The national soccer team has now completed two friendly matches against New Zealand with one draw and one loss. After 33 years, they lost again to this Oceania team and are undefeated on the road for the 41st consecutive year. This is the first time that head coach Jankovic has led the team, which is basically the main team of the national soccer team for the Asian Cup and the preseason. Now they can't even win against New Zealand. How can we get a better result?
The national soccer team is ranked 80th and New Zealand is ranked 105th, with a difference of 25 places between the two teams. With one consecutive draw and one loss and at least five points deducted, the national soccer team will be ranked 81st in the latest FIFA world rankings to be released next month, and will still remain in the top 12 in Asia.
According to reports, the group draw for the new Asian Cup finals is scheduled for May this year and the AFC will be graded according to the latest FIFA rankings released in April. The current grading rules have been finalized and include hosts Qatar, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Oman, China, Syria, and Vietnam in the first two stages, as well as Lebanon, who also made it through the last Top 40 tournament, joining the 13 teams that advanced from the second stage of the qualifying rounds in the latter two stages.
The current ranking bins are listed below:
Tier 1 (seeded): Qatar, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia.
Second gear: Iraq, UAE, Oman, China, Syria, Vietnam.
Tranche 3: Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan.
Fourth tranche: India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia
The only suspense now is the grading of Vietnam and Lebanon.Vietnam did not play a friendly on the international day in March. Lebanon has only one match, which will be against Oman. The current point difference between Vietnam and Lebanon is 21 points. No matter what score Lebanon beat Oman by, they will not be able to overtake Vietnam in the rankings before the group draw, so Vietnam has already locked the second slot, which is definitely good news for the national football team.
The national soccer team maintained its top 12 Asian ranking, locking up the second spot, while not being able to be seeded in the lottery because it is not the host team, luckily avoiding Iraq, Syria and Vietnam, the national soccer team once again encountered opponents who could not be played and could be avoided, or continue to lose face.
If nothing else, the above scores will be the specific scores for the Asian Cup, and the most desirable scores for the national soccer team will be announced in advance. It is best to draw the hosts Qatar in the first slot. This team is not that strong and is starting to go downhill. Kyrgyzstan is best drawn in the third slot, which is also the weakest in this slot. India is best drawn in the fourth slot, where the national football team has a clear advantage.
The Asian Cup will be held from January 12 to February 10, 2024, according to Qatar Football Association officials. The final day happens to be the first day of the Lunar New Year. I wonder what will happen to the national soccer team.
