Asia Cup: will Son be able to stop Japan's constellation?

2024-01-13 10:00 © ZUMAPRESS com.

The AFC Asian Cup has kicked off. On the first day of the tournament, hosts Qatar defeated Libya 3-0.

The cup, which somewhat adjusts the football season, deserves attention. It features five prominent national teams (Australia, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan), as well as notable Premier League personalities and rising football stars.

As the tournament gains momentum, Eurofootball.com review with three nominations.

Underdog - Saudi Arabia. Their chances among all five prominent Asian national teams are rated the lowest, but why? The level of local players was expected to rise after the country's brightest stars had the opportunity to train with Roberto Firmino, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wijnaldum, Benzema, Kante, Neymar, and other stars. Saudi Arabia made an impact in the World Cup by defeating future champions, so the potential is definitely there. Additionally, we must not forget the new coach Roberto Mancini, who is a specialist in such tournaments, having returned the European Champions title to Italy. Key player Saleh Al-Dawsari will lead Saudi Arabia to a triumph not seen since 2007.

Worth mentioning: Qatar

Tournament favorite - Japan. A very prominent favorite in this Asian Cup. Having grown significantly, Japan's national team showcased their potential at the World Cup. With a duo from Celtic - Maeda and Hatate, Kaoru Mitoma who stood out last season, Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ayase Ueda, Ko Itakura in their lineup. This is very strong. Everything is crowned by a 10-game winning streak leading up to the tournament. They managed to score 45 goals during this period, including 4 strikes against national teams like Germany, Turkey, Canada.

Worth mentioning: South Korea

Tournament star - Son Heung-min. Japan may have the strongest lineup, but South Korea has the brightest star. For Tottenham's leader, this might be the last chance for his glory in the Asian Cup and winning it with his homeland - the fulfillment of the dream. Son would want to achieve a slightly different outcome and an additional step as an Asian football star.

Worth mentioning: Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma.

Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon

Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India

Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine

Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam

Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain

Group F: Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Thailand

This championship is taking place in Qatar, while the next one, in 4 years, will be held in Saudi Arabia. One can notice a trend here, which should not be too surprising. Arab countries are trying to invest incredible amounts of money into football, and it is very curious whether this will pay off in the long term.

Out of 17 championships, Japan has become the most frequent Asian champions, winning it four times. Saudi Arabia and Iran have three titles each. South Korea has two titles in their country, with their last victory dating back to 1960. Australia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Israel have triumphed once. By the way, home advantage is quite an effective aspect in this tournament. In 17 editions, the hosts have won seven times.

Just like the Africa Cup of Nations, this tournament can only be watched through online broadcasts as there is no official broadcaster in Lithuania.

January 12 - February 10. Qatar.

Andrius Kriščiūnas