Aussies or Japan? Who are the top three contenders for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup?

Can the Socceroos take out their second Asian Cup? Will Japan run riot like they did in the World Cup?

The 2024 AFC Asian Cup starts this weekend, with the Aussie Socceroos being a huge chance to go all the way. Read on and listen to the Football Today Podcast as the team breaks down the best squads, players and top four contenders that can take out the Asian Cup this year.

AUSTRALIA

• Nickname: Socceroos
• Asian Cup winner: 2015
• Group B: Uzbekistan, India, Syria

Climbing to their highest world ranking in 11 years (25th), the Socceroos are quietly confident heading into this Asian Cup and want to recreate the glory of 2015.

Australia were also extremely impressive at the most recent World Cup, being one of only three Asian-playing nations to make it to the Round of 16, now boasting a squad that is full of star players from Europe.

Clearly in one of the easiest groups, the Aussies will be looking to dominate early on in this tournament, especially after beating both Uzbekistan and Syria at the last Asian Cup.

Harry Souttar and Craig Goodwin celebrate a Socceroos goal against Bangladesh. Picture: Michael Klein

Player to look out for: Harry Souttar

Big Harry’s amazing intercept ability in defence, as well as being the tallest outfield player in the tournament, will help him intimidate opponents and is a major reason to why the Socceroos have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches.

The Aussie centre back has an incredible goal scoring record as well with 10 goals in just 21 games, numbers that would be great for an attacker, let alone a defender. Souttar will be able to use his extreme height and powerful header to capitalise on corners again here.

Prediction: Semi-final finish

Marcus Bazzano on the Football Today Podcast predicts that the Aussies “will get out of the group stage comfortably, but I can see us getting knocked out late as we are really lacking a match-winner.”

Kaoru Mitoma of Japan scores a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Australia. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

JAPAN

• Nickname: Samurai Blue
• Asian Cup winner: 1992, 2000, 2004, 2011
• Group D: Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam

Winning the most Asian Cups in the competition’s history (4) the Samurai Blue are always the benchmark for this competition, being so well structured and always having a team full of star players.

Japan showed at the World Cup that they can be in discussion with the world’s best, beating powerhouses of Germany and Spain with their insane pace and quick passing midfield.

Liam ‘Stats Guy’ McAllion is all in for Japan on the Football Today Podcast.

“Japan have insane pace on the counter,” says McAllion, “and the clear best midfield in this tournament of Mitoma, Endo and Minamino; they are well deserved favourites.”

Player to look out for: Kaoru Mitoma

Brighton’s superstar winger has been one of the best players in the Premier League, with 22 goal contributions for club and country across the past few years.

After actually producing a University thesis on dribbling, he is extremely hard to stop when he hits full pace and will score big especially in the group stage.

Prediction: Cup winners

South Korea's Hwang Hee-Chan celebrates a win over Portugal at the 2022 World Cup. Picture: Odd Andersen/AFP

SOUTH KOREA

• Nickname: Taegeuk Warriors
• Asian Cup winner: 1956, 1960
• Group E: Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain

This is a real year of optimism for the Taegeuk Warriors, as they look to make history in this tournament for the first time in 64 years.

After making it out of the group stage of a tough World Cup group and finally having a fit squad, this South Korean side looks dangerous and if they can get some early wins they will be hard to stop with some confidence.

In the past this side has relied on the greatest Asian player of all time, Son Heung-Min, but he will finally have a lot of help, with Hwang Hee-Chan in amazing form in the Premier League and Kim Min-Jae being one of the best Bundesliga centre backs.

On the Football Today Podcast, host Alex Donnelly labels this South Korea side “great, arguably having the best attack in the tournament, they will be the team to beat if they can play at their best... they were just so inconsistent at the World Cup.”

Player to look out for: Hwang Hee-Chan

Pep Guardiola once labelled Hwang as just “the Korean guy” but since then he has scored winning goals against Manchester City for Wolves and is third in the EPL this season for goals scored.

His extreme pace in attack combined with Sonny makes them the deadliest duo in this tournament and he has the experience of scoring in a much harder tournament of the World Cup recently.

Prediction: Runners up

— CHECK OUT CODE BET’S FOOTBALL HUB HERE —

Originally published as Aussies or Japan? Who are the top three contenders for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup?