Hello!

World Cup is about to start in a week. I thought I could do a small recap of every of 32 national teams that will play in Russia. I will make a 5 posts (including this one) - about every confederation, in that order:

• AFC (Asia)
• CONCACAF (North and Central America)
• CAF (Africa)
• CONMEBOL (South America)
• UEFA (Europe)

In this post I will begin with - like I mentioned earlier - AFC Federation.

Teams that qualified and their recap

Iran

Iran was the best team in AFC Qualifiers. They managed to win 6 matches and had 4 draws. That means they didn't lose single game! Iran's best scorer in qualifiers was Sardar Azmoun with 11 hits on his account.

Iran will play in group B and has to face Spain, Portugal and Maroco. Iran's best performence on WC was group stage, and considering their opponents it probably reamin it as it is. But you should never underestimate the hearts of Iran players!
Iran's schedule:

• 15.06 Maroco - Iran
• 20.06 Iran - Spain
• 25.06 Iran - Portugal

Japan

Japan was the second team in Qualifiers right behind Iran. They won 6 matches and had 2 draws with Australia and Iraq. Their best scorer in qualifiers was Kaisuke Honda known for playing in CSKA Moscow or A.C. Milan. He scored 7 times. Right behind him was well-known Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund with 6 hits.

Japan will play in group H with Poland, Colombia and Senegal. It's very interesting group where Japan may advance and even make best appearance in WC. Japan's biggest achievement on WC is 1/8 finals.

Japan's schedule:

• 19.06 Colombia - Japan
• 24.06 Japan - Senegal
• 28.06 Japan - Poland

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia was the third team in AFC Qualifiers. They managed to get 2nd seed in group B right behind Japan. They won 6 matches and had only 1 draw. They lost 3 times. Saudi Arabia's best scorer was Mohammad Al-Sahlawi. What's interesting he was the best scorer of all AFC Qualifiers with 16 goals! He's a true scoring machine. In national team in 39 matches he scored 28 times. In club competinions he scored 133 goals in 240 games.

Saudi Arabia will play in group A with Russia, Egypt and Uruguay. If Mohammad Al-Sahlawi will score at will like in Qualifiers they should be able to advance from group stage. That would repeat their biggest succes from 1994 where they managed to advance from group with Netherlands. Belgium and Maroco.

Saudi Arabia's schedule:

• 14.06 Russia - Saudi Arabia
• 20.06 Saudi Arabia - Uruguay
• 25.06 Saudi Arabia - Egypt

South Korea

South Korea was the fourth team that qualified to the FIFA WC 2018 from AFC Qualifiers. They won only 4 matches and had 3 draws but i was enough the get over Syria and qualify. South Korea best scorer and for sure the biggest star was Son Heung-min - player of Tottenham Hotspur. He has incredible talent and it let him to score 7 times in this Qualifiers. Son is 25 but he has 66 official appearances in national team and he scored 21 goals.

South Korea will play in group F with Germany, Mexico and Sweden. We must be clear - current World Champions - Germans will get 1st seed. It can't be different. But the fight for the second seed will be very fascinating. Why? Sweden and South Korea are equal teams. Both can advance for sure considering the fact what internet talk about Mexico. That affair with prostitutes may be bad for the Mexico players heads. And mental strength is as important as physical one. Espiecially on World Cup. You can read about Mexico's affair HERE. I think South Korea may advance from the group stage but they won't be as susscesful as in 2002 WC where they clinched 4th place! But 2002 WC had many controversies. Some people think that South Korea was in Semi-finals because of referees. And what's more interesting - their biggest WC achievement was clinched in WC that they were organising! More about thos controversies you can read HERE

South Korea's schedule:

• 18.06 Sweden - South Korea
• 23.06 Mexico - South Korea
• 27.06 South Korea - Germany

Photo: Reuters

That's all for now!
Leave your feedback and watch out for next recap of CONCAF!