The Asian Storm Ends... Japan and Australia Also Eliminated

Australia loses 1-2 to Argentina
Japan falls to Croatia in penalty shootout... Quarterfinals dashed

On the 6th (Korean time), at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, during the Round of 16 match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between South Korea and Brazil, the national team players who lost 1-4 are greeting the fans.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] On the 6th (Korea time), both South Korea and Japan were defeated in the Round of 16 matches of the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup, causing the strong Asian wave that had surged during the group stage to subside. This tournament saw the highest number of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) countries (three nations) advance to the Round of 16 in World Cup history, but all failed to break through the quarterfinal barrier and were eliminated.

South Korea lost 1-4 to Brazil in the Round of 16 match held at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The Korean national team conceded four goals to Brazil in the first half alone, clearly showing a gap in skill level.

Earlier, in the Round of 16 match held at Al Janoub Stadium, Japan was defeated by Croatia. The two teams fought hard for 120 minutes including extra time, ending in a 1-1 draw, and proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Japan ultimately lost 1-3. For Japan, this was the fourth failed attempt to reach the quarterfinals, following 2002, 2010, and 2018. Australia lost 1-2 to Argentina in the Round of 16 match held on the 4th at Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Thus, all three AFC member countries failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

During the group stage of the Qatar World Cup, the Asian countries caused a fierce wave. South Korea, Japan, and Australia succeeded in advancing to the Round of 16, marking the highest number of three countries in World Cup history.

Until now, the record for the most AFC member countries advancing to the World Cup Round of 16 was two. South Korea and Japan both reached the Round of 16 in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Aside from these two countries, Saudi Arabia advanced to the Round of 16 in the 1994 USA World Cup.

The best performance by an AFC member country to date is South Korea's 4th place finish in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

It is hopeful in that Asian football has shown new possibilities. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Khalifa, AFC President, stated immediately after South Korea secured their Round of 16 spot, "South Korea showed impeccable team spirit from start to finish and deserved to be in the Round of 16," and added, "On behalf of Asian football, I sincerely congratulate South Korea for making new history in Asian football."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.