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.
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR (video assistant referee) was not working. Israel attacks Syria over rockets fired at Mount Hermon
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over
Football News -PARIS (AFP) - Neymar will travel to Qatar to undergo a "complete assessment" six weeks into his recovery from a fractured right foot, the club said on Thursday (March 8
Neymar Heads to Qatar For Medical Assessment - News18
Now Searches Recent Searches. Silina mulala. Post malone . Catriona gray. Magmamusen musics. Perro desgraciado. everytime by janet jackson. Ahesas tujhe bhi mere pyar ka hoga
Why Do Guys Play Hard to Get? 13 Reasons Why He Plays It Tough
Manchester United legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch. 4 days ago. LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tormented Bayern Munich once again as the Manchester United manager scored in his club's 1999 treble winners' reunion on Sunday. Twenty years after Solskjaer scored the last-gasp winner that helped Alex Ferguson's
Man Utd legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch
Salah retains African award to seal great day for Egypt
Few can say they could've predicted the sudden rise of the squad, although The Guardian certainly had a crack in 2008 when they posted their list of England's 20 future stars - who were all under
England are ready to fulfil the growing expectations, says
Brighton & Hove Albion women's first-team manager Hope Powell was disappointed with her side's 1-1 draw against Yeovil Town this evening, and admitted she saw the match as two points lost. Victoria Williams gave Albion the lead, and the team had multiple chances to extend their lead before Yeovil eq
Harry Kane out until March with ankle injury. Kane sustained the injury to his left ankle in the closing moments of the 1-0 loss at Wembley and scans have now confirmed the extent of the problem.
Football: Spurs star Kane out until March with ankle injury
Guangzhou (AFP) - Nico Yennaris became the first foreign-born footballer to represent China when the former Arsenal reserve started in a 2-0 home win over the Philippines on Friday. The 26-year-old midfielder was born in London and was an England youth international, but his mother is Chinese and the country is looking to naturalise
London-born Yennaris makes landmark China debut in Philippine win
Birmingham have been docked nine points after breaching financial rules, the EFL has announced. Birmingham hit with nine-point deduction a five-year football banning order after being
Birmingham City deducted nine points by EFL for financial
Stubborn Sarri unruffled as Blues flop again. Midfielder Ander Herrera heading past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to score Manchester United's opening goal in their 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round
Hudson-Odoi finally stretches his legs as glum Sarri takes
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming video
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer games live stream free app
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming reddit
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch soccer am live stream
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch champions league live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch premier league net live stream channel
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer game live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch champions league simulcast live stream
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch soccer games live stream free
watch live streaming soccer world cup
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
#salah #leomessi #crossfit #footballstreaming #battuteepiche #calciatoribrutti #meunier #mancity #manchesterunited #commento #myfootballuniverse #fcbarcelona #beatifulgame #championship #coffeebreak #coys #realmadrid #premierleague #sunderlandafc #england #lfc #villarealcf #Liamgallagher #liverpoolfc #hoffenhiem #henderson #bayervshoffenheim #frasitrap #frasirap #thebeatles #liverpoolfans #championsleague #alissonbecker #golf #adidasslipon #mensnightout #noelgallagher #oasisofficial #acmilan #uefanationsleague #Bar #ignoranza #arsenalfantv #vip #watchlive #zinedinezidane #afcnews #soccermemes #MyDubai #ronaldo #manchestercity #freekicks #comico #winner #panini #girlsniteout #league1 #coutinho #portsmouthfc #lovefootball #valcea #cr7 #GarageCafeDxb #londoncity #chocolatecoffee #seriea #copaamerica #nikesoccer #knuckleball #coyg #24x7 #petercrouch #oasis #manchestercity #premierleague #JUVENTUS #midnight #elcasico #vandijk #Barca #gooners #433skills #jadwalbolahariini #zidane #firmino #bundesliga #linkstreaming #Sunday #barcelona #footballdubai #streamingbolaid #PartyTime #sixtimes #bayern #soccer
0 Comments