ASIAN CUP: A CLOSER LOOK
Group B
AUSTRALIA
FIFA ranking: 41
Best performance: Champions (2015)
Flashback: Massimo Luongo celebrates with Robbie Kruse after scoring in the Asian Cup final against South Korea at Stadium Australia in 2015.Credit:Reuters
In a nutshell: The Socceroos have been cruelled by injury with Aaron Mooy, Daniel Arzani and Martin Boyle ruled out and Mathew Leckie probably sidelined until the knockout stage. Their absence compounds the retirements of Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill, Australia's two top goalscorers over the last four years, but new boss Graham Arnold is supremely confident he still has the cattle to go back-to-back – even if they are very much a team in transition.
Key player: This is Massimo Luongo's time to shine. After bursting onto the scene at the last Asian Cup, where he was player of the tournament, the Queens Park Rangers star has the opportunity to stamp himself as Australia's next midfield hero in the absence of Mooy and Jedinak.
Prediction: 1st
JORDAN
FIFA ranking: 109
Best performance: Quarter-finals (2004, 2011)
In a nutshell: Talk about revolving doors – seven coaches, including Harry Redknapp, have taken charge of 'The Chivalrous' since the last Asian Cup. The latest is Belgian Vital Borkelmans, who has made the bold call to leave top striker Hamza Al-Dardour out of their squad. Jordan still has attacking talent to burn though and one of Asia's most exciting young guns in 21-year-old winger Musa Al-Taamari. Expect Jordan to battle it out for third with Palestine, a nation with whom they are intrinsically linked.
Key player: Veteran goalkeeper Amer Shafi is Jordan's heart and soul. He went viral late last year after scoring an incredible goal against India with a booming clearing kick from his own penalty area that bounced over the head of his opposite number.
Prediction: 3rd
PALESTINE
FIFA ranking: 99
Best performance: Group stage (2015)
In a nutshell: This is Palestine's second appearance at the Asian Cup. They were the feelgood story of 2015 but scored just one goal and conceded 11. That harsh debut experience should hold them in good stead, with their squad having strengthened considerably through the 'recruitment' of experienced Palestinian diaspora players from around the world, including the USA, Chile and Argentina, who should mix well with some talented home-grown prospects.
Key player: Skipper Abdelatif Bahdari is their leader at the back. An imposingly built, mohawked centre-half, if he can help keep things tight in defence, they might stand a real chance of progressing out of the group.
Prediction: 4th
SYRIA
FIFA ranking: 74
Best performance: Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011)
In a nutshell: The 'Qasioun Eagles' came ever so close to ending Australia's hopes of qualifying for last year's World Cup in a tense two-legged playoff, falling short by a single goal. Having lured former Perth Glory coach Bernd Stange out of retirement, they now have the chance to build on that encouraging display and should have plenty of vocal support in the UAE. Syria shape as the main challengers to the Socceroos for top spot but the two nations don't meet until the third group fixture.
Key player: Omar Al-Somah is among Asia's very best strikers with an incredible goalscoring record for Saudi giants Al Ahli, having been the league's golden boot for three of the last four seasons. The 29-year-old is the complete package – quick, strong, and proficient in the air and with set pieces.
Prediction: 2nd
The rest
GROUP A
Teams: UAE, India, Bahrain, Thailand
In a nutshell: It's a reasonably cushy draw for the hosts UAE, who are hopeful the loss of superstar Omar Abdulrahman to injury can be offset by the nous and experience of Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni, who steered Japan to the Asian Cup title in 2011, when they beat the Socceroos in the final. Their recent form, however, suggests they are not the side they were four years ago. Thailand troubled Australia twice in the last round of qualifiers but it's hard to get a read on them, too, after a 2-0 friendly loss on Wednesday to Oman, who the Socceroos battered 5-0. It may have been an aberration – the War Elephants have some top players, including midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, who is coming off a breakout season in the J-League for Consadole Sapporo.
Prediction: UAE and Thailand should coast through to the round of 16, with Bahrain in at third and India bringing up the tail.
GROUP C
Teams: China, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines
Missing in action: Tottenham star Son Heung-min will be absent from the South Korean side until their third group match.Credit:AP
In a nutshell: The Taeguk Warriors won't have Son Heung-min until their third match as part of an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to allow him to compete in last year's Asian Games. South Korea won gold, exempting Son from mandatory military service. With or without him, they should breeze through this group. China are the clear number two on face value, but there's no evidence to suggest their potential as a footballing nation will be realised at this tournament. Kyrgyzstan are making their Asian Cup debut and are viewed as a potential surprise packet, having claimed the scalps of Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Malaysia in the last six months, while there's a familiar face in the Filipino team in former Sydney FC and Adelaide United winger Iain Ramsay.
Prediction: South Korea will go close to winning it all. China should also go through but don't discount Kyrgyzstan.
GROUP D
Teams: Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen
In a nutshell: It's been 42 long years since Iran last won the Asian Cup, but they stand a very good chance of breaking that drought in the UAE. Team Melli are on the opposite side of the draw to Australia, with some Socceroos fans dreaming of meeting them in the final and possibly gaining some revenge for the heartbreak of 1997. But Iran are best avoided if possible as they boast dangers all over the park. Friendlies aside, they have only been beaten once – by Spain – in the last four years. The renewal of their rivalry with Iraq, another talented team, should be a tournament highlight. Vietnam are the youngest team at the tournament and another nation on the rise while it's remarkable Yemen are there at all, making their debut amid an ongoing and bloody war back home.
Prediction:
Iran and Iraq to finish one and two, with Vietnam snapping at their heels.
GROUP E
Teams: Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, North Korea
In a nutshell:
Which Saudi Arabia will turn up this year? Silky-skilled and nearly untouchable at their best, the 'Green Falcons' are a team who are always good for a round of inexplicable and spontaneous combustion at their worst. A match-up with their newest geopolitical enemies Qatar could well bring out the former, but the latter is always one simple brain-snap away. Qatar are quickly improving, having recently notched some impressive results in Europe including a shock win over Switzerland, and are utterly determined to make an impact on the pitch when they host the 2022 World Cup. North Korea are usually tough and have a handful of stars who ply their trade at good clubs overseas, and a Hassan Maatouk-led Lebanon will be aiming to cause a few shocks in their first Asian Cup appearance in nearly two decades.
Prediction: The Saudis and Qatar will top the group but it'll take a final-day toss-up to decide who comes third.
GROUP F
Teams: Japan, Oman, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
In a nutshell: The Samurai Blue don't have any of the usual stars who many armchair Asian football fans have become accustomed to watching. Instead, new coach Hajime Moriyasu has ushered in a fresh generation of talent who will be ready to make a name for themselves on the continent's grandest stage. Having only just missed out on the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Russia, there's no reason why Japan won't be challenging again. It'll be a fight for second spot, though, between Pim Verbeek's Oman – who claimed the Gulf Cup last year and had conceded just five goals in 15 games before the Socceroos smashed them last weekend – and Uzbekistan, a team who have long threatened to break into Asia's top echelon but are yet to actually deliver on that promise.
Prediction: It'll be a relatively easy path for Japan to the round of 16, while Uzbekistan should edge Oman to finish behind them.
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