Asian Cup 2015: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask
FROM the best non-Socceroos games, to the players to watch, and why you can’t have vuvuzelas, here’s everything you didn’t know about the Asian Cup.
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FROM the best non-Socceroos games, to the players to watch, and why you can’t have vuvuzelas, here’s everything you didn’t know about the Asian Cup.
THE GAMES
It’s a rare treat to see the Socceroos play competitive games in quick succession on home soil and that should get you in the mood to extend your football horizons.
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Fox Sports’ Simon Hill’s best picks are:
The talented Uzbekistan v the mysterious North Korea (10 Jan, Sydney): it doesn’t sound like a huge drawcard but both teams possess some quality footballers and the North Korean fans alone could be worth the price of admission.
The super-rich Middle East derby between UAE and Qatar (11 Jan, Canberra); goals, money and two nations changing the face of world football. Not to mention likely star of the tournament, UAE’s Omar Abdulrahman.
The David v Goliath fixture when Palestine take on Japan (12 Jan, Newcastle); watching the minnows take on the three-time champions is what football is all about. Japan and AC Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda is probably Asia’s finest player, whereas Palestine’s last coach quit after his house was bombed.
THE ODDS
Bookmakers TAB.com.au have Australia and Japan as joint favourites to lift the trophy, both at $3. From there, it’s a big jump to South Korea at $6.50, then Iran at $8. Uzbekistan are at $17, then it just gets silly.
THE PLAYERS
You won’t recognise the faces and you might not be able to pronounce all the names but that doesn’t mean you won’t see some world-class footballing talent at the Asian Cup.
Japan boast the glamour boys in the previously mentioned Honda and former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa but beyond those two there will plenty to enjoy, including:
Saudi Arabia striker Nasser Al-Shamrani, already given the role of bad guy after his antics in the Asian Champions League against Western Sydney. But the bloke is still a deadly talent, which makes him an even more intriguing presence.
Korea Republic winger Son Heung-min has attracted interested from the Premier League after an excellent start to his Bundesliga career and will certainly be one to watch.
Then there’s Khalfan Ibrahim — the “Maradona of Qatar”; Qatar and Charlton striker Reza Ghoochannejhad — aka “Gucci”; UAE’s extravagantly haired Omar Abdulrahman; and two-time Asian player of the year Uzbeki captain Server Djeparov.
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Can Ange Postecoglou finally spark the Socceroos to life to claim their first major trophy? And who else will take responsibility to score goals other than Tim Cahill?
The four Asian nations who qualified for the 2014 World Cup — Australia, Japan, South Korea and Iran — all failed to win a game in Brazil. Who will stand up at the Asian Cup?
Will Palestine get a point, never mind win a game?
How will the Aussie crowds react to the tournament and non-Socceroos games?
Who will be the star of the show? Tim Cahill, Keisuke Honda, Omar Abdulrahman?
Do the rankings mean anything? Iran are the tournament’s best, according to FIFA.
THE FACTS
— Japan are the only nation to hold the men’s and women’s Asian Cup at the same time.
— Each of the Socceroos will take home $7500 per game, a $40,870 “commercial payment”, and $114,609 should they finish as champions. They will give 10 per cent of that to the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).
- Jordan’s official slogan is “No escape from Jordanians!” We’re not going to delve into the politics but this does sound a little odd to you?
— Official tournament mascot Nutmeg has his own Twitter account: @nutmeg_2015. We don’t want to encourage trolling but maybe give him a shout and see what he’s got to say.
— The list of items spectators are banned from taking into Asian Cup games includes: missiles, weapons and vuvuzelas. We all know which of the three is most likely to lead to violence.
— North Korea boasts the world’s largest stadium, holding 150,000 people. And wearing jeans is illegal in North Korea.
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask
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