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
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
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
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
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