Asian Cup preview: Socceroos fixtures, full groups, players to watch
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham captain headlines the Premier League stars planning to take down the Socceroos at the Asian Cup. Have your say in our ultimate predictor.
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Former Socceroo Robbie Slater has analysed every group and given his verdicts on how the Asian Cup’s group stages will play out.
Can Graham Arnold’s Socceroos avoid potential banana skins against Uzbekistan and Syria?
And will powerhouse countries Japan and South Korea make their presence felt in the groups?
Check out Slater’s predictions of how each group will be decided below.
Group A: (Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon)
Robbie says: After their disappointing performance as World Cup hosts, Qatar – with a point to prove particularly being on home soil again – will progress with China.
Group B: (Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India)
Robbie says: The Socceroos have played well in Qatar in recent years, so expect the Australians to win the group and the ever-improving Uzbekistan to place second.
Group C: (Iran, UAE, Hong Kong, Palestine)
Robbie says: Iran, who have a good chance to win the tournament, and the UAE seem to be the clear top two in this group.
Group D: (Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam)
Robbie says: There are two genuine tournament contenders in this group, Japan and Iraq, and they’ll be the top two in this group.
Group E: (South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain)
Robbie says: A South Korea side containing Tottenham star Son Heung-min should top Group E, with Jordan to edge out Bahrain for second spot.
Group F: (Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman)
Robbie says: Under Italian coach Roberto Mancini, Saudi Arabia won’t disappoint. They will top their group, with Oman to finish second.
Robbie’s best third-placed teams: Syria, Vietnam, Bahrain and Thailand
ASIAN CUP: SOCCEROOS GROUP GUIDE, FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
—Erin Smith
It’s not quite the pool of doom but the Socceroos will certainly have to reignite their World Cup form if they wish to escape the group stages of the AFC Asian Cup and bring the trophy home.
The Aussie squad will have to face off against Uzbekistan, Syria and India in the opening stages of the tournament.
Thankfully, the conditions and stadiums in Qatar won’t be too unfamiliar to the squad with most of them playing there at the 2022 FIFA World Cup — where the Socceroos progressed to the Round of 16 before being knocked out by eventual champions Argentina.
Australia is the highest-ranked team in their group this tournament but it means little in a game of football. Every team in the group has celebrated success recently and will bring plenty of confidence and determination to the Cup.
Not to mention a host of talented stars to watch out for.
Here is a snapshot of each team the Aussies will face in the group stages.
UZBEKISTAN
FIFA ranking: 68
GAME: January 23, 10.30pm (AEDT)
The Socceroos haven’t faced Uzbekistan since their round of 16 match at the last AFC Asian Cup. It was a tough battle, with the game ending 0-0 and Australia claiming victory after a penalty shootout. Captain Jaliloddin Masharipov will be one of the players to watch from Uzbekistan. The winger is incredibly light-footed and has played domestic football in his home country, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and most recently Greece. Masharipov made headlines last year when he gave up his No. 7 shirt at Al Nassr for Cristiano Ronaldo. He left the league shortly after to join the Greek league. Masharipov is one of the most experienced in the Uzbekistan side — scoring 11 goals in his 53 Caps.
SYRIA
FIFA ranking: 91
GAME: January 18, 10.30pm (AEDT)
So much has changed for both sides since they last faced off it is hardly worth mentioning the past result – for those interested the Socceroos last played Syria in 2019 in the group stages of the Asian Cup (the match ended 3-2). Before then, their last meeting had been 2017 during World Cup qualifiers. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw and Australia took victory in the second, 2-1. Syria have never advanced past the group stage at the Asian Cup – but with striker Omar Khribin in top form it could be very different this year. Khribin has 21 goals from his 55 national team appearances. He shot to fame in 2017 when he became the first Syrian to be named the AFC Player of the Year – the same year he helped Al Hilal win the Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup double. He is a dangerous striker who has already notched nine goals from his 11 matches in this season’s UAE Pro League.
INDIA
FIFA ranking: 102
Game: January 13, 10.30pm
If anyone knows the dangers of the underdogs it’s Australia – having played the role so many times before. The Socceroos have faced off with India just once in recent memory, in 2011 – with Australia winning 4-0. India are the lowest-ranked team in the group but it doesn’t mean they can be discounted They have had mixed results recently with wins against Lebanon, Pakistan and Kuwait and losses against Qatar and Malaysia. If India do put up a fight Sunil Chhetri will be behind it. The 39-year-old is the nation’s most capped men’s footballer with 145 games under his boots. He has scored an impressive 93 goals. Just last year Chhetri scored nine international goals, including a hat-trick against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship, which India won for the fourth time in his career.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Superstars from some of the biggest football competitions in the world will don their national team colours for the covettedAFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
Here are five top players expected to play a huge role this tournament.
Heung-min Son (South Korea)
The Tottenham super striker is in top form coming into the AFC Cup, with 12 goals from his 20 Premier League outings thisseason and has scored three goals across South Korea’s two World Cup qualifiers. With Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain in hispool Son is sure to feature on the scoresheet.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan)
The Japanese defender, who starts for Arsenal in the English Premier League, has gained plenty of experience since his firstAFC Asian Cup outing in 2019. Takehiro Tomiyasu suffered another injury, this time to his calf, late in 2023, but he is expected to be fit in time for the Cup.
Takefusa Kubo (Japan)
Speedy right winger Takefusa Kuba has had a great season playing for Real Sociedad in the La Liga – notching up six goals from 17 appearances. Kubo played a huge role in getting Real Sociedad to their fourth-place finish last season, earning them a spot in the UEFA Champions League. The star has been the talk of many transfer rumours with big clubs such as Manchester United chasing his signature. The tournament will be Kubo’s first Asian Cup appearance.
Kim min Jae (South Korea)
Kim min Jae is a mainstay in the South Korean side – a talented centre-back with the ability to score goals. He played in five matches, scoring two goals, at the last Asian Cup and has been honing his skills at powerhouse club Bayern Munich this season. The defender has played 15 domestic matches, scoring one goal. Kim min Jae also played a key role in Bayern’s Champions League campaign so far, with the side winning five and drawing one pool game to top their group.
Mehdi Taremi (Iran)
Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is a menace in front of the goal and is sure to find his name on the scoresheet more than once this Asian Cup. Taremi played a key role for Iran at their last Asian Cup outing in 2019 – scoring three goals in his five games. His goal scoring prowess has only continued to improve, netting 22 goals in the 2022/23 Primeira Liga competition and another five so far this season.
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