Asian Cup 2015: Preview Saturday’s games as the tournament kicks into gear
AFTER the Socceroos opened the tournament with a win, the Asian Cup kicks into gear. Here’s your full preview of all Saturday’s matches.
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AFTER the Socceroos opened the tournament with a win, the Asian Cup kicks into gear. Here’s your full preview of all Saturday’s matches.
GROUP A
SOUTH KOREA v OMAN
4pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
TAB odds: South Korea $1.60, Draw $3.75, Oman $5.50
AUSSIE SUMMER PUTS KOREANS IN A SWEAT
OMAN’S FRENCH COACH HEARTBROKEN FOR HOME
THE PLOT
After a disappointing World Cup for South Korea, fearsome German defender Uli Stielike was brought in as coach in September to start the rebuilding process. Despite having little time to implement his changes, the Taegeuk Warriors remain one of the Asian Cup favourites and are expected to have no trouble accounting for an Omani side that has never made it out of the group stages of this tournament.
KEY PLAYERS
SOUTH KOREA
Team captain, and current star Swansea midfielder, Ki Sung-yueng is a player we can lay claim to given he spent five years studying at John Paul College in Brisbane.
OMAN
Goalkeeper and captain Ali Al-Habsi is his country’s most famous export having played in the EPL for both Bolton and Wigan. Will need to be immense here if Oman is to snatch a crucial result.
WHAT IT’S LIKE AT NORTH KOREA TRAINING
GROUP B
UZBEKISTAN v NORTH KOREA
6pm, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
TAB odds: Uzbekistan $1.87, Draw $3.25, North Korea $4.25
THE PLOT
An intriguing match up between 2011 semi-finalists Uzbekistan, who promise much but delivered little in big tournaments, and 2010 World Cup participants North Korea, the team from the secretive state about which there is little known. Expect Uzbekistan to be on the attack and North Korea to sit back and defend doggedly, as has been its traditional modus operandi.
KEY PLAYERS
UZBEKISTAN
If two-time Asian Player of the Year Server Djeparov shines as an attacking force from midfield then the White Wolves may be the Asian Cup’s dark horse.
NORTH KOREA
Striker Pak Kwang-ryong is one of only four Chollima players who plays abroad and that experience will be vital for both he and his teammates throughout the tournament.
AL-SHAMRANI UNDER INJURY CLOUD
CHINA DESPERATE TO REACH FULL POTENTIAL
SAUDI ARABIA v CHINA
8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TAB odds: Saudi Arabia $2.45, Draw $3, China $3
THE PLOT
A match between two Asian powerhouses and a match that could decide Group B’s runner-up if Uzbekistan leads the way as expected. Saudi Arabia has been in disarray of late, sacking its coach after losing the Gulf Cup of Nations final in November and then losing friendlies in Australia to Bahrain (4-1) and South Korea (2-0). China has found rare stability under Frenchman Alain Perrin, appointed 11 months ago, who has achieved impressive results.
KEY PLAYERS
SAUDI ARABIA
Controversial 2014 Asian Player of the Year Nasser Al-Shamrani, known for headbutting and spitting on Western Sydney Wanderer and Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic, is the undoubted Saudi star forward but has been under an injury cloud (abdomen) this week.
CHINA
A lot of responsibility will fall on to the shoulders of Guangzhou Evergrande striker Gao Lin to score Team Dragon’s goals in Australia.
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Preview Saturday’s games as the tournament kicks into gear
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