Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda (left) and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima react to their team’s defeat in the Qatar World Cup 2022 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022. Photo: AFP

Asian teams came crashing back down to earth in the World Cup last 16 but the region still enjoyed its best-ever tournament to suggest it is closing the gap on the global elite. 

The continent’s finest will be back in Qatar for the 2023 Asian Cup and, if the World Cup is anything to go by, it could be the finest yet.

Australia, Japan and South Korea – three of the six Asian Football Confederation teams at the World Cup – reached the first knockout stage.

It was the first time three AFC sides had got to the last 16, even if South Korea in particular suffered a sobering defeat, going down 4-1 to highly fancied Brazil.

There would be no repeat of 2002, when South Korea reached the semifinals as co-hosts, still the best World Cup showing by an Asian side. 

Saudi Arabia, also part of the AFC, pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament in coming from behind to defeat Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.

Japan also roared back to stun former champions Spain and Germany and top Group E, before suffering a heartbreaking defeat to 2018 finalists Croatia on penalties.

Speaking ahead of the game, defender Kou Itakura said: “I feel that Asia is getting closer to Europe.”

AFP