Perrin hopeful of taking China to next level
IF China coach Alain Perrin needed any reminding that the Asian Cup was only a few days away, he got it at his team’s official welcome in Brisbane.
Asian Cup
‘Expectations are big and Ange must deliver’
THE Socceroos won the world’s respect in Brazil, but former boss Pim Verbeek declared it was time for coach Ange Postecoglou to deliver at the Asian Cup.
Family ties keep Wilkinson on fitness track
IF IT weren’t for Alex Wilkinson’s brother-in-law, the Socceroos centre back might not have been in a position to play in Friday night’s Asian Cup opener.
Saudi Arabia keep star striker under wraps
STAR Saudi Arabia attacker Nasser Al-Shamrani was kept in cotton wool as his teammates prepared for Saturday night’s Asian Cup clash against China.
Uzbekistan quietly confident of big tournament
SEMI-FINALISTS last time around, Uzbekistan will head into the Asian Cup with hopes of at least a repeat performance – despite the bookmakers begging to differ.
‘We’re on right path for this and World Cup’
MATTHEW Spiranovic says the Socceroos are primed, not just for an assault on this month’s Asian Cup title, but also to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Robbie Slater’s Asian Cup preview
AHEAD of the three-week Asian Cup, Robbie Slater runs the rule over all 16 teams, picking key players and listing reasons why they could do well.
Studs Up: race heats up for Roos XI
STUDS UP: With Ange Postecoglou yet to decide his Socceroos XI, there’s plenty to talk about as five players potentially vie for one spot.
The 10 Asian Cup stars set to shine
FROM Japan megastar Keisuke Honda, Saudi Arabia firebrand Nasser Al-Shamrani and Korea’s Son Heung-min, here are 10 stars set to shine at the Asian Cup.
Al-Shamrani all smiles on arrival
TEMPERENTAL Saudi Arabia star Nasser Al-Shamrani was in a happy mood as he arrived in Brisbane ahead of the Asian Cup clash against China.
Cahill: I dieted to keep my spot
SUPERSTAR Tim Cahill has revealed that a fear for his Socceroos future drove him to drop to 75kg — his lightest weight in 18 years.
Roos not reliant on Cahill for goals: Ange
SOCCEROOS boss Ange Postecoglou has backed Tim Cahill’s supporting cast to score Asian Cup goals.
Kuwait undaunted by Socceroos opener
KUWAITI midfielder Abdullah Al Buraiki insists his team is not scared of the Socceroos ahead of Friday night’s eagerly anticipated Asian Cup opener.
Asian Cup build-up has ‘Roos bouncing
SOCCEROOS forward Mathew Leckie says the switch has been flicked on the Asian Cup hype, four days ahead of their Group A opener against Kuwait.
Kick-off times in spotlight as heat causes concern
THE Asian Cup’s “ridiculous” kick-off times and an A-League match played in dangerous 41C today is a warning Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup organisers cannot ignore.
The day two old pros grounded wild child Kruse
ROBBIE Kruse burst onto the A-League scene in 2007 but within two years his professional career was on the ropes. Six years later and he’s flying again.
Tommy to rebound from less than Oarsome Cup
AFTER failing to produce his best football at the World Cup, Tommy Oar wants Socceroo redemption – individually and collectively – at the Asian Cup.
Bozza’s five Asian Cup games not to miss
IT should be no surprise that there are two Australia games in Mark Bosnich’s top five games he is looking forward to most at the Asian Cup.
Bahrain making big impression in Ballarat
THE positive effects of the Asian Cup on Ballarat will be remembered long after the friendly result between Bahrain and Jordan on Sunday night is forgotten.
Fortress Australia: Socceroos tough at home
THE Socceroos are unbeaten at home in 20 matches and veterans Mile Jedinak and Mark Bresciano say the team is a different proposition in Australia.
Ban benefits Milligan’s Socceroos preparations
MARK Milligan’s three-week A-League suspension for elbowing Terry Antonis may have inadvertently helped his Asian Cup cause.
Franjic keen on A-League loan return
RUSSIA-BASED Socceroo Ivan Franjic revealed that he is eager to return to the A-League on loan once his Asian Cup commitments are completed.
Disagreement leads to UAE-Kuwait cancellation
KUWAIT’S preparations for their Asian Cup opener against Australia suffered a setback when their scheduled warm-up against the UAE was cancelled.
I’m ready to explode: Kruse exudes confidence
ROBBIE Kruse has revealed that he was too “distressed” to watch the Socceroos’ World Cup matches, but boldly declared he’ll “explode” at the Asian Cup.
No guarantees as Ange keeps players guessing
JASON Davidson says no one feels secure in the Socceroos starting line-up heading in to the Asian Cup – except maybe for captain Mile Jedinak.
Art of preparation: Socceroos cover all angles
THE fans see the friendly matches and the two-week training camp. But in truth the Socceroos Asian Cup preparations truly began in Brazil six months ago.
Luongo out to make impression on home soil
SWINDON Town’s Massimo Luongo feels he better placed to make an impact on the Asian Cup than the World Cup, where he was an unused substitute.
‘Where we sit right now I’m pretty pleased’
SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou was beaming after his squad got through their first high-intensity session ahead of Friday’s Asian Cup opener.
Ange has entire squad on edge for Kuwait game
ANGE Postecoglou has told every player to be ready for Kuwait on Friday as the mercury rises in Socceroos camp ahead of the Asian Cup opener.
Jedinak declares time for results is now
AFTER eight losses in 12 games, Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak says the time for results is now, insisting Brazil 2014 has them primed for the Asian Cup.
McKay lauds Socceroos’ midfield riches
SOCCEROO Matt McKay cited the midfield omissions of Oliver Bozanic and James Holland as proof competition for places has intensified since the World Cup.
Persistence pays off for Socceroo Behich
IF AT first you don’t succeed, try and try again. Socceroos caps are reward for good performances at club level and Aziz Behich is a prime example of that.
Focused Mile leaves Palace dramas behind
A jetlagged Mile Jedinak said that his focus was on the Asian Cup, despite the crisis that has engulfed his Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Juric slams ‘unprofessional’ Al-Shamrani
SOCCEROO Tomi Juric has lit the fuse for a potentially explosive second-round Asian Cup clash, slamming Saudi Arabia firebrand Nasser Al-Shamrani.
Sainsbury gunning for old teammate’s spot
THEY may be former Mariners teammates, but Trent Sainsbury wants to snatch the Socceroos’ central defensive position from World Cup incumbent Alex Wilkinson.
In-form Leckie ready to play big Cup role
MATHEW Leckie says his roaming role in attack for German side Ingolstadt has him perfectly placed to be an asset for Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou.
Troisi revels in day he beat Ryan from halfway
JAMES Troisi’s stunning halfway strike for his Belgian club four weeks ago is still being talked about, especially as it came at the expense of Mat Ryan.
Ange finally gets all 23 players in camp
ANGE Postecoglou has for the first time, his full 23-man squad at his disposal, with Mile Jedinak, Chris Herd and Aziz Behich arriving in Melbourne.
Video: Saudi spitter hits fan in Geelong
CONTROVERSIAL Saudi Arabia striker Nasser Al-Shamrani has been filmed hitting one of his own country’s fans ahead of an Asian Cup friendly in Geelong.
Video: Saudi spitter hits fan in Geelong
CONTROVERSIAL Saudi Arabia striker Nasser Al-Shamrani has been filmed hitting one of his own country’s fans ahead of an Asian Cup friendly in Geelong.
Bahrain impress in Geelong warm-up win
A BRACE from star striker Ismaeel Abdullatif powered Bahrain to an impressive 4-1 win over Saudi Arabia in a pre-Asian Cup friendly.
Cone of silence: North Korea’s Australia plan
IT’S the case of the disappearing footballers – an entire squad enveloped in as much mystery as you might expect when they hail from North Korea.
’I’d love to start and I’m pushing for that’
LEADING A-League goal-scorer Nathan Burns is determined to cash his sparkling domestic form in for a starting berth in Australia’s Asian Cup opener.
RVP, Alexis put Spira in good frame of mind
MATTHEW Spiranovic said matching it with the world’s best in Brazil and the Champions League has him primed to make an impact at the Asian Cup.
Kruse wants Victory fairytale swansong
SOCCEROOS Asian Cup forward Robbie Kruse has revealed he’d love a fairytale finish to his career with former club Melbourne Victory in the A-League.
Japan lose star defender on Asian Cup eve
DEFENDING champions Japan have suffered an Asian Cup blow with star defender Atsuto Uchida ruled out of the tournament because of a knee injury.
I feel no pressure, I’m relaxed: Cahill
TIM Cahill says he feels no pressure being the Socceroos pin-up boy in a tournament he believes Iran and Japan are Australia’s major rivals.
Cahill’s pride over Antonis call
TIM Cahill spoke of his pride in Terry Antonis’s Asian Cup call up and says he expects to spend some time on the bench.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain set for Geelong friendly
SAUDI Arabia and Bahrain will launch their assaults on next month’s Asian Cup with a friendly at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium on Tuesday night.
I’m not here to achieve universal love: Ange
SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou said he’s not interested in winning any popularity contests, declaring that he’s sticking to a long-term mission.
Cup will overflow with Asian colour
BRISBANE’S Chinese community is counting the days until football’s Asian Cup starts, writes BERNIE PRAMBERG.
Socceroos to dribble in after Xmas exertions
ANGE Postecoglou declared “work starts today” despite only 11 of the 23-man Socceroos squad starting training on Sunday on day one of Asian Cup camp.
Bresciano keen to leave mark on home soil
MARK Bresciano missed the 2011 Asian Cup but the veteran Socceroos midfielder was never in any doubt that he would be in Australia for the 2015 edition.
Asian Cup snub has De Silva lining
PERTH Glory teen whiz kid Daniel De Silva will feature for the Socceroos in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, according to the man in charge.
AFL giants lend helping hand to Socceroos
FOOTBALL and Aussie Rules aren’t always the best of bedfellows, but the Socceroos’ Asian Cup quest will be aided by the AFL’s biggest club, Collingwood.
Ange stays firm with Palace over Jedinak
CRYSTAL Palace asked to delay Mile Jedinak’s departure to Australia for the Asian Cup, but Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou was having none of it.
Zelic urges Ange to be forward thinking
WITH a squad bursting with attacking riches, Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos can lay down a marker in their Asian Cup opener against Kuwait, Ned Zelic says.
Ange backs Cahill for fourth World Cup
SOCCEROOS coach ANGE Postecoglou has backed star Tim Cahill to play in a fourth consecutive World Cup.
Flexibility, strength in depth keys for Ange
THE Socceroos’ Asian Cup fate could be attached to the impact made by the seven inclusions from the World Cup squad, including Robbie Kruse and Nathan Burns.
We expect to win: Ange full of confidence
COACH Ange Postecoglou is confident he has 23 players who are good enough to claim the Socceroos’ first bit of Asian silverware next month.
Jordan set Asian Cup ball rolling
THE countdown to next month’s Asian Cup is on after Jordan flew in on Tuesday night to become the first team to arrive on Australian soil.
McKay ready to shine on home turf
THE name might be unfamiliar, but for Socceroo Matt McKay his home ground looms as the most important game of next month’s AFC Asian Cup.
Sydney trio have plenty of value for Ange
GRAHAM Arnold and Tony Popovic must have been relieved when only three of their players were named in the Socceroos Asian Cup squad on Monday.
What we learnt from Ange’s Socceroos squad
ANGE Postecoglou’s Asian Cup squad showed he not only wants to win the tournament, but do it in style. Here’s five things we learnt from the announcement.
Burns closer to Socceroos goal
NATHAN Burns, Terry Antonis and Tomi Juric look set to headline the A-League additions to the Socceroos squad for next month’s Asian Cup.
Refreshed Cahill could kick on until 40
TIM Cahill is privately plotting to play on for years in a welcome move that could have the Socceroos superstar appearing at a fourth World Cup.
Socceroos a Euge’ loss for Gombau
ADELAIDE United coach Josep Gombau is destined to lose skipper Eugene Galekovic to Socceroos’ Asian Cup duty before the New Year.
’Let’s not put too much pressure on De Silva’
DANNY De Silva’s reputation continues to boom, but Central Coast coach Phil Moss cautions it’s too early to talk up the 17-year-old as a saviour of Australian football.
Injury ruins Asian Cup dream for Nichols
THE Asian Cup dream of Mitch Nichols is over, with the Perth Glory midfielder set to miss up to eight weeks with a torn hamstring.
Asian Cup security concerns after Sydney siege
ASIAN football chiefs have expressed serious concerns over safety at next month’s Asian Cup in Australia following the Sydney siege.
Japan name big guns for Asian Cup defence
DEFENDING champions Japan have opted for plenty of experience in their 23-man squad for next month’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Will North Korea be your second team?
AS part its publicity blitz Asian Cup organisers are asking us to ‘adopt a team’, so why not give it go.
Bozza: Asian Cup win better than 2018 start
MARK Bosnich says the upcoming Asian Cup is more important for a rebuilding Australia than 2018 World Cup qualification.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/asian-cup/page/17