GROUP A
Australia
The Socceroos have been installed as favourites after their outstanding display at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A lack of experience could count against them, however, with Australia making its debut at the Asian Cup. Nevertheless coach Graham Arnold has claimed that "anything less than reaching the final" is a failure, and with stars like Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill, John Aloisi and Mark Bresciano at his disposal, that appears to be a realistic target.
Key player - The fit again Harry Kewell. Prediction - The final could be within their reach, but inexperience might count against them in the long run. Coach - Graham Arnold
Iraq
New Brazilian coach Jorvan Viera has inherited a skillful young team that reached the semi-finals of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Iraq's poor display at the Gulf Cup in January lead to the sacking of coach Akram Ahmed Salman, however, and means that the team may be low on confidence going into this tournament. The on-going conflict in the war-torn nation has also made preparations difficult, which could prove a particular hindrance in the humid conditions should Iraq progress beyond the group stage.
Key player - Experienced Al Gharafa striker Younis Mahmood. Prediction - Should pip Oman for second place in the group, where a potential quarter-final with Japan awaits. Coach - Jorvan Viera
Oman
Oman only reached the Asian Cup finals for the first time in 2004, but a good performance in that tournament coupled with the fact that they finished ahead of Jordan in qualifying for the 2007 edition, should see them in a confident mood. Nevertheless new Argentine coach Gabriel Calderón will need to get the best out of Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and midfielders Fawzi Bashir and Ismail Al Ajmi, if Oman are to prove genuine contenders in this group.
Key player - Named in the 2004 Asian Cup All-Star team, Imad Ali is once again expected to lead the line in attack. Prediction - Might not quite possess the experience to progress beyond the group stage. Coach - Gabriel Calderón
Thailand
Despite partisan home support Thailand will struggle to get out of this group, although they'll take heart from a recent 4-3 friendly win over Group A rivals Iraq. The Thais play an energetic brand of football under coach Chanvit Polchovin, and they'll be eager to reclaim the mantle of South-East Asia's premier team, particularly in the absence of regional rivals Singapore.
Key player - Rumoured to be angling for a move to the A-League, the mercurial Teerathep Winothai will hope to put his burgeoning talent in the shop window. Prediction - Not even fervent local support is likely to propel them beyond the group stage. Coach - Chanvit Polchovin
GROUP B
Japan
The Blue Samurai have been rejuvenated by new coach Ivica Osim, who has overhauled a team that disappointed at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Captain Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi has claimed that Japan are "burning for revenge" against an Australian team that beat them at the World Cup, and Japan possess plenty of experience in Kawaguchi, Yuji Nakazawa and Keisuke Tsuboi, despite coach Osim selecting only two overseas based players in his squad.
Key player - He may be overshadowed by midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, but Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara is currently in red-hot form. Prediction - Aiming for their third consecutive Asian Cup crown, Japan should have what it takes to lift the trophy. Coach - Ivica Osim
Qatar
Bosnian coach Dzemaludin Musovic comes up against his mentor Ivica Osim in Group B, and Qatar will look to erase the memories of their disappointing 2004 Asian Cup campaign, when they crashed out at the group stage. The loss of reigning AFC Player Of The Year Khalfan Ibrahim to injury is a blow, however the battle-hardened Qataris should have enough experience to get out of this group - although the Matchday 3 clash with the United Arab Emirates in Ho Chi Minh City looms as a vital encounter.
Key player - Striker Hussain Yasser has plenty of experience playing for European clubs, and he should hold the key to Qatar's chances up front. Prediction - They should take second spot in Group B, but a potential quarter-final clash with Australia might spell the end of the road for Qatar. Coach - Dzemaludin Musovic
United Arab Emirates
2007 Gulf Cup champions the United Arab Emirates will hope that their success in that competition can rub off at the Asian Cup. The Emirates disappointed when they were knocked out at the group stage three years ago, and much travelled coach Bruno Metsu will hope that he can steer his new team to the knockout stages this time around. The UAE haven't progressed to the last eight since they reached the final on home soil in 1996, and they'll probably need to beat Qatar to claim second place in the group if they are to reach the quarter-finals in 2007.
Star man - Striker Ismail Matar scored five goals in five games as the UAE lifted the Gulf Cup earlier this year, and he will hope to continue that form against the continent's best. Prediction - They might find Qatar too tough in their efforts to progress beyond the group stage. Coach - Bruno Metsu
Vietnam
Expected to be the easy-beats of the group, Vietnam will at least hope to put up a decent showing in front of their success-starved fans. Austrian coach Alfred Riedl has put his faith in youth, picking a particularly young squad as he sets his sights on the future of Vietnamese football. With limited resources at their disposal, Vietnam cannot expect to compete on the same level as Japan or the oil-rich Gulf states, and they'll be hoping to avoid any embarrassing results as they look to put football in Vietnam back on the map.
Key player - He may not have got on the scoresheet in Vietnam's recent 3-0 friendly win over an under-strength Jamaica, but striker Phan Thanh Binh will hope to be back amongst the goals at the Asian Cup. Prediction - Will hope to pick up at least a point in the group stage. Coach - Alfred Riedl
Group C
China
Can the Chinese go one better in 2007 after losing in the final to Japan three years ago on a bad-tempered Beijing evening? It is unlikely. Coach Zhu Guanghu has been on the receiving end of criticism from both press and fans after a lacklustre qualifying campaign. A recent friendly loss to Thailand and a 4-1 thrashing handed out by the USA didn't help.
After Zhu controversially left out Chinese Super League record goalscorer Li Jinyu, the pressure will be on the shoulders of those stars with European experience - Sun Jihai, Zheng Zhi, Sun Xiang and Shao Jiyai.
Key Player - Zheng "I am the best player in China" Zhi. ZZ was quite impressive in his half-season Premier League stint with Chartlon and the midfielder needs to be on top form. Prediction - Should manage to manage to squeeze out Uzbekistan but will do well to get past the quarters.
Iran
One of the favourites and rightly so with stars such as Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Vahid Hashemian and Andranik Teymourian to call on. Those players will be desperate to put the pain of Germany 2006 behind them and show what they can do on the continental stage.
Iranian football is never boring, both on and off the pitch, and coach Amir Ghaleneoi is not too highly regarded in the football-mad country. The recent 4-0 thrashing in Mexico wasn't the best way to start preparations but with the talent available, Iran can beat anyone in Asia on their day.
Key Player - No Ali Daei this time but Andranik Teymourian was one of the few players to impress a year ago and has adapted to life in the Premier League with Bolton quite easily. Prediction - Should finish top of the group but likely to face either South Korea or the Saudis in the quarters. Then anything can happen. Coach - Amir Ghaleneoi
Uzbekistan
The Uzbeks are flying the flag for Central Asia and will be hoping to match their exploits of 2004 when they reached the quarter-finals. One of the stars of that tournament, Mirdjilal Kasimov has retired and the inspirational captain and dead-ball specialist will be missed.
It is in attack where the team is dangerous. Maksim Skatskikh is a well-respected striker on the European scene and Alexander Geynrikh is still only 22.
Key Player - Alexander Geynrikh - Strong, direct, pacy and skilful. Geynrikh impressed in 2004 and three years on he has more experience and can trouble any Asian defence. Prediction - It all depends on the game with China but perhaps the Chinese have a little too much strength in depth. Coach - Valeri Nepomniatchi
Malaysia
The weakest team in the group and probably the weakest team in the competition, it will be a major shock if Malaysia are still in action when the group stage is over. The summer's competition is the nation's first appearance at the Asian Cup since 1980.
Still, as co-hosts there is always a chance that local backing could at least make the contenders and much depends on a good start against China. An avoidance of defeat should keep Norizan Bakar's team in contention until the end.
Key Player - Indra Putra Mahyuddin is a tricky striker who needs to get among the goals. Prediction - It is difficult to see anything other than a bottom-place finish for Malaysia. Coach - Norizan Bakar
Group D
Indonesia
Indonesia were the best performing south-east Asian team three years ago, though there wasn't much competition, with a 2-1 win over Qatar in the opening game.
This time the first game is against Bahrain and a similar result is necessary if the co-hosts are to progress - Saudi Arabia and South Korea are the next opponents in line.
Despite the presence of 100,000 fans it won't be easy. Star striker Boaz Salossa has a broken ankle and the team has a dodgy defence.
Key Player - Bambang Pamungkas. The diminutive striker has a lot of goalscoring pressure on his slim shoulders but he is still a threat in the air. Prediction - It's a tough group and an early exit for the co-hosts despite their passionate fans. Coach - Ivan Venkov Kolev
Bahrain
Surprise semi-finalists three years ago and the boys from Bahrain almost made the World Cup as well before being pipped to the final spot by Trinidad and Tobago.
Like most middle-east teams Bahrain change their coach with alarming regularity but the latest reshuffle could be a major boost. Milan Macala was inexplicably fired by Oman in February and the Bahraini FA wasted little time in picking up the wily Czech. The silver-haired tactician will need his wits about him in a tough group and a fit Ala'a Hubail is also necessary. The joint top scorer of the 2004 competition is the team's best hopes of a place in the quarter-finals.
Key Player - Ala'a Hubail has had injury problems but the striker is dangerous. Prediction - Bahrain struggled to qualify for the competition and will struggle to reach the knockout stage. Coach - Milan Macala
South Korea
One of the favourites for the competition but the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists haven't won on the continent for a long 47 years. A host of injuries mean that the wait may stretch over to half a century. If injuries to Premier League stars Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo and Seol Ki-hyeon weren't enough, captain Kim Nam-il and his sports hernia added to the problem.
Korea does have some promising young players. Lee Kun-ho, Yeom Ki-hoon and Son Dae-ho are recent additions to the national team set-up and have enough talent to succeed. Much rests however on the more experienced stars like Lee Chun-soo and Lee Dong-gook.
Key Player - Lee Chun-soo. The versatile attacker wants to go England soon and could show a host of scouts what he is made of. Prediction - Despite their middle-eastern Achilles hell, Korea should progress past the group stage and then anything can happen. A lack of experience means that the top prize may be just out of reach. Coach - Pim Verbeek
Saudi Arabia
The Saudis are going through something of a transitional phase with veterans such as Sami Al-Jaber and the holder of the international appearances record Mohammed Al Daeyea finally put out to grass.
New boss Helio Cesar dos Anjos was an underwhelming appointment in the eyes of many fans and people in the media and despite the generational shift in the team, a repeat of the first round exit in 2004 would see him on his way back to Brazil.
Key Player - Powerful midfielder Mohammed Noor is the main man and most Saudi attacks go through the Al-Ittihad star. Prediction - Despite reaching five finals from 1984-2000, the present side doesn't have the look of potential champions, last four at best. Coach - Helio Cesar dos Anjos
Stadiums
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia - capacity: 100,000 Jaka Baring Stadium, Palembang, Indonesia - capacity: 40,000 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - capacity: 100,000 Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - capacity: 69,000 Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand - capacity: 60,000 Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand - capacity: 35,000 My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam - capacity: 40,000 Army Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - capacity: 25,000
Asian Cup Groups
Group A
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group B
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group C
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group D
| Team | |||||||
| Bahrain | |||||||
| Indonesia | |||||||
| Korea Republic | |||||||
| Saudi Arabia | |||||||
No comments:
Post a Comment