Pakistan's recent face-off against football giants Jordan might have left fans with mixed feelings. A tough 3-0 loss at home followed by a 7-0 defeat in Amman sounds rough, right? 😬 But hold on! Despite the scorelines, there's more to the story than meets the eye.
Last October, under the new leadership of coach Stephen Constantine, Pakistan made history by winning their first-ever World Cup qualification match! 🎉 They edged out Cambodia 1-0 in a nail-biting two-legged tie. This victory wasn't just a win on the scoreboard; it was a ticket to bigger battles and greater exposure.
By advancing to the second round of the FIFA World Cup-AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers, Pakistan secured six more matches against top-tier teams like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan. Sure, they've faced defeats, but these matches are golden opportunities for growth and experience. 🌟
On the flip side, Cambodia and other teams from countries and regions like Bhutan, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Macao, Sri Lanka, Guam, East Timor, and Brunei are already out of the World Cup race. 😕 They'll have to wait for a playoff round later this year just to keep their Asian Cup dreams alive, with some getting only two more games in this cycle.
So, what's the real kicker here? 🧐 The current Asian qualification format seems to leave the underdogs in the dust, tying their fate to just a couple of games at the start of a four-year cycle. Is that fair? For teams craving development and international experience, it's a tough pill to swallow.
Pakistan's journey highlights both the challenges and the triumphs. While they may not be racking up wins, they're gaining invaluable experience on the international stage. For the so-called \"weaker\" teams, perhaps it's time for a format that offers more chances to shine and grow. 🌱✨
Reference(s):
How Asia's World Cup qualifying format disadvantages its weakest teams
cgtn.com
