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.
Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
PORTO (REUTERS) - Porto converted a penalty awarded following a VAR review three minutes from the end of extra time to beat AS Roma 3-1 and reach the Champions League quarter-finals after an epic
Porto go through with extra time VAR penalty - The Huffington
Romelu Lukaku scored twice to make light work of Manchester United's injury crisis with a comfortable Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Lukaku double inspires Man United to 3-1 win
Football news - Romelu Lukaku double seals Manchester United
Kolasinac delighted by 'big win' but urges focus. By. Andrew Allen - April 12, 2019. 17. We need cool, confident (but not over-confident) heads at the SPS and
Football: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky FA Cup trip to Newport Guardiola (above) has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade. PHOTO: REUTERS
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) new technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to translate Singapore's "culture of excellence" to football and wants to do it by building
New FAS technical director aims to awake 'sleeping giant'
Premier League Match Report for Arsenal v Chelsea on 19 January 2019, includes all goals and incidents. Have your say on the game in the comments.
Proper Gapping Instructions - NGK.com
Arsenal back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Alex Iwobi deflected strike gave Arsenal 16th-minute lead Alexandre Lacazette's 10th league goal of season made it two Late own goal from Sead Kolasinac was consolation for hosts Arsenal still without away Premier League clean sheet all season Huddersfield bottom, 13 points from safety; Arsenal stayed sixth Arsenal host
Soccer: Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Jose Mourinho has rejected managerial offer from an old club and has no plans to return to Portugal at the moment. Jose Mourinho rejects first managerial offer since Manchester United sacking
Jose Mourinho aims transfer dig at Man Utd board and reveals
Luka Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to fellow players and voters.
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo
Feb 23 (Reuters) - - Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the Championship. The top-flight's basement club looked lost again as soon as captain Tommy Smith was
Soccer-Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the
Manchester City took a huge step towards retaining the Premier League title as a 2-0 win at Manchester United on Wednesday took them a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the table with three games to go.
Vincent Kompany will have a testimonial match in August 2019 to mark his 10th year at Manchester City, with all the profits going to a great cause. The proceeds will all go the Homelessness Fund set up by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, which aims to end homelessness in Manchester… read more »
Mayor's A Bed Every Night scheme launches to help get
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer live streaming mobile
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league live streaming video
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming match
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch usa soccer live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer live stream apk
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming qatar
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer game live espn
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch premier league live streaming vf
tv soccer live stream sky
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch champions league live streaming xbox
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch the premier league live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch premier league live streaming vk
#hoffenhiem #jadwalbolahariini #petercrouch #thebeatles #ucl #oasisofficial #juventus #Celtic #seriea #manchesterunited #footballmemes #kroenkeout #MyDubai #cristianoronaldo #PartyTime #footballmeme #alissonbecker #trollfootball #mancityvsliverpool #barcelona #comico #golf #myfootballuniverse #nikesoccer #portsmouthfc #Barcelona #liverpoolfans #linkstreaming #commento #fcbarcelona #Vip45 #firmino #gym #watchlive #arsenalfantv #chocolatecoffee #lovefootball #league2 #Fcb #MSport #footballstreaming #manchestercity #freekickerz #premierleague #elcasico #londoncity #Liamgallagher #Liverpool #24x7 #commentimemorabili #adidasslipon #bestshishacafedubai #roadtrip #henderson #streamingbolaid #winner #chocolate #oasis #acmilan #knuckleball #livestreams #kickoff #sunderlandafc #bayervshoffenheim #soccer #zidane #copaamerica #neymar #championship #tokyo #freekick #footballfans #nutmeg #nationsleague #noelgallagher #oasisandbeatles #soccerbible #realmadridcf #soccermemes #bundesliga #arsenalnews #visubal
No comments:
Post a Comment