FIXTURES
Iran v Yemen
3am January 8
Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Iraq v Vietnam
12:30 am January 9
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Vietnam v Iran
10pm January 12
Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Yemen v Iraq
12:30am January 13
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah
Vietnam v Yemen
3am January 17
Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Iran v Iraq
3am January 17
Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
COACH
Carlos Queiroz, an experienced European manager having coached with Portugal, South Africa, Manchester United, Real Madrid and, since 2011, Iran. The long coaching run has established a chemistry and system within the Iran football team that will be crucial.
LAST SIX GAMES
W-D-D-W-W
STAR PLAYER
Alireza Jahanbakhsh. After a solid appearance at the 2018 World Cup, eyes are on the 25 year old Brighton midfielder to build on that with a solid performance at the 2019 Asian Cup.
STRENGTHS
Coaching and big tournament experience
WEAKNESSES
Not many but maybe central defence??
RANDOM QUOTE
Iran star player Sardar Azmoun said he was going to retire from international football after being “the target of numerous attacks on social media for failing to score in any of Iran's three group matches at the World Cup.” He didn't quit though and is in the Asian Cup squad.
VERDICT
A very well coached and highly skilled team with a blend of experience and younger players, many are viewing Iran as a strong favourite to win the 2019 Cup.
IRAN SQUAD
1 ALI REZA SAFARBEIRANVAND Goal Keeper
2 VORYA GHAFOURI Defender
3 EHSAN HAJI SAFI Defender
4 ROOZBEH CHESHMI Defender
5 MILAD MOHAMMADIKESHMARZI Defender
6 AHMAD NOOROLLAHI Midfielder
7 MASOUD SOLEIMANI SHOJAEI Midfielder
8 MORTEZA POURALIGANJI Defender
9 OMID EBRAHIMI ZARANDINI Midfielder
10 KARIM ANSARI FARD Forward
11 VAHID AMIRI Midfielder
12 AMIR ABED ZADEH Goal Keeper
13 MOHAMMADHOSSEIN KANANI ZADEGAN Defender
14 SEYED SAMAN GHODDOOS Midfielder
15 PEJMAN MONTAZERI Defender
16 MAHDI TORABI Midfielder
17 MEHDI TAREMI Midfielder
18 ALIREZA JAHAN BAKHSH JIRANDEH Midfielder
19 SEYEDMAJID HOSSEINI Defender
20 SARDAR AZMOUN Forward
21 SEYED ASHKAN DEJAGAH Midfielder
22 SAYEDPAYAM NIAZMANDGHADER Goal Keeper
23 RAMIN REZAEIANSEMESKANDI Defender
COACH
Srečko Katanec is an experienced international coach having managed Slovenia, UAE as well as clubs such as Olympiacos. Katanec has only been in the Iraq coaching position since September which has given him very little time to instigate any changes.
LAST SIX GAMES
W-W-D-D-L-D
STAR PLAYER
Ali Adnan plies his trade in Serie A and the wingback is clearly a cut above those around him. Now 25, he made his debut for Iraq at just 18 and has been a mainstay on the left wing ever since.
STRENGTHS
Experienced coach and talented players
WEAKNESSES
Lack of familiarity with their coach and what he wants from them.
RANDOM QUOTE
“"I don't have a magic wand, but I know, thanks to my experience, how to successfully develop the team.”
VERDICT
While Group D is a particularly tough group, Iraq look to have a reasonable shot at least making a decent run in the tournament's knockout stage.
IRAQ SQUAD
1 JALAL HASSAN HACHIM Goal Keeper
2 AHMED IBRAHIM Defender
3 FRANS DHIA HADDAD Defender
4 SUAD NATIQ NAJI Defender
5 ALI FAEZ ATIYAH Defender
6 ALI ADNAN KADHIM Defender
7 SAFAA HADI AL-FURAIJI Midfielder
8 OSAMAH JABBAR SHAFEEQ Midfielder
9 AHMED YASEEN GHENI Midfielder
10 MOHANAD ALI KADHIM Forward
11 HUMAM TAREQ FARAJ Midfielder
12 MOHAMMED KASSID Goal Keeper
13 BASHAR RESAN BONYAN Midfielder
14 AMJED ATTWAN KADHIM Midfielder
15 ALI HISNY FAISAL Midfielder
16 HUSSEIN AL-SAEDI Midfielder
17 ALAA ALI MHAWI Defender
18 AYMEN HUSSEIN Forward
19 MAHDI KAMIL SHILTAGH Midfielder
20 MOHAMMED HAMEED Goal Keeper
21 ALAA ABBAS ABDULNABI Forward
22 REBIN GHAREEB SOLAKA Defender
23 WALEED SALIM AL-LAMI Defender
COACH
Korean veteran Park Hang-seo has been a key part of Vietnam's success since he was hired in 2017. Winning the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup was a clear highlight for him, the team and the nation.
LAST SIX GAMES
W-D-W-D-W-W
STAR PLAYER
Nguyen Cong Phuong - at 5’6, he draws physical comparisons to Messi, but is also thrilling to watch and ready to shine on a big stage.
STRENGTHS
Skilled young players – the youngest is 19, the oldest 29 and the average age is just 23, which is the youngest in the tournament by far, with only Iraq coming close.
WEAKNESSES
Youngest team in the tournament means a lack of experience.
RANDOM QUOTE
“Their young players also have a good technical ability and play tactically. As far as I know, they haven't qualified for the Asian Cup for a while and I believe they will surprise us at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.” - Yeom Ki-Hun
VERDICT
While Vietnam has the potential to surprise at the 2019 Asian Cup, their tough group will test their youthful resolve.
Vietnam Squad
1 BUI T DUNG Goal Keeper
2 DO DUY MANH Defender
3 QUE NGOC HAI Defender
4 B TIEN DUNG Defender
5 DOAN VAN HAU Defender
6 LUONG XUAN TRUONG Midfielder
7 NGUYEN HUY HUNG Midfielder
8 NGUYEN TRONG HOANG Midfielder
9 NGUYEN VAN TOAN Forward
10 NGUYEN CONG PHUONG Forward
11 NGAN VAN DAI Midfielder
12 NGUYEN PHONG HONG DUY Midfielder
13 NGUYEN TUAN MANH Goal Keeper
14 TRAN MINH VUONG Midfielder
15 PHAM DUC HUY Midfielder
16 DO HUNG DUNG Midfielder
17 HO TAN TAI Defender
18 HA DUC CHINH Forward
19 NGUYEN QUANG HAI Forward
20 PHAN VAN DUC Midfielder
21 NGUYEN THANH CHUNG Defender
22 NGUYEN TIEN LINH Forward
23 DANG VAN LAM Goal Keeper
COACH
Slovakian Ján Kocian is an experienced European manager who has coached 12 clubs and two national teams before he joined Yemen in October 2018. He clearly has his work cut out coaching an unfancied team in their first Asian Cup, but low expectations may play to Yemen's advantage.
LAST SIX GAMES
L-L-L-W-L-L
STAR PLAYER
Ala Al-Sasi. The 31 year old midfielder has the most caps on the current Yemen squad with 63. He also leads the squad in international goals with eight.
STRENGTHS
Youth. Although the average age is 26, it's skewed by a few 30-plus year olds pushing that figure up. Their youngest is 18 and most are in their early 20s.
WEAKNESSES
Inexperience and lack of success on the international level
RANDOM QUOTE
"The league in Yemen has stopped and nobody’s playing any official games. "Nobody can train either because many stadiums are destroyed. The players are forced to stay at home and wait for the training camps." - Miroslav Soukup
VERDICT
The tough group that Yemen has been drawn into, with two potential cup winners as well as an overlooked and quietly talented Vietnam team, likely mean a quick exit for Yemen’s first Asian Cup appearance.
YEMEN SQUAD
1 MOHAMMED ALI AYASH Goal Keeper
2 RAMI ALI AL-WASMANI Defender
3 MOHAMMED FUAD OMAR Defender
4 MUDIR ABDURABU AL-RADAEI Defender
5 ABDULAZIZ MOHAMMED AL-GUMAEI Defender
6 AHMED SAEED ABDULRAB Midfielder
7 AHMED AL-SARORI Forward
8 WAHID MOHAMMED AL-KHYAT Midfielder
9 ALA MOHAMMED AL SASI Midfielder
10 AHMED NABIL DHABAAN Forward
11 ABDULWASEA AL-MATARI Forward
12 MOHAMMED AL-HUTHAIFI Forward
13 ALA ADDIN MAHDI Defender
14 ALI HAFEEDH Forward
15 AMMAR HAMSAN Defender
16 SALEM AL-OMZAE Forward
17 HUSSEIN AHMED AL-GHAZI Midfielder
18 AHMED ABDULLAH ALOS Forward
19 MOHAMMED ALI BUQSHAN Defender
20 EMAD MANSOOR TAWFIK Forward
21 MOHAMMED BA ROWIS Forward
22 SALEM AL-HARSH Goal Keeper
23 SAOUD ABDULLAH AL-SOWADI Goal Keeper