Jonathan Wilson: Asian Cup highlights the rise of Asia

[Jonathan Wilson]

It was only in 1988 Japan first qualified for the Asian Cup. Then, in the first Asian Cup held in Qatar, the Blue Samurai finished bottom of a five-team group, taking a single point and failing to score a goal. Twenty-three years on and the tournament returned to Qatar with Japan as favorite, a billing it justified by winning a fourth tournament to become the most successful team in Asian history.

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