HONG KONG - Japan can take a major step towards the 2026 World Cup Finals over the next week if they can negotiate two away tests, at Indonesia and China, in five days.
Son Heung-min's South Korea will also look to close in on a spot at the showpiece event in North America as they travel to Kuwait on Nov 14 and then face Palestine in Jordan on Nov 19.
Meanwhile, Herve Renard, who masterminded a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, takes charge of Saudi Arabia for the first time since returning to the job.
But the spotlight will be on an estimated crowd of 78,000, who will pack out the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta in hope of seeing the world No. 130 hosts pull off a shock against world No. 15 Japan on Nov 15.
Hajime Moriyasu's Samurai Blue will then need to face another hostile crowd when they travel to Xiamen on Nov 19 to play world No. 92 China.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 13, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 13, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Coote's welfare the priority amid new allegations
English football's referees body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said on Nov 13 that it was taking new allegations against David Coote \"very seriously\", while European football body Uefa said it had suspended the Premier League referee.
FERNANDES HAS FAITH IN AMORIM'S ABILITIES
United captain hopes new manager can replicate success with his football concept
England should come before anything: Kane
Harry Kane has said that he is disappointed by the high number of withdrawals from the England squad this week, insisting that the national team must come first.
BJK Cup opener delayed due to severe weather
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals which were due to begin in Malaga on Nov 13 were postponed after Spanish authorities issued a red-weather alert for extreme rain and flooding in parts of the country, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said.
ZVEREV STOKED BY 'SHIFT'
At 27, the German emerges as a veteran but he feels ready to take on rising stars
Las Vegas 'in a really good place', rules out sprint
LONDON - Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers have ruled out following Formula One's other United States races in Austin and Miami and switching to a sprint format.
Sorenstam, Korda hail Clark's sporting impact
Caitlin Clark is no stranger to large crowds, given her time in the spotlight as a decorated basketball player in college and now in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
WIZARDS SPELLBOUND AS WEMBY DROPS 50
He has career-high in points and threes in a game to lead San Antonio to 139-130 win
Mcllroy aiming for Schauffele, Scheffler markers
Two victories, seven top-10 finishes, nearly US$11 million (S$14.8 million) in earnings on the PGA Tour this season - and the inside track to winning the Race to Dubai - would overwhelmingly please most people.
'Idiotic' Tyson-Paul bout 'shouldn't be happening'
Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Nov 15 for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.
