Asian Cup good World Cup test, says AFC chief
DOHA: Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam has praised Qatar's hosting of the Asian Cup, calling it the perfect rehearsal for the World Cup in 2022.
Bin Hammam, himself a Qatari, who was instrumental in helping bring the World Cup to his homeland, also hailed the quality of football on show at the continental showpiece.
"It's been an extremely well organised event by Qatar," said the Asian Football Confederation president, who has not ruled out running against FIFA boss Sepp Blatter when he stands for re-election in May.
"Although it is 12 years (sic) between now and 2022, it was a very good rehearsal for that competition."
The tiny but wealthy country has thrown plenty of money at the Asian Cup - the stadiums are shiny and modern, the organisation is excellent, facilities are top-notch and communications work flawlessly.
But the fans have been missing and it is sorely lacking atmosphere.
There were barely 2,000 supporters to watch powerhouses Japan and Saudi Arabia, while less than 4,000 witnessed China's thrilling showdown with Uzbekistan and a similar number saw Australia beat Bahrain.
Even hosts Qatar were not able to drum up enough fans to fill the stadium when they faced Japan in a thrilling quarterfinal, their biggest match in years.
Bin Hammam, though, has been pleased with the standard of football.
"This tournament has provided so many teams with such a good standard," he told the AFC website ahead of Tuesday's semifinals, which see South Korea face Japan and Australia take on Uzbekistan.
"At least 10 teams are a very good standard.
"Uzbekistan was not a surprise but they have produced a very good standard and we have Japan, South Korea and Australia, some of the best teams in Asia and they represented us at the World Cup.
"But Qatar played very well; Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria. There are a lot of countries that played well."
Ultimately, though, it is Eas! t Asian teams that once again dominate, with Bin Hammam diplomatic on the failure of any Gulf sides to make the last four.
"I think it's a good achievement for East Asia but I remain president of all of Asia. East and West for me are equal," he said.
"A lot of West Asian teams provided very good football but at the end of the day we have to accept that football, and sport in general, is about winning and losing and we have to accept that in a sporting spirit.
"For me, whoever plays in the final are the teams that are representing me."
Bin Hammam, himself a Qatari, who was instrumental in helping bring the World Cup to his homeland, also hailed the quality of football on show at the continental showpiece.
"It's been an extremely well organised event by Qatar," said the Asian Football Confederation president, who has not ruled out running against FIFA boss Sepp Blatter when he stands for re-election in May.
"Although it is 12 years (sic) between now and 2022, it was a very good rehearsal for that competition."
The tiny but wealthy country has thrown plenty of money at the Asian Cup - the stadiums are shiny and modern, the organisation is excellent, facilities are top-notch and communications work flawlessly.
But the fans have been missing and it is sorely lacking atmosphere.
There were barely 2,000 supporters to watch powerhouses Japan and Saudi Arabia, while less than 4,000 witnessed China's thrilling showdown with Uzbekistan and a similar number saw Australia beat Bahrain.
Even hosts Qatar were not able to drum up enough fans to fill the stadium when they faced Japan in a thrilling quarterfinal, their biggest match in years.
Bin Hammam, though, has been pleased with the standard of football.
"This tournament has provided so many teams with such a good standard," he told the AFC website ahead of Tuesday's semifinals, which see South Korea face Japan and Australia take on Uzbekistan.
"At least 10 teams are a very good standard.
"Uzbekistan was not a surprise but they have produced a very good standard and we have Japan, South Korea and Australia, some of the best teams in Asia and they represented us at the World Cup.
"But Qatar played very well; Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria. There are a lot of countries that played well."
Ultimately, though, it is Eas! t Asian teams that once again dominate, with Bin Hammam diplomatic on the failure of any Gulf sides to make the last four.
"I think it's a good achievement for East Asia but I remain president of all of Asia. East and West for me are equal," he said.
"A lot of West Asian teams provided very good football but at the end of the day we have to accept that football, and sport in general, is about winning and losing and we have to accept that in a sporting spirit.
"For me, whoever plays in the final are the teams that are representing me."
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