In appreciation of Cambodia — yes, the team that just lost 0-14

You may have noticed. Iran played Cambodia on Thursday and it got ugly real fast, real bad. That left me at a curious crossroads — on the one hand, the game made for a feel-good story since it was opened to female spectators; on the other hand, Cambodia's struggles made for too cheap a punchline for many. So here it goes — my awkwardly timed attempt to write Cambodia a feel-good story of their own making...

Still short on firepower, Taiwan’s best generation may come to waste

Let's say I'd ask you to give me one Asian nation that's currently living through the golden years of its entire history, or at least the modern era. A couple of you would waste no time in shouting "Vietnam" in my face. Some would maybe suggest Tajikistan. Thailand or Syria might get a shout, too. And then there's Taiwan. Tell me honestly: Do you ever think about Taiwan?

Malaysia are back with a bang, and their very own “MVP”

I've got to admit, I might be dealing with a virtually insatiable passion for these early stages of World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers. They always deliver. There are seemingly no exceptions. This year included...