They've scrapped, they've scraped and they've even overcome a penalty shoot-out: it seems like nothing can stop Japan in their quest for a fourth Asian Cup title. Japan conceded a soft equaliser just seconds away from an extra-time win over arch-rivals South Korea in their semi-final, only for goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima to stand tall as he saved the Taeguk Warriors' first two penalties in a one-sided shoot-out victory. Now Australia are all that stands between Japan and a record fourth Asian Cup crown, although the Socceroos could prove a formidable opponent after thrashing Uzbekistan 6-0 en route to a Khalifa Stadium showdown. That's especially the case now that Japan's quarter-final hero Shinji Kagawa has been ruled out through injury, with the Samurai Blue set to miss one of their most effective attacking outlets. Nagoya Grampus forward Jungo Fujimoto or Urawa Reds playmaker Yosuke Kashiwagi are potential replacements for coach Alberto Zaccheroni, although he could once again rely heavily on CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda - who has already been nominated for the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Honda missed a penalty in normal time during the dramatic win over South Korea - substitute Hajime Hosogai slammed home the rebound - and the highly-rated front man will be eager to improve on the big stage, with a host of European giants reputedly clamouring for his signature. Japan will need to overcome the strength and size of an Australian side desperate to claim a first ever Asian crown in what is only their second appearance in the tournament. Speed versus strength, skill versus size - it's shaping up to be a fascinating Asian Cup final, and one that Samurai Blue fans everywhere are hoping will confirm their status as Asia's premier side. Copyright © Mike Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Euro 2012 football

Dr. Joel Rookwood 'January 2011 is the month which will see Australia crowned kings of Asian football in Qatar' - a bold statement to offer up at the start of a competition (and an article), and one I will stand by, at least until they get knocked out in a semi final penalty shoot out that is. Aside from the likelihood of Australian success this assertion could offer up another series of questions, such as: why 2011 – as a quadrennial tournament shouldn't the 2004 event have been followed by competitions in 2008 and 2012? Weren't the last Championships held in July? Why is it being hosted by Qatar? Isn't Australia in Oceania? Do they even play football there? Surely the Japanese or the South Koreans are better? Some of these issues can be explored by referring to global calendars, unforgiving climates, and financial and political resources. However, the most significant question might concern the very notion of Australian involvement in an event once reserved solely for Asian teams. We live in a world where residency can be bought, citizenship can be shared, and nationality can be chosen; where international representation in sporting spheres can divide brothers and unite strangers. National identity is adopting increasing fluidity, shaped by market forces, international law and migration patterns. Continental sporting competitions are no stranger to mobility, or to globalisation. Football confederation events can now see players from Vladivostok compete for a European crown, men from Guadalajara invited to take on the cream of South America, and footballers from Accra win international tournaments in European colours. 2011 could (although it won't) also see Japan crowned kings of both Asia and South America, after the Japanese accepted an invitation to partake in July's Copa America in Argentina. Armed with that frame of reference, the defence for Australia's move into the AFC and their notable presence at Qatar's Asian Cup appears more watertight; almost as tight as a pair of Lucas Neill shorts. Legitimacy aside, Australia are in Qatar, and judging by Monday's performance in their opening game against India at the Al Sadd stadium, they are here to win the competition. The strongest score line of the event so far might have been achieved against the weakest team in the tournament, but the manner in which Australia eased to the 4-0 victory will make the remaining pretenders to the crown sit up and take notice. With a forward line that would once have divided Merseyside, first half strikes from Cahill and Kewell set the tone, followed by a goal from Holman, earning Australia an unassailable lead at the interval. With the foot well and truly off the pedal, the team in yellow and green barely left first gear in the second half, settling for the addition of a single goal, courtesy of Tim Cahill, the Everton goal machine (apologies for the contradiction in terms). It was clearly an honour for the Indians to share the same turf as their Australian victors, with both sets of players gracious in accepting the contest's inevitable conclusion. Later that evening South Korea stuttered to a 2-1 victory over Bahrain at Al Gharafa. Continuing the theme of the Middle East's pitiful and the Far East's unconvincing start to the competition, a late Faouzi Asish penalty could not change the complexion of this otherwise uneventful fixture, which saw the majority of the crowd struggle with fatigue. Bahrain should have more success against the Indians in the next round of fixtures, which will first see an intriguing contest between Australia and South Korea. Bahraini hopes are set to be dashed with finality in their concluding group game against Australia, with the Koreans undoubtedly subjecting India to a third successive defeat. My final day in Doha began with the other Korea, in what was unquestionably the least memorable encounter of the tournament. A pitiful crowd of 3,000 attended their goalless draw with UAE. (More people attended non-league Crawley Town's FA Cup defeat of Derby County later that day in West Sussex). There were few highlights to relay on the large screen, which are typically employed in this competition merely to display misspelt names of substitutes and massaged attendance figures. With each competing nation referred to by three letters on the adjoining scoreboard, "D" was the letter ominously omitted from DPRK. The (Democratic) People's Republic of Korea is one of sixty nations I am yet to have the pleasure of visiting, but if the reports of those who have are accurate, 'democratic' is not a word readily associated with the current regime. Keen to capitalise on this rare opportunity to observe infamous North Korean customs, I slipped in amongst their supporters, much to their confusion. Every spectator wore black pants and shoes with a pristine white shirt and tie, complete with a Kim Jong-il pin badge. The participation of the 300 North Korean supporters was directed by a disciplinarian conductor. Facing the crowd for the entire game, he was fortunate enough to remain oblivious to the lifeless football match unfolding behind him. Like a choirmaster at an underperforming Kent preparatory school, he led with ferocity, pointing and shouting at those who sang or clapped out of rhythm, with surly assistants using dated camcorders to capture perpetrators on film. No one really smiled and no one really understood what was happening. It was a melancholic albeit fascinating couple of hours; punctuated on the pitch only by a penalty, foolishly struck onto the frame of the goal by the man formerly known as Hong Yong-jo. My presence in the midst of the Koreans was unsurprisingly noted, inspiring a series of half time questions from a "freelance journalist", (who should have done better in hiding his Kim Jong-il pin badge from view). Referring to myself by the name of a close friend, I entertained his questions, more out of curiosity than a desire to be helpful. He scribbled furiously as I revealed that the South Africa World Cup t-shirt I was sporting had been purchased at Portugal’s 7-0 demolition of North Korea in Cape Town the previous summer. I left the Qatar Sports Club for Al Rayyan stadium with international relations rather than football dominating the mindset. Fittingly the following fixture was none other than Iran v Iraq. When the draw was made for the competition, this is the contest I wanted to attend above all others - and not simply because I was travelling with a lad of Iranian descent. Having seen every match and every team play thus far, I decided to make this my last game of the Asian Cup 2011. As a stadium announcement was made about observing a period of silence dedicated to those who perished in a plane crash in Iran earlier in the week, the Iraq team chose to form a huddle, met with cheers from Iraqis, and jeers from Iranians. Wolfgang Sidka's team did eventually join their neighbours to the east in spreading across the centre circle for a moment of silence, after which an enthralling context commenced. Virtually every piece of footballing literature I have read on the 2007 Asia Cup victors makes reference to 'war-torn Iraq', as if it were the name of a recently established state. The Iraqis were in no mood for self-pity in Al Rayyan however. They were well represented by a vocal expatriate community, who clearly enjoyed the moment that saw Mahmoud fire them into a deserved lead. Iran weathered a resultant storm before forcing their way back into the match, producing an equaliser on the stroke of half time through Rezaei. A more cautious second half looked destined to remain goalless, until a Khalatbari free kick bounced through a wall of players, giving Iran a late and ultimately decisive lead. Neither team are destined to win this year's event, yet this contest was a grudge battle that transcends football. And so, after watching all sixteen teams play in five stadiums across as many days, I bid farewell to Doha and Qatar. I will miss waking up on the 31st floor of a hotel looking out onto a city that seems to change on a daily basis. 30 degree January afternoons, £3 match tickets and amiable if elusive taxi drivers have done their part in making this refreshingly under-commercialised event a success thus far (even if the 24-hour construction industry and regular prayer calls have been less well received). As the Middle East gears up for a World Cup, Qatar's experience of hosting the Asian equivalent should yield meaningful lessons. FIFA's agenda, shaped by the protection and advancement of international football, is likely to see seasonality, alcohol restrictions, accommodation, architecture and sustainability dominate the dialogue and the decisions. The scores of cranes, ominous open spaces and huge financial resources are likely to mean an entirely different Doha will play the central role in 2022. For both critics and exponents, one fact commentators agree on is that it will be a World Cup like no other. In the meantime, 'January 2011 is the month which will see Australia crowned kings of Asian football in Qatar'. © Dr. Joel Rookwood & Soccerphile.com Find the latest Asian Cup odds at Bet 365 , which has LIVE STREAMING of the Asian Cup matches. Japan are 7/2 favorites, followed by South Korea and Australia at 9/2, Saudi 15/2 and Iran 8/1. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

Dr. Joel Rookwood After a disappointing opening fixture of the Asian championships, matches in Group A continued on Saturday with China taking on Kuwait. A crowd of less than seven-thousand rattled around Doha's Al Gharafa stadium, a ground with a capacity of four times that. Thanks to an interesting architectural design the view from our 'VIP' seats offered a full 40% panoramic view of the pitch. Instead we selected seats with both goals in sight, more out of hope than anticipation. Despite the paltry crowd, at least most people present were partisan supporters. The Kuwaitis, with their rhythmic clapping and occasional chanting, were greater in number and noise than their Chinese counterparts. The Chinese were clearly excited at the prospect of supporting their country, but collectively they seemed unsure as to how their encouragement should be expressed. The chant of 'red card, red card', bellowed out a full minute after Mesad Nada had been sent off for stamping on Yang Xu, left me a little confused, albeit amused. As with the group's opening encounter , a Middle Eastern team lacked ability where endeavour was abundant - a brave first half stalemate shattered as two second half goals were conceded to a team from further east. Kuwait and Qatar will swap opponents in the next round of matches, contests which are likely to confirm their early exit, and the progression of China and Uzbekistan into the quarter finals. Group A's final fixtures are set to determine group winners and Middle Eastern pride. Yesterday teams from Group B kick started their campaign, fighting for the right to face Group A's top two in the next round. Three-time champions Japan took on Jordan in Doha and Saudi Arabia faced Syria in nearby Al Rayyan. With only an hour separating the matches (and a comparable driving distance), the sensible thing to do would be to pick one game to watch. Sense however has long since departed the building, and with that tickets for both matches were purchased, a forceful and creative taxi driver ensuring we saw both contests in their entirety. An overconfident and youthful Japanese team underestimated a determined albeit limited Jordan side, who were urged on by passionate support from the stands. Jordanian apparel was gifted to supporters entering the stadium, with European-style chanting and gestures choreographed by charismatic middle-aged ringleaders throughout the contest. Much of the sentiment was simple enough for non-Arabic speakers to understand. Even my rudimentary grasp of the language ensured translation was not required for the most part - although vocal participation was not always recommended – there is something very strange and unpleasant about seeing five-year-olds joining older family members in singing 'Hezbollah Allah Akbar' (at an international football match against a country with whom they have relatively sound diplomatic relations since 1954). The microcosmic experience was a reminder of the legitimacy of UEFA's decision to admit Israel into Europe's football family (Israel left AFC in 1974 but did not gain full UEFA membership until 1994). With Syria, North Korea and Iran also present in the competition, potential fixtures could have read more like a UN watch list than football contests. Bitter ethno-religious rivalries are not what the competition needs - sentiment I was keen to express before watching Iraq take on Iran on Tuesday. On the pitch the first half looked set to remain goalless until an Abdel Fattah strike moments before the interval gave the contest a very different complexion. The Japanese side appeared destined to fail in their bid to break Jordan's resolve. However a first draw of the competition was confirmed as Maya Yoshida struck in second half stoppage time. The goal gave Japan an ill-deserved share of the spoils, leaving the Jordanians to dream of what might have been. An hour later Syria kicked off against Saudi Arabia, in what was certainly the most volatile contest of the competition to date. Hoards of soldiers were on patrol outside the stadium, serving as a stark contrast to the three previous fixtures and an ominous statement about what the game could become. The football proved similarly explosive, with the Syrians taking the lead in both periods of the game through strikes from Al-Hussein, the second of which earned them victory. With refreshing honesty, Syria coach Valeriu Tita admitted after the match, "Frankly I did not expect to win." The Saudis and Jordanians, who would have been left disappointed following their respective opening contests will be pitted each other next, with Syria's group leadership to be tested by the Japanese. With Group B hanging in the balance, quarter final qualification is unlikely to be confirmed before the final round of matches. © Dr. Joel Rookwood & Soccerphile.com Find the latest Asian Cup odds at Bet 365 , which has LIVE STREAMING of the Asian Cup matches. Japan are 7/2 favorites, followed by South Korea and Australia at 9/2, Saudi 15/2 and Iran 8/1. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

Can Qatar host a successful World Cup in 2022? That's probably a moot question in terms of the Asian Cup, since so much of the country resembles an open construction site. Eleven years is a long time between tournaments, and no doubt the army of construction workers who clog the footpaths and carparks of this tiny desert nation will work overtime to transform Qatar from its present dusty state into a shining beacon of the Gulf. For now, though, Asian Cup fans are left to struggle with a more pressing logistical problem - the traffic. The US government once suggested driving in Doha is akin to risking life and limb, which is why it makes more sense to employ the services of one of the city's daring band of taxi drivers. He'll almost always hail from India - or Nepal, or Sri Lanka or a similar neighbouring state - and most crucially, he'll treat other road users and pedestrians with the contempt they deserve when time is of the essence. And time is always of the essence in Doha - in peak hour, at any rate - when you're stranded on Al Wabb Street behind miles of stationary traffic. Fortunately the problem is solved by simply driving along the dusty shoulder, as pedestrians scurry and law-abiding citizens curse the temerity of your admittedly deranged cabbie. So, can Qatar successfully host the World Cup? We'll see. But they'll need to build some more roads first. And they'll need to increase their insurance premiums. Oh, and one more thing. They'll need import some more cabbies, ones with bravado and courage and a complete lack of respect for the road rules. Terrified Australian tourists need not apply. Copyright © Mike Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Euro 2012 football

Dr. Joel Rookwood The flights to Doha were booked without complication, accommodation was effortlessly secured, and match tickets were purchased with ease. My introductory experiences of international tournaments have rarely unfolded with such simplicity. Faz and I arrived at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha last night genuinely excited at the prospect of witnessing the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup. The deafening and visually spectacular pre-match firework display, which would have impressed even the dourest Mancunian, seemed ideal preparation. What followed however was a comedy of errors: Qatar vs Uzbekistan. I've never seen a stadium so disinterested in a football match. Faz and I might hail from Liverpool, a city with an almost idolatrous passion for the game, but this level of indifference to the sport is something you won't find in many places - even Milton Keynes. The performance of the hosts made me long for a cessation of their national alcohol restrictions, or that I too had come dressed from head-to-toe in a thobe/gutra, if only to allow me to sleep without incurring suspicion. I would have shielded my face with the "Qatar" scarf I bought outside the ground, but it was covered in Arabic writing, which could mean anything. 'We hate football' would be the most suitable sentiment, but that was admittedly unlikely. I decided not to risk the facial disguise, and just en-joy/dure the game. By contrast, the handful of travelling supporters made far more entertaining viewing. They actually watched the match, and I'm pretty sure they knew the rules. (Which probably helps explain why Uzbekistan's initial bid to host the 2022 World Cup finals got lost in the mail, somewhere over the Chatkal mountains). Like any self-respecting European my knowledge of the Stans derives chiefly from watching Borat. I'm not certain whether Uzbekistan is one of those countries with 'inferior potassium' or if they are indeed a nation of 'assholes'. I'm quite sure however that many Qataris came to the latter conclusion tonight when the visitors had the audacity to defeat the hosts in the opening game. Not that the home supporters I spoke to were in buoyant mood before kick off - and with the game only minutes old, I was able to see why. I saw Sudan play in the African Nations tournament in Ghana a few years back, and was almost sickened by their stark inability. As a more recent frame of reference, I'm a Liverpool season ticket holder, and we are managed (at the time of writing) by Roy Hodgson. Yet even by such lowly standards, this Qatar side are genuinely horrific. Both teams spent the first half seemingly determined to avoid respectable pass completion rates. It was like watching two sides (both managed by Roy Hodgson) of overweight, partially sighted strangers play netball, at altitude, in the dark, on an ice rink, with a medicine ball. Occasionally a player would maintain possession by finding a team mate, but that was usually as a direct consequence of shooting, from inside his/her own half. The visitors (who will probably win the tournament now after I have so publicly offered such disparaging remarks) clearly had the balance of ability and ideas. However, their refusal to capitalise on the gulf in capacity throughout the opening period triggered a host of conspiracy theories from yours truly. Any suspicions that they might each have been offered a goat farm in return for a goalless draw were removed however, when the Uzbeks took the lead midway through the second half. As a second and final meaningful event of the evening, that lead was doubled thirteen minutes from time. There's no point me telling you the goal scorer's name(s). I'd have to look up the details and I would probably not spell names correctly - and let's face it, neither of us really cares. Let's hope tonight's encounter at the Al Gharafa stadium (Scouse translation - 'Old Giraffe Ground') is an improvement, on the field at least. Oh wait, I’ve just scanned the match ticket - it says 'Bahrain v China'. Scrap the optimism - but stay with me, things can only improve. © Dr. Joel Rookwood & Soccerphile.com Find the latest Asian Cup odds at Bet 365 , which has LIVE STREAMING of the Asian Cup matches. Japan are 7/2 favorites, followed by South Korea and Australia at 9/2, Saudi 15/2 and Iran 8/1. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

Dr. Joel Rookwood I was driving through the Welsh countryside when the news broke detailing the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals. Millions waited in nervous anticipation, as years of planning, investing and campaigning culminated in a single word on a piece of paper. Before the FIFA president announced who would be staging the former event however, he offered confirmation that the word 'England' would not appear from inside the envelope. In what was a strange pre-announcement speech (even for Mr Blatter) he referred to England as the 'homeland' of football. I did not require video footage to interpret this rare show of placation, the clarity of which was in stark contrast to my car's radio reception. The World Cup was definitely not 'going home'. The suitability as a venue and the strength of the English bid was never in question, yet ironically such pedigree would prove their undoing. Had it not been for 1966, England fans might be reflecting on 'eighty years of hurt', but the country would have also been in a stronger position to host the 2018 event. I was genuinely pleased to hear the decision to take the tournament to Russia for the first time – after all, would you rather go to Plymouth or St Petersburg? Blatter reiterated the importance of 'growing the game', and taking it to new frontiers. Finding new hosts and spreading the competition across the continents seems a sensible way of doing this. Russia therefore appear to be the ideal candidate. Sprawling across Asia with a notable presence in Europe and one eye on the Americas, the Russian Federation is impossible to overlook. What surprised me however was the lack of response to Qatar being named hosts of 2022. Save for the Australians, few would question the choice of continent, particularly given FIFA's expansive and rotational agenda – seven of the ten most populous countries in the world are in Asia - but as a nation of 1.6 million people, with a landmass half the size that of Wales, how exactly will the 148th biggest country in the world grow the game? Cynics may point out that in global terms, Moscow has more millionaires than any other city, and Qatar has the highest GDP per capita – yet we are led to believe these were not chiefly economic or political decisions, but 'sporting'. In July 2007 when the Qataris were granted the opportunity to host the 2011 Asian Cup , eyebrows were raised in some quarters. Strangely there were no serious competitors that time either, after India and Iran pulled out of the running. When the event kicks off in Doha this evening, it would be an overstatement to claim that the eyes of the football world will be on the Qatari capital, principally as no one outside of this continent really cares about the Asia Cup. However, the tournament should provide some indication of what the first Middle Eastern World Cup might look like. The AFC Asia Cup sprung to life in 1956, and its supporters will claim it has since transformed into a world-class sporting event. Seven of the twelve affiliated teams competed in the first tournament in Hong Kong, and now, more than fifty years later, the tournament has grown to showcase sixteen of the top teams from the continent. The 2011 event marks a second opportunity for Qatar to host the competition, and will include representatives from Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, North Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, UAE and Uzbekistan. Current holders Iraq positioned themselves on the footballing map and propelled the tournament into global consciousness, when the war-torn nation overcame Saudi Arabia to win the 2007 final in Jakarta . The finalists were two of the only teams not to be involved in hosting the tournament, staged somewhat farcically in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. As sole hosts, Qatar have promised to provide something quite different for 2011. The organisers claim that the 15th Asia Cup will be one defined by entertainment. When I landed in the capital last night, an airport advertisement for the national telecommunications company supporting the event claimed they are 'the sponsors of excitement'. As I write from the top floor of my Doha hotel, hours before the opening ceremony and encounter, two of the five stadiums set to host this centralised tournament are in view in the hazy distance. Sharpening the focus, for Qatar and for Doha, this is the time to deliver. © Dr. Joel Rookwood & Soccerphile.com Find the latest Asian Cup odds at Bet 365 , which has LIVE STREAMING of the Asian Cup matches. Japan are 7/2 favorites, followed by South Korea and Australia at 9/2, Saudi 15/2 and Iran 8/1. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

We asked four Soccerphile writers for their picks for the 2011 Asian Cup , which kicks off today. First Seoul-based K-League cognoscente John Duerden: It's an open competition but I have a feeling for Saudi Arabia. This is a team that could either do terribly or go all the way. For a change, the coach stayed after failing to qualify for the World Cup and there is an unusual sense of stability around the team, something that has been lacking for years. Also do well in West Asia and have reached six of the last seven finals. Hardly ever mentioned as favourites but they are ready to slip in under the radar. Just like Iran, who are also dangerous, missing out on the World Cup has focused minds, given the team 18 months to prepare for this and a thirst to prove their worth. Australian soccer expert Marc Fox: Just like four years ago I think it will be pretty open ... even predicting the winners of the groups is a tough call. But I think South Korea might prove strong enough this time if they can find enough goals. UK-based Premiership pundit Andy Greeves: On the back of their strong performance at last summer's World Cup, I'm tipping Japan to win the 2011 Asian Cup. Keisuke Honda was a revelation in South Africa and I can see him being a stand out performer once again at this tournament. I'm also a big fan of Yasuhito Endo in their midfield, who could do a job in any league around the world. Alberto Zaccheroni's squad has a very nice blend of youth and experience and crucially in Shinji Okazaki, they have a proven goalscorer who can fire them to victory. Outside of Japan, I'm going to be very predicatable and say that South Korea and Australia would be my other favourites. I see Saudi Arabia as dark horses - they should get out of Group B along with Japan and could go on a decent run after that. You can never rule out the hosts at big tournaments either and for that reason, think Qatar have got half a chance on home soil too. From a European perspective, I'm interested to see which players manage to put themselves in the shop window at the Asian Cup. Since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, we have seen an increased influx of players from the Asian Football Confederation to the English Premier League and elsewhere in the continent. Can't wait for more talent to be uncovered at this competition. Finally, J-League guru and Asian football-specialist Mike Tuckerman: I'm going to go out on a limb and say Iran. They're struggling for form and are in arguably the toughest group, but I just think they're due and things may click for the departing Afshin Ghotbi in Qatar. I can't see Japan winning it with a relatively new-look squad, especially with impending club transfers hanging over a few players. South Korea might struggle for goals without Park Chu-young, while Australia are slow at the back and susceptible to teams with pace. They'll probably run into Iran in the quarter-finals too, and I just feel like everything might fall into place for Team Melli and they'll end up with the trophy. Find the latest Asian Cup odds at Bet 365 , which has LIVE STREAMING of the Asian Cup matches. Japan are 7/2 favorites, followed by South Korea and Australia at 9/2, Saudi 15/2 and Iran 8/1. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

Doha in the oil and natural gas rich state of Qatar takes center stage in the world of sport today as the 2011 Asian Cup kicks off today. Meanwhile on the tennis courts Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are battling it out in the Qatar Open. In a different type of court, the International Cricket Council's spot fixing inquiry into claimsagainst three Pakistani cricketers is being held in Doha. Salan Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, pleaded not guilty to charges of bowling no-balls to order in last summer's test series in England. Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Asian Cup football Doha Qatar

So Qatar is too hot in summer after all. And at 40-50C in the shade, who can disagree? Even if t he stadia are cool enough, the outside won't be, and the prospect of a million beer-hungry fans stumbling out into such a furnace in desperate search of a cool lager does not bear thinking about. "I support definitely, definitely," Sepp Blatter said , "to play in winter here, to play when the climate is appropriate." The FIFA President's support for a January World Cup in 2022 appears clear enough. The temperatures in the summer months in Qatar are far more oppressive than their anti-alcohol or anti-gay laws, that is for sure. Playing in the Middle East's winter makes sense therefore, when the thermometer rarely rises above 25c by day and has an average low of a pleasant 13C. And Qatar has already successfully hosted big-name games of football outdoors at that time of year. But avoiding the sweltering summer and the need for expen sive and unproven technology has a serious downside to it - a sandstorm brewing in club boardrooms across Europe all of FIFA's making and the spectre of an almighty club v country conflict on the horizon. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, famous for his juicy quips to the press, was typical of the domestic reaction when he launched a fiery tirade at the possibility of the football season closing down for two months to make up for FIFA's initial error. Holloway likened switching the World Cup to the European winter as akin to changing the date of Christmas . "So we'll just change everything cos your weather's really hot," he said . "Brilliant! I mean come on, what's going on? What happened to the air-conditioned arenas. Bit too expensive 25 of them was it or what?" It was Franz Beckenbauer who first publicly floated the idea of switc hing the month of the tournament, closely followed by nods of approval from UEFA President Michel Platini, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke and then Blatter himself: This hitherto unthinkable idea now has legs. FIFA's own technical evaluation of the hosting bids, even though it was blithely ignored by the Executive Committee, marked Qatar as "high-risk" on account of its hellishly hot summer - "a potential health risk for players, officials, the FIFA family and spectat ors". As it stood, the arena temperature would still have only been 27C at its coolest. But c learly the assurances that (carbon-neutral) air conditioning, powerful enough to cool a dozen big stadia and presumably 32 more for the finalists to train in, will be ready in time for 2022, are seriously doubted in Zurich, only two weeks after they made the controversial choice of a Middle Eastern summer host. Now the vote is over, Blatter has also mentioned moving the Qatar World C up into other Middle Eastern countries , surely against the spirit, if not the rules, of the bidding campaign. While staging matches in neighbouring countries such as the United Arab Emirates would not be disastrous, the move from June to January potentially is as it places the international game in its most direct opposition yet with the clubs they have been trying to placate for the past two decades. Clubs are so far aghast at the prospect of having their leagues shut down by FIFA for a two-month hiatus and watching their best players come back jaded and/or injured mid-season. The risk FIFA runs is rebellion against its plans from the big European teams, leaving the governing body to think the unthinkable, recall the 2022 vote and select the USA, the runner-up, as host instead. A stand-off could increase the already floated idea of a breakaway from FIFA led by major European nations, or at the very least, herald big concessions in the form of exemption from friendlies for top players or compensation paid by FIFA to cl ubs for borrowing their star men for international duty. Instead of global harmony appearing around the 2022 World Cup decision, awarding the tournament to Qatar has created global warming of a different kind, and there appears no ready solution besides cancellation of the hosting. It's another fine mess from Sepp & Co. As Henry Winter commented today in the Sunday Telegraph: "FIFA is not just lobbing a pebble into the club waters, but a huge chunk of granite hewn from the Matterhorn." (c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters

Al Gharafa claws back to thrilling draw Qatar Stars League holders Al Gharafa are fighters to the core. Against Al Rayyan, they went behind thrice, but came back each time to eke out a hard-fought draw. In the process, Al Rayyan lost a chance to earn a morale-boosting win over the defending champions, who have not been in good form so far in the tournament. Brazilian Afonso Alves, an Al Sadd player last season, has been a big hit in the Al Rayyan camp. He did the star turn for them again, in the very first minute. Qatari player Jarallah Al Marri scored their second goal in the 33rd while Afonso scored his second in the 50th. Al Gharafa hit back through Brazilian Juninho (30th), Iraqi Youins Mahmoud (48th) and Meshaal Abdullah (67th). The match was high on excitement and some of it spread onto the spectators, who had turned out in great numbers, as well. There were a few skirmishes and police intervened at half-time to restore peace. Al Sadd did not have a great day, but still managed to win 3-0 against Umm Salal, who played for more than an hour with 10 men after Davi Jose was red-carded for a foul on South Korean defender Lee Jung-Soo in the 28th minute. The player’s loss wrecked havoc on their attacking ability and they never recovered. Al Sadd's Ivorian striker Abdulkhader Keita gave them the lead in the 14th. Mohammed Abdulrab and Khalfan Ibrahim scored their other two goals in the 80th and 90th minutes respectively. Al Arabi remained the only unbeaten team in the Qatar Stars League. Al Arabi and Lakhwiya, placed first and second respectively in the league table, played out an entertaining 1-1 draw. Al Arabi took the lead in the 48th minute through Mohsen Al Yazidi. Lakhwiya fought hard throughout and Khaled Muftah scored the equaliser for them in the 88th minute. Qatar Sports Club played out a hotly-contested 0-0 draw against minnows Al Ahli, which also saw three red cards in all. Both teams wasted chances galore and Qatar SC will have no one to blame but themselves for the bad result. Three players – Abdullah Al Kuwari (Qatar SC), Wagner and Fabiano (both Al Ahli) – were given marching orders in the 90th for fighting. In the other games, Al Kharaitiyat beat Al Khor 2-1 while Al Wakra played out a dull 0-0 draw against minnows Al Sailiya. RESULTS Al Arabi 1 v Lakhwiya 1 Al Wakra 0 v Al Sailiya 0 Al Gharafa 3 v Al Rayyan 3 Al Kharaitiyat 2 v Al Khor 1 Al Sadd 3 v Umm Salal 0 Qatar SC 0 Al Ahli 0 Taita T.S Previous Qatar Stars League Results Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Qatar Stars Qatar football