World Cup 2022 witnesses a continental shift as Asian teams make their mark

For the first time in history of global finals, three countries from AFC - Japan, South Korea and Australia - have made it to the last 16

Hwang Hee-chan celebrates after scoring South Korea's late winner in their 2-1 World Cup group-stage win over Portugal at the Education City Stadium, on Friday, December 2, 2022. AP

South Korea players celebrate after the match. AP

South Korea's players celebrate after finding out they had qualified for the last-16 ahead of Uruguay. AP

South Korea's players celebrate after finding out they had qualified for the last-16 ahead of Uruguay. AP

Hwang Hee-chan celebrates after South Korea qualified for the last-16. Getty

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan scores their second goal. Reuters

Ricardo Horta celebrates scoring for Portugal. Getty

Kim Young-gwon scores for South Korea. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min. AP

Portugal's Ricardo Horta scores after just five minutes. AP

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo after missing a chance. AFP

Kim Young-gwon celebrates scoring for South Korea.

Portugal players mob Ricardo Horta after his early goal. AP

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo heads a chance wide. AFP

Portugal's Pepe attempts to block a shot by South Korea captain Son Heung-min. AP

Portugal defender Pepe. AFP

“Cheers, Son’s crying” go the memes, but this time the chances are he’d welcome them.

Son Heung-min was in tears on the turf, a crumpled, heaving puddle right in the middle of the Education City Stadium pitch. His mask, to protect the facial fractures he’d suffered while playing for his club last month – last month – had been discarded, yet he’d still provided a superhero’s touch.

On Friday, Son created South Korea’s winner against Portugal, setting off from deep in his own half in the 91st minute and setting Hwang Hee-chan on his way to steal it. South Korea, perennial World Cup participants, were in the knockout stages for the first time in 12 years.

There’d been tears the night before, too. In the stands, as that one Japan fan was captured on camera when probably millions more were just as overcome. Japan had proven lightening can strike twice: at the same Khalifa International Stadium where they upset Germany on Group E opening day, Hajime Moriyasu’s side stunned Spain.

Having lost to Costa Rica on Sunday, on Thursday Japan concluded their four-team pool at the summit. Above Spain, the 2010 champions and steamrollers of Costa Rica; above Germany, four-time World Cup winners and runners-up as recently as 2014. Even if the Germans have now failed to emerge from the initial phase for a second successive finals.

While Germany aren’t there, Australia are. Graham Arnold’s men rebounded from a hefty opening-day defeat to France to see off Tunisia and, then on Wednesday when it was needed most, Denmark, those oft-touted dark horses.

Mathew Leckie’s sublime solo goal was reward for a titanic team effort. Not just in coming back from France, but in getting to Qatar in the first place. When it comes to the national team, Australia felt the pinch of the pandemic more than most: only four of their ultimately 20 qualifiers – they had to negotiate the inter-continental play-off – took place at home.

Lockdowns, Arnold said, have helped unite the squad. It can seem an overwrought take at times, but in Qatar, Australia have again displayed their doggedness, their determination, their never-say-die attitude. It will be needed on Saturday, when they face Argentina in the country’s first World Cup knockout clash in 16 years.

So, for the first time in the history of the global finals, three countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have made it to the last 16. Japan meet Croatia on Monday; a few hours later, South Korea go up against Brazil.

Perhaps the AFC’s success should have been somewhat expected, what with a record six representatives at the tournament (Saudi Arabia and Iran supplied standout moments, in respective victories against Argentina and Wales, but hosts Qatar disappointed).

But Qatar 2022 has provided a more globally balanced knockouts overall. In Russia four years ago, 14 of the last-16 slots were made up of European and South American sides. Asia and Africa? One. Combined. In Brazil, 11 of the 16 places went to the perceived powerhouse confederations; the same in 2010, then 13 in 2006.

Asia was represented by a solitary team last time and none in 2014. Africa, meanwhile, none four years ago. Now, there are five sides from those two continents still there, still believing, still in with a chance of another upset in a World Cup full of them.

Since Fifa introduced the Round of 16 in 1986, there has never been fewer Uefa or Conmebol team represented at that stage. Maybe the winter World Cup, squeezed into the domestic season of the top leagues, has had an effect.

But the spread of success this time around is welcome. Son and South Korea, Japan, Australia, Morocco and Senegal have made the tournament all the richer for their last-16 runs.