Summary: Halfway into the AFC Asian Cup Group Stage a number of key matches and top performers have emerged to define the early rounds of the tournament where some of the established favorites have asserted their dominance, and then there are the efficient results from nations such as Iran and South Korea while China stunned Uzbekistan to become the first nation to book top slot in the next knockout rounds. Joining Anto to discuss many of the trends, surprises and quality of this competition is football commentator and correspondent Paul Sarahs of the BBC World Football Fone-In, Four Four Two and ESPN FC, and we begin to evaluate which of the nations are kicking into high gear, what national teams seem to be emerging as clear dark horses, and look for some emerging trends that serve to shape an important tournament not only for the region, but also significant to the growth of the sport in Australia who have been rampant through Matchday 2. We dig into the surprising match turned in by UAE in its battle with Qatar, the ruthlessness of Japan against tiny Palestine and why South Korea could become the force that few countries will wish to find as an opponent once the knockout rounds begin. Also discussed is the matter of Iran who looked very professional at first look, a Saudi Arabia team that needed a rebound while underscoring the importance of this tournament to the region.
