Determinations to go out of Asia to the world stage are going to collide in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will commence on the 14th of May. The top five teams of this tournament will be granted berths for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. With the format of the Women’s World Cup changed from 16-team to 24-team finals, the number of Asian berths is increased from three to five. The increased chance to open the door to the global stage ensures an AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign more exciting than ever. Eight contenders will gather in Vietnam: Champions Australia as well as Japan, China and Korea Republic, who finished third, fourth and fifth last time, respectively, are automatic entrants and will be joined by four qualified teams.
Impressive Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei failed to qualify
Among the East Asian Football Federation members, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei attended the qualifiers where contenders were split into four-team groups and played in a round-robin format. Only the top finisher of each group can advance to the finals. In Group C, Hong Kong gained six points with back-to-back wins against Kirgiz 2-1 and Bahrain 3-1 before facing Vietnam in the last group match. Playing bravely against a difficult opponent, sixth among Asian teams in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking, they lost 0-4 and finished second. Group D also saw a tight battle and Chinese Taipei and Myanmar collided after both posted two straight wins. The two teams are almost equal in quality with Chinese Taipei ranked 39th and Myanmar 45th in the FIFA women’s world ranking. Accordingly, the game ended scoreless and Chinese Taipei missed out on goal difference.
Japan aiming for the first Asian Cup title
The eight contenders of the finals have been divided into two groups. The top two finishers of each group will advance to the knockout stage (semi-finals) while the third-place finishers will play in the fifth-place play-off.
Group A consists of Vietnam, Australia, Japan and Jordan. As the champions of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Japan are reportedly the favourites to win the group, but actually, they have never won the title of this competition, finishing third in the last two tournaments. This fact shows how high the level of Asian women’s football is and gives an additional motivation to Japan.
Their coach Norio Sasaki is determined to be successful, saying: “We want to win the title this time.” Japan were runners-up in the 2014 Algarve Cup ? The first time in two tournaments and the second time overall. They will face the New Zealand women’s international team for a friendly match on the 8th of May to be ready to travel to Vietnam.
Korea Republic and China to compete in the same group
Group B is expected to see Thailand and Myanmar chasing the top two favourites Korea Republic and China.
Korea Republic have already announced their squad, including their ace Ji So-Yun, who plays for English club Chelsea LFC. After failing to progress beyond the group stage in the last three tournaments, they are eager to achieve good results this time.
Boasting record eight titles in the competition, China aim to win it again for the first time since 2006. In the 2014 Algarve Cup Portugal attended by world’s best teams, they beat Norway in the group stage. Then, China edged out Denmark on penalties in the placement round to finish fifth.
The three EAFF members are highly reputed even in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup where world-class football is played. It is well possible that Japan, China and Korea Republic all will reach the last four.
