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Host NationsThe AFC Asian Cup 2007 marks the first time that the final rounds of a major international football competition will be co-hosted by four countries. Understandably, the task of bringing together four nations to stage a tournament of this stature is an immense task but in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, the Asian Football Confederation has selected a group of vibrant and progressive countries firmly committed to making the 2007 Asian Cup a success.
South East Asia is a region of ethnic and cultural contrasts but the strong bond that the four host countries have built up on political and economic fronts through their memberships of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) grouping ensures that their joint-hosting of the Asian Cup will follow the tournaments credo of respecting diversity and celebrating unity.
Indonesia
Asian Cup final records:
2004 Group Stage
2000 Group Stage
1996 Group Stage
International honours: South East Asian Games champions 1987, 1991
Football in Indonesia enjoys a long and distinguished history with the country enjoying the distinction of being the first Asian representatives at the FIFA World Cup, entering the 1938 competition in France under the colonial name of the Dutch East Indies.
Indonesia were one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954 but the national team did not qualify for the finals rounds of the Asian Cup until 1996. They broke new ground at the 2004 Asian Cup when they scored their first ever victory in the final rounds, stunning Qatar 2-1. They failed to make it past the group stage though following defeats against eventual finalists China and semi-finalists Bahrain.
At the regional level, Indonesia have claimed two SEA Games gold medals but they have not enjoyed much fortune in the Tiger Cup, losing consecutive finals to Thailand in 2000 and 2002, and to Singapore in 2004.
With former Thailand coach Peter Withe now at the helm, Indonesia are clearly building for the future and, with the backing of the most passionate fans in the region, are likely to be a tough proposition at the 2007 Asian Cup.
Malaysia
Asian Cup finals record:
1980 Group Stage
1976 Group Stage
International honours: South East Asian Games champions 1961, 1977, 1979, 1989
One of the earliest bastions of football in Asia, Malaysia continues to play an integral role in the development of the sport as the home of the Asian Football Confederation as well as the ASEAN Football Federation.
Malaysia’s national team first tasted success in the 1961 South East Asian Peninsular Games but the national team enjoyed its heyday in the 1970s when they emerged as one of the continent’s top sides, winning two SEA Games gold medals, reaching the final rounds of the 1976 and 1980 Asian Cup and qualifying for the 1972 and 1980 Olympic Games.
Although they went on to win another SEA Games gold in 1989, success has eluded Malaysia in recent years although there have been a number of near misses in the Tiger Cup with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Thailand in the inaugural competition in 1996 and semi-final appearances in 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Allan Harris’ talented young squad failed to make it to the Asian Cup 2004 in China despite holding Iraq and eventual semi-finalists Bahrain to draws during the qualifying rounds. Under Hungarian coach Bertalan Bicskei, there is confidence that the current side can return the Tigers to their former position amongst Asia’s elite.
Thailand
Asian Cup finals record:
2004 Group Stage
2000 Group Stage
1996 Group Stage
1992 Group Stage
1972 Third Place
International honours: Tiger Cup champions 1996, 2000, 2002
South East Asian Games champions 1965, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005
With three Tiger Cup titles and 11 SEA Games gold medals, the Thailand national team is the undisputed kings of South East Asian football although they have yet to make their mark amongst Asia’s elite.
Their strongest showing at the Asian Cup came on their inaugural appearance in the final rounds in 1972, where, despite failing to win a match, they reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Korea Republic on penalties. They eventually finished third by defeating Cambodia, once again in a penalty shootout.
The Thais have qualified for the last four Asian Cup finals although they have yet to win a game or advance to the knockout stage. They went very close though in 2000 when only a late Lebanon equalizer denied them victory against the hosts and a berth in the quarter-finals.
Since the departure of coach Peter Withe in late 2003, the Thai national team has gone through a period of transition with disappointing performances in the Asian Cup, Tiger Cup and World Cup qualifiers during 2004. However, the success of the under-23 side at the 2005 SEA Games, where they captured the gold medal for a record seventh consecutive time, shows that there is still plenty of talent waiting in the wings for Thailand.
Vietnam
Asian Cup finals record:
1956 Fourth place
1960 Fourth place
International honours: South East Asian Games champions 1959
A founder member of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954, Vietnam were a major force in the early days of the Asian Cup, finishing fourth in the first two editions of the tournament in 1956 and 1960 as well as winning the gold medal at the inaugural South East Asian Peninsular Games in 1959.
Unfortunately, the ravages of the Vietnam War hindered the development of the sport during the 1960s and 1970s and it was only in the 1990s that the country re-emerged as a one of the top teams in South East Asian football.
While Vietnam’s passionate support is second to none, their football fans have had to endure a series of near misses in recent years with defeats to Thailand in the SEA Games finals of 1995, 1999 and 2001 and a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Singapore in the 1998 Tiger Cup final.
Vietnam have not appeared in the final rounds of the Asian Cup since 1960 although they only missed out by three points in the qualifiers for the 2004 tournament, which included a memorable 1-0 win over Korea Republic.
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