ABU DHABI (AFP) - The football may not be of the quality expected at the Euros, but there is always something compelling about watching national teams duke it out for their continental crown. Here is a look at the five leading contenders for football's Asian Cup, which starts in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday (Jan 5):
Australia
The Socceroos won the biggest title in their history at the last Asian Cup in 2015, where they edged South Korea after extra time to win a thrilling final in Sydney. It provided further vindication for their switch from Oceania to the Asian confederation in 2006, since when they have never failed to qualify for the World Cup.
However, Australia's star has dimmed in recent times, and after reaching Russia 2018 via the play-offs they exited without a win, scoring only twice in their three group games. New coach Graham Arnold must fill the void left by retired record scorer Tim Cahill, and get the goals flowing again, if the Socceroos are to keep the trophy in Australian hands.
Iran
Asia's top-ranked team won credit at last year's World Cup, where they were edged 1-0 by Spain and finished 1-1 against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, before exiting at the group stage. However, they will want to go home with more than just praise at the Asian Cup, a tournament where success has eluded them since their run of three straight titles ended in 1976.
Ex-Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz, also a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has forged a formidable unit which was unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, strolling into the Asian Cup along the way.
Last time around, Iran went out on penalties to arch-rivals Iraq in a pulsating quarter-final which featured four goals in extra-time and a contentious second yellow card for simulation to Iranian defender Mehrdad Pooladi. Similar fireworks can be expected when the two teams meet for their final Group D game on Jan 16.
Japan
Japan go into the Asian Cup chasing a record-extending fifth title and in a rich vein of form. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in five games since Hajime Moriyasu replaced Akira Nishino as coach after their surprise run to the knockout stages of last year's World Cup.
But Japan embark on their Middle Eastern adventure without two players who epitomise their waspish energy - Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. Both were omitted by Moriyasu, who looks to Red Bull Salzburg's Takumi Minamino to provide the creative spark in Kagawa's absence.
Portimonense's Shoya Nakajima and Groningen's Ritsu Doan will add thrust as they try to avenge their 2015 Asian Cup flop when they crashed out in the quarter-finals. Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Galatasaray full-back Yuto Nagatomo bring experience to Japan, who face Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.
Ranked 50th in the world, behind Iran (29) and Australia (41), anything less than the semi-finals would be seen as failure for Japan.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabiaplayers listening to the head of the General Authority for Saudi Sport, Turki Al-Sheikh (centre) at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on June 13, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. PHOTO: AFP
The former giants of Asian football need to reverse a poor run of form as they look to return to the winners' circle for the first time since the 1990s. Victories in 1984, 1988 and 1996 made the Saudis the continent's premier side but despite reaching the 2000 and 2007 finals they have been unable to add to their tally.
There was not much to shout about at last year's World Cup, when Saudi Arabia lost 5-0 to Russia in their opening game and never recovered. In the UAE, a short hop over the Saudi border, Juan Antonio Pizzi - the fourth coach in the Saudi hot seat since the 2015 Asian Cup - can expect an easier ride than in Russia as they open against North Korea on Tuesday.
However, Saudi Arabia flopped at the last Asian Cup, going out at the group stage, and they are under pressure heading into this edition after winning only one of their six games since the World Cup.
South Korea
In Tottenham Hotspur's swift forward Son Heung-min, South Korea boast Asia's most exciting player and they will be regarded as narrow favourites to hoist the trophy on February 1. The Taeguk Warriors showed their quality when they stunned holders Germany at last year's World Cup and they came within a whisker of winning their third Asian title in 2015, going down to James Troisi's extra-time strike for hosts Australia in the final.
Son will miss South Korea's first two games, against the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan, owing to club commitments with Spurs. But with a wealth of talent including Newcastle's Ki Sung-yeung and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, man of the match in the 2-0 win over Germany, South Korea should have at least one foot in the knock-out stages by then.
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Women's World Cup: Italy upsets Australia with Bonansea
Should You Play Hard to Get? Given these results, it appears that some of the behaviors and tactics associated with playing hard to get succeed in making someone more desirable as a date or
How to Play Hard to Get and Why It Works | Psychologia
Mohamed Salah's involvement in the Champions League final came to a premature end last year but it took less than two minutes for him to put things right this time around as his early effort was
Defence could be key as Barcelona and Liverpool lock horns
Chelsea collapsed to a 4-0 thrashing at Bournemouth as the Premier League's supposed lesser lights continued to cause mischief at the top end of the table. Liverpool, seeking a first title since 1990, have still increased the gap over City from four points to five but it was night of jitters at a freezing Anfield.
Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse - omanobserver.om
Football News: Pep Guardiola claimed he still doesn't believe Manchester City can win the quadruple after his side reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Brigh
Pep Guardiola coy over quadruple bid after Manchester City
Qatari Goal Machine Ali Targets Europe Move Before 2022 World Cup Almoez Ali brushed off a row about his eligibility to scoop an Asian Cup winner's medal and smash a 23-year-old scoring record on Friday, confirming that Qatar have a potential star in the making for when they host the 2022 World Cup.
Qatari goal machine Ali targets Europe move before 2022 World
Best Football Prediction Site, stakfree24 analysis data from thousands of teams to give you the best football betting tips. Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0
What Zlatan Ibrahimovic told Jose Mourinho ahead of leaving Manchester United. The Swedish striker swapped Manchester for Los Angeles in March, having struggled at Old Trafford following a serious
Manchester United striking crisis forces Jose Mourinho to
preview.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/manchester-united-team-news-revealed-vs-chelsea-a7626431.html
Jose Mourinho has the mother of all striking headaches that could force him into playing Marouane Fellaini up front against Chelsea. Mourinho is without no fewer than four of his first choice forwards with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial all missing for Manchester United's trip to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham: Mourinho's march towards the title
Aguero goal and another clean sheet inches City closer to the title. or efforts on goal than Aguero, who kickstarted City's second-half siege by forcing Heaton
The search for missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson has restarted after a GoFundMe campaign reached and passed its €300,000 goal. The crowdfunding campaign was
Messi urges search for Emiliano Sala to continue - SABC News
The balls that I missed I put 100% into. "I did have chances in the decider. All you ask for is one opportunity and I had plenty, so that's the most disappointing thing.
McGeeney rues missed Orchard chances in replay defeat - bbc.co.uk
The Singapore Slingers will be one of six teams who will contest the 2016 Merlion Cup from the 21st - 25th September 2016 at the OCBC Arena in Singapore. The Merlion Cup basketball tournament is making it's return after a 20 year hiatus, run by the Basketball Association of Singapore this will be the 10th edition of the Merlion Cup.
Merlion Cup 2019 Tickets | Official Ticketek tickets, tour
Home Manchester United Lukaku agent supports Man United's huge transfer been unfathomably targeted as United look to rebuild after Jose Mourinho United pair after taking Inter job.
Manchester United's transfer policy: A quick fix or time to
Solskjaer lavishes praise on De Gea after United maintain winning run. It extended caretaker boss Solskjaer's winning start to a club-record sixth successive match in all competitions, but
Man City's title hopes dented, Solskjaer's winning run ends
Son's late winner gives Tottenham edge over Man City; Nowitzki, Wade sign off in style win over Manchester City in an absorbing Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday
Son's late winner gives Tottenham edge over Man City
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch champions league live streaming vf
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch premier league stream reddit
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch live streaming soccer games
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live streaming online
tv soccer live stream sky
watch the champions league live stream
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch premier league darts live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch premier league live streaming vf
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer live stream links
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming yify
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream
watch live soccer game today
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
#footballschedule #GarageCafeDxb #chocolate #mane #24x7 #manchestercity #Liamgallagher #satira #league2 #bayervshoffenheim #pagani #frasirap #cappucino #cr7 #livesports #uefanationsleague #liverpool #premierleague #arsenalnews #mensnightout #tokyo #klopp #bayernmunich #zinedinezidane #Barcelona #thebeatles #girlsniteout #americanfootball #seriea #footballmemes #sumbertv #kickoff #liverpoolcity #Celtic #mancityvsliverpool #coffeebreak #gym #JUVENTUS #mancity #golf #transfernews #league1 #henderson #roadtrip #soccer #manchesterunited #rockstar #nationsleague #MyDubai #realmadrid #petercrouch #linkstreaming #commentimemorabili #lfc #oasisandbeatles
No comments:
Post a Comment