The 2011 Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar this Friday, so now is the appropriate time to assess who can be champions following on from Iraq’s shock success in 2007.
Group A
QatarFIFA ranking; 114Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Quarter Finals (2000)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in group stage
Coach; Bruno MetsuKey player; Sebastian SoriaTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified as hosts
The hosts have a good chance to progress out of this group and their form in AFC qualification series over the past few years suggest they are capable on home territory. Khalfan Ibrahim and Sebastian Soria hold the key up forward.
KuwaitFIFA ranking; 105Asian Cup titles; 1 (1980)Asian Cup best performance; Champions (1980)2007 Asian Cup performance; Did not qualify
Coach; Goran TufegdzicKey player; Fahad Al-EneziTopscorer in qualifying; Bader Al-Mutwa (2 goals)
After claiming two titles in 2010, the Gulf Cup of Nations and WAFF Championship, Kuwait are definitely the dark horses of this group. In fact, they could be dark horses to win the whole tournament.
ChinaFIFA ranking; 87Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Runners-up (1984, 2004)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in group stage
Coach; Gao HongboKey player; Hao JunminTopscorer in qualifying; Gao Lin (3 goals)
China will take a youthful squad to Qatar as they try to re-build following the false dawn of their 2002 World Cup appearance. There will be some confidence in the Chinese camp too after a good recent run was capped with a 3-2 win over reigning champions Iraq last week.
UzbekistanFIFA ranking; 109Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Quarter-Finals (2004, 2007)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in quarter-finals
Coach; Vadim AbramovKey player; Server DjeparovTopscorer in qualifying; Alexander Geynrikh (2 goals)
There’s plenty of quality in the Uzbeki line-up but they remain the sleeping giants on Central Asia. Server Djeparov is a former Asian player of the year and he will be a key man. Uzbekistan haven’t really been able to make much of an impact in Asia in recent years.
Group B
Saudi ArabiaFIFA ranking; 81Asian Cup titles; 3Asian Cup best performance; Champions (1984, 1988, 1996)2007 Asian Cup performance; Runners-up
Coach; Jose PeseiroKey player; Mohammad Al-ShalhoubTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified after runners-up 2007 Asian Cup finish
Saudi Arabia’s dominance of Asian football throughout the 80s and 90s has faded to a mere memory but the appearance of the Green Falcons in the final in 2007 will offer fresh hope ahead of a tournament held next door in Qatar. Expectations will be high and they could be a wildcard.
JapanFIFA ranking; 29Asian Cup titles; 3Asian Cup best performance; Champions (1992, 2000, 2004)2007 Asian Cup performance; Fourth-place
Coach; Alberto ZaccheroniKey player; Shinji KagawaTopscorer in qualifying; Shinji Okazaki (6 goals)
The Blue Samurai enter Qatar as one of the firm favourites for the crown. There are some injuries concerns for Japan, with defensive duo Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa out of the tournament. New coach Alberto Zaccheroni’s visa problems means he’s only led the team twice, which could be an issue, but with players like Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda in form, they should be expecting the final four at least.
JordanFIFA ranking; 104Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Quarter-Finals (2004)2007 Asian Cup performance; Did not qualify
Coach; Adnan HamadKey player; Bashar Bani YaseenTopscorer in qualifying; Hatem Aqel, Amer Deeb, Odai Saify & Bashar Bani Yaseen (1 goal)
Jordan’s 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan last week will offer them some reason for optimism ahead of the Asian Cup but realistically they won’t be able to match their stronger opponents. A lack of firepower could be their main problem as this youthful side tries to find its feet.
SyriaFIFA ranking; 107Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996)2007 Asian Cup performance; Did not qualify
Coach; Valeriu TitaKey player; Firas Al KhatibTopscorer in qualifying; Maher Al Sayed, Firas Al Khatib & Jehad Al Hussein (2 goals)
Syria have never progressed beyond the group stage in an Asian Cup despite four appearances and they’ll likely find the going tough in Qatar. Valeriu Tita is Syria’s fourth coach in a short period of time which shows how unsettled this team is.
Group C
South KoreaFIFA ranking; 40Asian Cup titles; 2Asian Cup best performance; Champions (1956, 1960)2007 Asian Cup performance; 3rd place
Coach; Cho Kwang-RaeKey player; Park Ji-SungTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified after third place 2007 Asian Cup finish
Arguably the title favourites for the tournament after a fine 2010 World Cup appearance where they reached the Round of 16, along with solid recent form. Star players like Park Ji-Sung and Park Chung-Yong should guide them far and end their 50-year Asian Cup hoodoo.
AustraliaFIFA ranking; 26Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Quarter-Finals (2007)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in quarter-finals
Coach; Holger OsieckKey player; Tim CahillTopscorer in qualifying; Luke Wilkshire (2 goals)
The Socceroos are aiming to triumph in Qatar and bring plenty of high-class names to the tournament including national treasures Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell. Australia will be a threat and should be expecting to go far, but they are inexperienced in Asian tournaments and could be found out, under new boss Holger Osieck who hasn’t stamped his authority on the side yet.
BahrainFIFA ranking; 93Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Fourth-place (2004)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in group stage
Coach; Salman SharidaKey player; Jaycee OkwunwanneTopscorer in qualifying; Ismael Abdulattif (5 goals)
Probably the dark horse of this group, Bahrain have caused troubles to good teams before. Playing in the Middle East will help them too. This is a team who narrowly missed the past two World Cups and shouldn’t be underestimated but a recent change of coach suggests they are a bit unsettled. Tough group too.
IndiaFIFA ranking; 142Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Runners-up (1964)2007 Asian Cup performance; Did not qualify
Coach; Bob HoughtonKey player; Sunil ChhetriTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified after winning 2008 Challenge Cup
India are arguably the weakest team in Qatar, after automatic qualification from success at the Challenge Cup almost three years. India have had a poor 2010 and come into the Asian Cup with little momentum and some internal politics after team manager Pradip Choudhury walked out on them late last month won’t have helped.
Group D
IranFIFA ranking; 66Asian Cup titles; 3Asian Cup best performance; Champions (1968, 1972, 1976)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in quarter-finals
Coach; Afshin GhotbiKey player; Javad NekounamTopscorer in qualifying; Mohammad Nouri, Gholamreza Rezaei & Javad Nekounam (2 goals)
Another of the heavyweights in Qatar, Iran’s recent lack of success is cause for concern for Team Melli. But that could be drawn upon as a source of determination to do well, and with players like Osasuna pair Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei in the squad, they’ll be a threat. Coach Afshin Ghotbi is a shrewd boss too.
IraqFIFA ranking; 101Asian Cup titles; 1Asian Cup best performance; Champions (2007)2007 Asian Cup performance; Champions
Coach; Wolfgang SidkaKey player; Nashat AkramTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified as 2007 Asian Cup winners
The reigning champions head for Qatar without favouritism but also minus that element of surprise which treated them so well in 2007. Younis Mahmoud is their goalscorer, and alongside him is a young squad which could cause a few problems, with Wolfgang Sidka having them more organised these days.
North KoreaFIFA ranking; 108Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Fourth-place (1980)2007 Asian Cup performance; Did not qualify
Coach; Jo Tong SopKey player; Ri Myong GukTopscorer in qualifying; Qualified after winning 2010 Challenge Cup
North Korea’s 2010 World Cup campaign was not as bad as their record suggests, with quality opponents showing them up in defence. But in Asia, the North Koreans will be hard to break down with their organisation and discipline. Goals will be needed if they are to progress, piling pressure on striker Jong Tae-Se.
UAEFIFA ranking; 105Asian Cup titles; 0Asian Cup best performance; Runners-up (1996)2007 Asian Cup performance; Knocked out in group stage
Coach; Srecko KatanecKey player; Subait KhaterTopscorer in qualifying; Mohamed Omer, Ismail Matar & Ahmad Khalil (2 goals)
UAE remain of the regulars at the Asian Cup, but they are also hardly expected to go far. Slovenian boss Srecko Katanec has done a good job with UAE recently, after an awful World Cup qualifying campaign. Subait Khater and Ismail Matar will be key men.