Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Football Federation Australia (FFA) has confirmed that Austria-based midfielder James Jeggo will replace Aaron Mooy in the Socceroos squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Jeggo, 26, has been playing regularly in the Austrian Bundesliga for his club FK Austria Wien this season and will add a defensive option to Graham Arnold’s midfield mix for the tournament.
Socceroos head coach Arnold said: “James has been performing really well in Austria and is a fantastic character, so we are very happy to have him join the squad. Initially James was very unlucky to miss out on the squad, but sometimes these things happen in football and we are glad we can provide him with this opportunity.
"James has thrived at club level playing in a defensive midfield role and with three attacking central midfielders already in the squad, we felt we needed someone with James’ attributes to provide some depth in that area.”
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/aaron_mooy.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Almost 12 years after both he and the Socceroos made their AFC Asian Cup debut, Graham Arnold is relishing leading Australia back to the continental championship.
Now in his second spell at the helm, Arnold will oversee his country’s challenge at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 hoping to surpass the quarter-final showing in South East Asia and build on his own success as a coach in the ensuing dozen years.
““It feels great,” he told the-AFC.com of his return to the competition. “In 2007 I was the interim coach and I probably didn’t deserve to be in that job and that role at that time, but I have gone away and worked hard in club land and I feel that I deserve the role this time. So, I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“It was our first time in Asia and it was our first time in a major tournament in Asia, so we learnt a lot from it. We learnt that you need to prepare properly, that there are no easy games, that you need to be mentally switched on for every game, and that you need to adapt to the conditions to the style of game that you play.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold has announced the 23 players who have been selected to represent Australia for their defence of the AFC Asian Cup.
Arnold’s squad, which has an average age of 26, will assemble in the United Arab Emirates for Australia’s pre-tournament training camp from December 26, and will open their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign against Jordan at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on January 6.
Australia’s squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 features a strong A-League flavour, with three current players – Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), and Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory FC) – receiving call-ups for the prestigious competition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Omar Al Somah has urged his Syrian teammates to make the most of a once in a generation opportunity and produce a performance to remember at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The Qasioun Eagles have never survived the group stage at the Continental Finals, but the current Syrian side is one with ample reason to believe they are capable of going to the knockout stage and beyond.
Prolific striker Al Somah and 2017 AFC Player of the Year Omar Khribin are the spearheads of a talented Syrian squad, which went within 180 minutes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup before losing a play-off thriller to reigning Asian champions Australia 3-2 over two legs.
Syria are set to face the Australians again in the UAE but Al Somah isn't interested in looking back, preferring to focus on a competition he believes his side are capable of winning.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: A year ago Bernd Stange was enjoying retirement, but in less than a month the 70-year-old will be at the helm of a talented Syrian side's push for a best-ever showing at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
In a wide-ranging interview with the-AFC.com, the globetrotting German boss discussed his return to football, his inside knowledge of Group B opponents Australia and the steely resolve of his playing group.
Stange has seen it all - and had seemingly seen enough when he decided to call time on his decorated career in July 2016 - but the veteran tactician simply couldn't shake his love affair with the game, coming out of retirement to lead Syria's campaign at UAE 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Syria lured Bernd Stange out of retirement to take the helm of their squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, but the veteran German coach is confident the side that narrowly missed out on a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia can succeed no matter who is sitting on the sidelines.
Stange’s team have been drawn to face Australia – who ended Syria’s hopes of a debut World Cup appearance – Palestine and Jordan in Group B of the 2019 edition of the Continental showpiece, with the Syrians kicking off their campaign against the Palestinians in Sharjah on January 6.
And as they seek to build on the performances that took the country into the play-off phase of qualifying for Russia 2018, Stange stresses the desire to succeed comes from within the playing group.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: 2000 AFC Asian Cup Top Scorer Lee Dong-gook believes Hector Cuper's side can build on the promise shown at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and 2018 Asian Games.
With 14 AFC Asian Cup goals - second only to Islamic Republic of Iran legend Ali Daei in the all-time list - Korea Republic icon Lee knows a thing or two about success at the continent's most prestigious tournament.
And, while he does believe that it could be Korea Republic's time to end their 58-year Asian Cup title drought at UAE 2019, it is another nation that also intrigues the 39-year-old veteran.