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Ahead of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Finals, Taher Hijjaz has previewed all six groups and provided his predictions on how the action in Qatar will unfold.
Qatar:
Eyebrows were raised when Qatar sacked Carlos Queiroz who had done a great job in the opening two matches of the world cup qualification. Qatar destroyed Afghanistan by eight goals to one and walked past India with three goals and a clean sheet.
But those results were not enough for the Qatar FA. It is worth nothing hat Queiroz’s side barely escaped out of their group in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup; losing to Haiti, drawing against Honduras, and beating Mexico but eventually losing to Panama 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
Their new manager, Tintín Márquez, left Al-Wakrah to assume the role of Qatar manager having managed in the country for five years, is certainly knowledgeable about Qatari football.
All the players that started in the Asian cup final against Japan in 2019 are in the preliminary squad except for two. The 27-man roster averages around 50 international caps per player, so experience is not a problem at all for the Spanish manager. The Asian Cup group stage is relatively easy on paper for the Maroons as they face Lebanon, Tajikistan, and China. The hope is that home advantage
China:
Alexsandar Janković has not been convincing for the 10 games he has been in charge so far for China. Playing 8 friendlies and 2 world cup qualifiers, the Serbian managed four wins, four losses (including to Syria and New Zealand whom are worse in ranking than China), and two draws.
The team reached the Third Round of World Cup qualifying but finished with 6 points, the second worst out of the 12 teams in that round. Their final roster is completely domestically based with the exception of Wu Shaocong who plays in Turkey.
The team underwent a rebuild in the past four years and only four of those who participated in 2019 Asian Cup returning to participate in the 2023 edition. The team lacks attacking flair as Wu Lei shares 50% of the total international goals scored by the final squad. This Chinese squad might be the last hope this generation has to accomplish something with the national team. A whopping 14 players in the squad are over the age of 29. The team’s youngest player is the fourth string goalkeeper.
Lebanon:
Arguably the worst team in this group based on current form. Bringing in new manager Miodrag Radulović- who coached the side at the last Asian Cup- will not help as he only has limited time to select players and instill his philosophy.
It is difficult to predict the results of the Lebanese national team since they tend to play to their opposition’s level.
However, if its players have a strong sense of spirit and excitement, they might pull off an unexpected performance and set of results. Last month, they drew with Bangladesh, who are ranked 183rd, in world cup qualifying. A disastrous result that has left fans despondent about Lebanon’s chances at this tournament and beyond.
The team will certainly benefit in attack from the coaching change. To support other than the experienced Hassan Maatouk in Attack. Lebanon has recruited former Sweden u19 international Leonardo Chahine who has 18 goal contributions in 33 games in the Swedish third tier (his debut will have to wait as his paperwork is still being processed), Omar Bugiel of AFC Wimbeldon, and Daniel Lajúd of Atalante in the Mexican second tier.
19 out of the 26 players play in the Lebanese league which is ranked 25th out of 43 in Asia.
Tajikistan:
One of Asia’s teams that no one talks about but is well capable of causing an upset in their tournament debut. Petar Šegrt’s knows his side intimately having been in the post for a year and a half.
A young and energetic preliminary squad with an average age of 24. Most of the players in that squad coming from Tajik side Istiklol, who managed a draw in the Asian Champions league against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Qatari champions Al Duhail, and Iranian champions Persepolis FC.
The rest of the players coming from the Uzbek league and 3 players from Europe. The team started off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a heartbreaking, last second draw against Jordan before trashing Pakistan by six goals to one. Experienced left back Akhtam Nazarov will be the role model of this young Tajik team, who are the the tournament’s lone debutants. Being the second best side in Pot 4, they are lucky to be grouped with three countries who have recently changed their managers and two teams who are currently out of form.
Predictions:
About the Author:
Taher Hijjaz is an 18 year old Palestinian from Tulkarem religiously following football in Europe and Asia, especially Palestinian football. He considers himself to be the next Abdullah Ashknani.
