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GROUP C FTBL ASIAN CUP PREVIEW BY TOM DUVALL

FIXTURES

China v Kyrgyzstan

10pm January 7

Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain

Korea v Philippines

12:30am January 8

Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

Philippines v China

12:30AM January 12

Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Kyrgyzstan v Korea

3am January 12

Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Korea v China

12:30am January 17

Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Kyrgyzstan v Philippines

12:30am January 18

Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

CHINA

AFC RANKING: 7

FIFA RANKING: 76

While China has never won an Asian Cup, they have appeared in two finals, 1984 and 2004.

COACH

Marcello Lippi, perhaps the most accomplished manager in the Asian Cup, notching a World Cup win with Italy in 2006, five Serie A titles, UEFA Champions League and Supercup wins as well as countless Coach of the Year awards for his various manager roles. However controversies including backlash from a draw with India as well as rumours of a lack of interest in renewing his contract.

LAST SIX GAMES

D-W-D-D-L-W

STAR PLAYER

Wu Lei has been around so long it’s hard to believe he’s only 27, but he has been for some time the most consistent Chinese goal scorer and in 2018 became the first Chinese player since 2007 to win the Golden Boot, with 27 goals for Shanghai SIPG, while he also scored five goals for the national team in 2018.

STRENGTHS

Should be well coached (although that has been the subject of debate China) and experienced, if a little old, squad.

WEAKNESSES

With an average age of 29 in the squad, it is the last chance of success for many who are either in their prime – or just about to pass it...

RANDOM QUOTE

“China are the England of Asian football: big hopes followed by inevitable failure” The Guardian

VERDICT

A trip beyond the group stage looks achievable, and the combination of squad and coach will give them their best chance of glory yet... but that's not to say they won't have their work cut out to achieve it.

CHINA SQUAD

1 YAN JUNLING Goal Keeper

2 LIU YIMING Defender

3 YU YANG Defender

4 ZHANG LINPENG Defender

4 SHI KE Defender

6 FENG XIAOTING Defender

7 WU LEI Forward

8 ZHAO XURI Midfielder

9 XIAO ZHI Forward

10 ZHENG ZHI Midfielder

11 HAO JUNMIN Midfielder

12 GUO QUANBO Goal Keeper

13 CHI ZHONGGUO Midfielder

14 WEI SHIHAO Forward

15 WU XI Midfielder

16 JIN JINGDAO Midfielder

17 ZHANG CHENGDONG Defender

18 GAO LIN Forward

19 LIU YANG Defender

20 YU HANCHAO Midfielder

21 PIAO CHENG Midfielder

22 YU DABAO Forward

23 WANG DALEI Goal Keeper

Korea

AFC RANKING: 4

fifa RANKING: 53

2019 will be Korea’s 14th time in the Asian Cup, with two wins in 1956 and 1960.

COACH

Paulo Bento. An established European international manager who is looking to bring his expertise to the talented South Korea side after he was hired earlier this year. Former jobs include a four year spell as manager of his native Portugal as well as at Olympiacos and Sporting CP where he twice won the Taca de Portugal.

Last six games

D-W-D-D-W-D

STAR PLAYER

Son Heung-Min will miss first the two matches under an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur, but the versatile star will be key to everything Korea does in the latter stages.

STRENGTHS

Speed, scoring threats

WEAKNESSES

Not many, but perhaps an over-reliance on Son Heung-Min...and they need to find other avenues of attack.

RANDOM QUOTE

“England Premier League star Son Heung-min won't have to do national service and instead can see out his contract with Tottenham Hotspur uninterrupted after South Korea won gold in the Asian Games final against Japan” (Athletes who win Olympic or Asian games medals are exempt from mandatory military conscription”

VERDICT

Coming off a win at the 2018 Asian Games as well as an optimistic showing in the 2018 World Cup – including a win over Germany – Korea look to be a real contender to the cup this year and a title win or final appearance wouldn’t be surprising.

Korea squad

1 KIM SEUNGGYU Goal Keeper

2 LEE YONG Defender

3 KIM JINSU Defender

4 KIM MINJAE Defender

5 JUNG WOOYOUNG Midfielder

6 HWANG INBEOM Midfielder

7 SON HEUNGMIN Midfielder

8 JU SEJONG Midfielder

9 JI DONGWON Forward

10 LEE JAESUNG Midfielder

11 HWANG HEECHAN Midfielder

12 NA SANGHO Midfielder

13 KOO JACHEOL Midfielder

14 HONG CHUL Defender

15 JUNG SEUNGHYUN Defender

16 Kl SUNGYUENG Midfielder

17 LEE CHUNGYONG Midfielder

18 HWANG UIJO Forward

19 KIM YOUNGGWON Defender

20 KWON KYUNGWON Defender

21 KIM JINHYEON Goal Keeper

22 KIM MOONHWAN Defender

23 JO HYEONWOO Goal Keeper

kyrgyzstan

AFC RANKING: 12

FIFA RANKING: 91

2019 marks Kyrgyzstan’s first appearance in the Asian Cup. After a resurgence over the past decade, Kyrgyzstan look the best they’ve ever been.

COACH

Aleksandr Krestinin. Despite little experience, particularly at international level, Krestinin has ushered in a new era of Kyrgyzstan football. While still not a notable threat, qualification for the Asian Cup is a big step in the right direction.

LAST SIX GAMES

W-L-W-L-W-W

STAR PLAYER

Anton Zemlianukhin, a dangerous hitman whose goal spree in qualifying secured his country's debut spot in the Asian Cup

STRENGTHS

Well coached and tactically sound

WEAKNESSES

Inexperience and lack of substantial talent

RANDOM QUOTE

The 2019 qualification was deemed to “have a positive effect on the nation, which is mostly known for wrestling and traditional archery.”

VERDICT

Kyrgyzstan has seen a football renaissance in recent years, but an appearance in the knockout stage appears to unlikely for the inexperienced side unless they can take something off China.

kyrgyzstan squad

1 MATIASH PAVEL Goal Keeper

2 KICHIN VALERII Defender

3 KOZUBAEV TAMIRLAN Defender

4 IUSUPOV MUSTAFA Defender

5 AKMATOV AIZAR Defender

6 MAIER VIKTOR Defender

7 RUSTAMOV TURSUNALI Midfielder

8 SYDYKOV AZIZ Midfielder

9 BERNHARDT EDGAR Midfielder

10 MURZAEV MIRLAN Forward

11 SAGYNBAEV BEKZHAN Midfielder

12 ABDURAKHMANOV ODILZHON Midfielder

13 KADYRBEKOV KUTMAN Goal Keeper

14 BATYRKANOV ERNIST Forward

15 AKHMEDOV MUROLIMZHON Midfielder

16 KASHUBA VALERII Goal Keeper

17 TAGOE DANIEL Defender

18 ZHYRGALBEK UULU KAIRAT Midfielder

19 LUX VITALIJ Forward

20 DUISHOBEKOV BAKTYIAR Midfielder

21 MUSABEKOV FARKHAT Midfielder

22 ZEMLIANUKHIN ANTON Midfielder

23 ISRAILOV AKHLIDIN Midfielder

PHILIPPINES

AFC RANKING: 21

FIFA RANKING: 116

Rising levels of success and popularity make the Philippines first appearance in the Asian Cup in 2019 a new chapter in the nation’s football.

COACH

Former England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson is an extremely experienced and accomplished coach with Serie A Coach of the Year, UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia and Super Cup titles headlining an impressive CV. However, having only been appointed head coach in October 2018 on a six month contract, he's had little time to make an impact.

LAST SIX GAMES

L-L-L-D-D-W

STAR PLAYER

Phil Younghusband, captain and nation’s top goal scorer with 50 international goals.

STRENGTHS

Chemistry among familiar teammates

WEAKNESSES

Lack of any significant international success and inferior talent. Four coaches in one year may limit their progress, even under the veteran eye of Sven.

RANDOM QUOTE

“Nine of the 11 players in the team's starting lineup in their previous World Cup qualifying match were born outside of the Philippines. Early in 2005, Philippine Football Federation was alerted to Younghusband's eligibility by an anonymous gamer who allegedly found out about his lineage playing Football Manager.”

VERDICT

While the Philippines have entered a new chapter in their football national team, advancement past the group stage will be a struggle. While the group contains a real contender in South Korea, the second spot in the group is up for grabs... and any success in the Asian Cup could be a big step in Philippine Football.

PHILIPPINES Squad

1 NATHANAEL ACE VILLANUEVA Goal Keeper

2 ALVARO SILVA Defender

3 CARLOS ALBERTO DE MURGA Defender

4 JOHN PATRICK STRAUSS Midfielder

5 MIKE RIGOBERTO OTT Midfielder

6 LUKE WOODLAND Defender

7 IAIN RAMSAY Forward

8 MANUEL OTT Midfielder

9 JOVIN BEDIC Forward

10 PHIL YOUNGHUSBAND Forward

11 DAISUKE SATO Defender

12 STEPHAN PALLA Defender

13 ADAM TULL Defender

14 KEVIN INGRESO Midfielder

15 MICHAEL FALKESGAARD Goal Keeper

16 KEVIN RAY HANSEN Goal Keeper

17 STEPHAN SCHROCK Midfielder

18 PATRICK REICHELT Forward

19 CURT DIZON Defender

20 JAVIER PATINO Forward

21 MIGUEL TANTON Midfielder

22 PAUL MULDERS Defender

23 JAMES YOUNGHUSBAND Forward

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