- http://www.aljazeera.com/sport/football ... 62436.htmlArticles and theories abound as to why China can’t find 11 top class players out of 1.3 billion.
Less attention is given to Southeast Asia, a region with about half the population but double the love for football. When it comes to the beautiful game however, passion and population are not always enough.
Of the 20 teams that reached the penultimate round of qualification for the 2014 World Cup, only Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore came from Southeast Asia. Of the total of 18 games played by that trio, only two did not end in defeat.
Nobody expected a place in Brazil - it was 1938 when the region last had a representative in the guise of Dutch East Indies - but it was lamentable nonetheless.
Fans seeking solace in the 2015 Asian Cup may be disappointed. The 2011 tournament was ASEAN-free and as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia plan for the second round of games in qualification on Friday, all are doing so after losing the opening match. Another no-show would not be a surprise
nothing ground breaking stated but good to see the region gettting more attention.