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: Molde owners will support me if I stay at Manchester United, says temp boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (REUTERS) - Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the owners of Norwegian club Molde sent him to Old Trafford with their blessing and asked him to try to turn his temporary stint at the club into a permanent role.
Football news - Solskjaer: Molde owners will support me if I
Ozil opened the scoring after just four minutes before turning provider for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to double Arsenal's lead. Lys Mousset briefly gave Bournemouth hope before half-time, but Ozil and Mkhitaryan combined once more to tee up Laurent Koscielny to make it 3-1 before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette rounded off an eighth
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth - footynews.co.uk
Ramsey moving to Juve on five-year $62m deal LONDON • Aaron Ramsey has agreed a five-year deal with Juventus worth £36 million (S$62 million) and will join the Italian champions on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Aaron Ramsey agrees to join Juventus in deal worth £36m
Feb 23, 2019 · Mauricio Pochettino somewhat lost the plot at the final whistle on Saturday, as Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 at Burnley in controversial fashion. Tottenham's manager confronted referee Mike Dean
How have Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri fared in English
According to the reports, Ranieri, has signed a multi-year contract with the club. Fulham, spending an astounding £100m on new players this summer, are still placed bottom after conceding a league-high 31 goals, having only managed five points from their 12 games this season. A probable reason why Jokanovic was fired without a second thought.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd sent Sanchez claims, Liverpool
FEST Camden hosted some of the best World Cup screenings in north London last summer, and now the organisers are hosting football fans for the Champions League final in its brand new venue Wonderfest.
UEFA Champions League Final - Live Screening at Tottenham
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals. Soccer Football - FA Cup Fifth Round - Newport County AFC v Manchester City - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - February 16, 2019
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarter-finals
April 27 (Reuters) - Ryan Babel struck a potentially deadly blow to Cardiff City's Premier League survival chances with a stunning 25-yard strike that secured Fulham a deserved 1-0 win at Craven
Soccer: Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation
Nathan Ake Strikes Late To Sink Nine-Man Tottenham Hotspur Updated: 04 May 2019 19:54 IST Nathan Ake's last-gasp winner condemned Spurs to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Tottenham Hotspur
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph
In total, he has won nine La Liga titles with the club, as well as four in the Champions League and six in the Copa del Rey. "Messi is a one-club man," Bartomeu added. "It's more than what he does on the pitch, his relationship with Barca will last forever. "I use the example of Pele, who was always at Santos. We want Messi to always be at
Josep Maria Bartomeu Wants to Keep Lionel Messi 'Forever' as
LONDON (AFP) - Pep Guardiola hailed his "incredible" Manchester City stars as they swept back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday (March 30).. Read more at
Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City - Daily Nation
Premier League: Liverpool Back On Top With Win Over Tottenham, Chelsea Defeat Cardiff City Updated: 31 March 2019 23:09 IST A 2-1 win over Cardiff City keeps sixth placed Chelsea in contention for
Cardiff City v Chelsea betting preview: Free Premier League
Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said the club will activate a one-year extension in defender Toby Alderweireld's contract to keep him at the club until 2020.
Football: Spurs to trigger Alderweireld contract extension
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad. Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - Camp
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch premier league live streaming free
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming yify
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming direct
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch champions league live streaming kenya
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live stream uk
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming xbox
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch usa soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch us soccer live stream
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
tv soccer live stream sky
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming match
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch english premier league live streaming
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
#MSport #liverpoolfans #PartyTime #salah #boxing #mancityvsliverpool #leicestercity #lionelmessi #vip #arsenalfantv #soccer #noelgallagher #battuteepiche #cappucino #petercrouch #4Series #livestreams #valcea #bestshishacafedubai #trollfootball #insegreto #soccermemes #champion #myfootballuniverse #freekicks #hoffenhiem #liverpoolcity #alissonbecker #afcnews #manunited #commento #footballmemes #chocolate #mancity #MyDubai #kroenkeout #england #ignoranza #cristianoronaldo #oasis #Sunday #manchesterunited #visubal #risate #londoncity #neymar #girlsniteout #24x7 #chocolatecoffee #soccerbible #footballschedule #golf #elcasico #acmilan #Barcelona #coys #thomasmeunier #arsenalnews #americanfootball #paulmcartney #liverpool #transfernews #realmadrid #coffeebreak #cr7 #serieatim #watchlive #vandijk #messi #footballdubai #footballfans #streamingbolaid #frasirap #villarealcf #fut #freekickerz #championship #mensnightout #manchestercity #manchestercity #seriea #freekick #knuckleball #soccer #adidasslipon #Liverpool
No comments:
Post a Comment