(6 - 20 April 2018) Official Page Previous Champions: Japan (Vietnam 2014) Favourites: Australia Team rosters: Japan Australia Korea Republic China Thailand more rosters as they come up.
Is this your personal prediction, or is it written anywhere on the official website? (In that case, I couldn't find exactly where). Edit: mind, I am not saying I disagree. Even on current rankings only, Aussies clearly look like the favourites.
"Zhao Lina announced her retirement from the international football last month but returned because of the situation of the other goalkeepers in the competition in Portugal and also of the importance of the Asian Cup qualifying for the World Cup."
New trophy Height: 52.5cm Weight: 5.5 kilograms of Hallmarked Sterling Silver bullion Total craft hours: The trophy was crafted over 140 hours, passing through the hands of eight different craftsmen Handles: The new 2018 modern design has discrete pointers to the competitions history. The striking handles, which have been cast from six solid bars of sterling silver, point to the six participants from two continents that played in the first tournament in 1975. Base: At the base of the trophy, eight highly stylised modern women footballers capture the strength and agility of Asian women’s football.
any official protests have been filed on the imbalance of the two group? as I got the #1,2,3,6 ranked teams in group B & #4,5,7,8 in group A. Also for J fans, are you feeling more confident now that the coach & Naho made up? Got to say the Matildas would be in deep trouble it they went into the WC missing so many squad members as their missing now with the Foord & Harrison long term injurries and Raso & Simon's short term. Then just found out that Ashleigh Sykes(who started over the likes of Nadim & Brynjarsdottir over at the Portland Thorns) decided to retire, So I definitely see Japan as favorites(though they'll probably split games if they both reach the finals) One more question; does whoever wins the tourney get an automatic, top group, seed? or does FIFA reevaluate their rankings(for naming top seeds) after all the world qualifiers have been decided?
Unless someone can prove the draw has been rigged, no one will protest... Draw mechanism as per the AFC website
Well, given Nadeshiko Japan last trend, it doesn't look easy at all. Australia, despite the injured players, has to be considered the favourite team, I guess.
the Matildas just don't go deep enough(to make up those injuries). I was shocked that the Babette Shlecht of Aussie soccer, Lauren Alleway, came in at the 56 min. mark to sub for Sam Kerr! After being one of the worst CB's around is she looking for an after life as a fwd? lineups https://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/26/world/friendly-women/australia/thailand/2759123/ Staj; what the BLEEB are you thinking!!! and more importantly, does this mean Kerr got injured???
Alleway has centimeters and against diminutive Thai's... I don't think so. It was rather to prevent any late injury and the match was in front of home crowd so walk into the bench under applause of fans was in order.
Philipines team has won with Konomiya Speranza Osaka Takatsuki (Japan 3rd league) while China won in Spain with Espanyol (1st league middle of the table team). Japan play Ghana on Sunday.
After so many years following Nadeshiko one could almost get used to early wake ups. Though It's not that it gets any easier to keep your nose from drowning in early morning coffe
Well, but if they'd play Ghana in the evening, instead of mid-day, it would be quite comfortable for us in Europe, on a Sunday. No drowning in coffe, and maybe attendance could be better at the stadium also: it's a win-win situation. Anyway, being in Easter holiday, I could even think about waking up that early, if I was sure there will be an available streaming. Will the match be aired on Fuji-TV as usual?
Caitlyn Foord will join Fox-Sports press team for AFC Cup http://thewomensgame.com/news/foord-looking-to-new-asian-cup-role-487986
In warm up before AFC Cup: Bayern Munich (reserves+youth) 1 - 1 Vietnam Borussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga 2) 0 - 11 Vietnam Pretty impressive results. GK Dang Thi Kieu Trinh is in my opinon top 3 best women goalie in Asia. If Vietnam's outfield players will try to reach her level in this tourney, we may yet have even more competitive matches in already strong group B.
This is very worrying, considering Japan's traditional inability to score. And Vietnam, in the first game, will still be fresh, motivated and full of hope. Why am I suddenly so worried?