group phase.
5. Drawing of lots.

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FIFA.com News

• Asia’s second qualifying round resumes action after 18-months
• Twelve spots in Round 3 will be determined over the coming weeks
• Korea DPR announced withdrawal leaving Group H in the balance

All eyes across Asia will be on the continent’s second round of qualifying for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ which resumes on Friday after an 18-month delay due to Covid-19. With Korea DPR having recently announced their withdrawal from this campaign, 39 teams will compete across 57 matches from 28 May to 15 June for a place in the next round of last twelve.

With safety and health remaining the top priority, each group will be staged in a centralised venue. Up for grabs is progression to Round 3 as either a group winner or as one of the four best runners-up. Join FIFA.com as we preview what promises to be a dramatic finale to the round.

Centralised venues
Group A: Suzhou, China
Group B: Kuwait City, Kuwait
Group C: Arad, Riffa and Isa Town, Bahrain
Group D: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Group E: Doha, Qatar
Group F: Chiba, Osaka and Suita, Japan
Group G: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Group H: Goyang, Korea Republic

The match
Iran-Bahrain, Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, 7 June

This match is likely to be pivotal as both teams chase automatic qualifying spot for Group C. IR Iran, Asia’s second highest-ranked side, are surprisingly found languishing in third after four outings – Team Melli are trailing leaders Iraq and hosts Bahrain by five and three points respectively. Despite having a game in hand, Iran’s new boss Dragan Skocic is all too aware that his side can’t afford to drop further points.

The two sides’ historic rivalry adds another layer of intrigue of this showdown. Two decades back, Bahrain drew away and won at home to end Iran’s campaign for Korea/Japan 2002. Four years later, the Iranians took revenge with four points against the Bahrainis as they booked passage to Germany 2006. Iran will be looking to the goal-scoring form of Karim Ansarifard and Sardar Azmoun, while Bahrain boast the talents of Czech-based striker Abdulla Yusuf Helal and Mahdi Al Humaidan – the latter earning the penalty which yielded the only goal in the pair’s first-leg meeting.

The other headline-grabbers

In Group A, with runaway leaders Syria likely to win the section, China PR are left to compete for second place against Philippines and Maldives. Team Dragon, under new coach Li Tie, have a game in hand and can count on home advantage as they aim to progress.

The same can be said of Group B’s Kuwait who playing as hosts, will be hoping to mount a serious challenge for top place. Frontrunners Australia, however, will look to the red-hot form of striker Jamie Maclaren and new face Harry Souttar to reproduce their previous form which saw them keep a perfect record with four wins from four.

Group D leaders Saudi Arabia enter the campaign aiming to consolidate their place at the summit. However, the home team will be wary of second-placed Uzbekistan, who will look to the goal-scoring form of top-striker Eldor Shomurodov to turn the table in the two sides’ meeting in the closing matchday. In Group E, with hosts Qatar granted automatic qualification, second-placed Oman enter the campaign aiming to progress as section winners.

In Group F, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has called up a series of European-based stars, including captain Maya Yoshida and Hannover 96 attacker Genki Haraguchi, as they seek to round off their campaign with an unblemished record. Sitting at the top with a five-point cushion, the Samurai Blue can seal early progression with three points against Myanmar regardless of other results.

In contrast, the competition in Group G looks quite open with four teams contending for the automatic qualifying spot. Leaders Vietnam arrive in Dubai hoping to strengthen their place at the top but hosts United Arab Emirates, despite sitting at the fourth place, have a game in hand and can count on home advantage and striking-ace Ali Mabkhout to put themselves back into contention.

With Korea DPR’s withdrawal, Group H becomes a three-way battle between leaders Turkmenistan, Korea Republic and Lebanon. Despite trailing the Central Asians by a point, the Taegeuk Warriors, with a game in hand, can look to their star-studded line-up captained by Son Heungmin as they seek to win the group and advance automatically.

Did you know?

Group E leaders Qatar have sealed automatic qualification as hosts and if they finish as group winners or one of the four best second-placed teams, their spot in the next round will be claimed by the fifth best second-placed team.

FIFA.com
FIFA.com News