Asian Football's Middle Class Challenging Leaders

The weakest of Asia’s nations may still be a long way from challenging established powers like Japan and South Korea, but countries traditionally consigned to the continent’s lower-middle order are suddenly finding themselves upwardly mobile.

After two of six matches in the third round of Asian qualification for the 2014 World Cup, most of the impressive performers so far have come as something of a surprise.

To see Australia, Japan and South Korea leading each of their respective groups was expected, but to see Jordan leading Group A was not.

Jordan has six points already, and along with Australia, is the only team to have a perfect record from the opening two games. The points collected so far is just one short of the total tally that Jordan earned in its six games at the same stage in qualification for the 2010 World Cup. Thailand, Lebanon and Kuwait have all matched or surpassed their efforts of four years ago.

From: http://ping.fm/Nl67c