The Central Asians will be making their first-ever appearance at the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates and China PR will be their first opponents in Group C, with Krestinin confident he can take his team into the last 16 on their debut.

While FIFA World Cup winner Lippi leads a squad who regularly play and train alongside some of the finest talent in the sport, Krestinin believes the number of foreign players in Chinese football may not necessarily be an advantage for the Italian coach’s team.

Ruslan’s father, Kamil, played in the Central Asians' maiden appearance in the competition 15 years ago when the country gained arguably the biggest result in their history by scoring late to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw with continental heavyweights Saudi Arabia.

Since then, Turkmenistan have failed to progress to the competition but, after advancing from the third round of qualifying, they will take their place amongst Asia’s elite alongside Japan, Uzbekistan and Oman in Group F.

However, with the tournament hosted by neighbours UAE and expanded to include a Round of 16, there are high hopes for Oman to make history, especially after their 2017 Gulf Cup triumph.

One of the Reds' brightest hopes in the attacking third is winger Jameel Al Yahmadi. The youngster was drafted into the first team in 2017 and grew into one of the nation's best attacking players.

Nationality: Oman
Date of birth: 27/07/1996
Position: Midfielder
Current club: Al Wakrah (Qatar)
Previous clubs: Al Shabab (Oman)

The west Asian nation will be making their fourth appearance at the continental championship, but the veteran Dutchman knows that his team’s success in last year’s hotly-contested regional tournament can help take his team to the next level in the UAE in January.

“It gives confidence to the players, to the selection, not only the first XI but all the players, that we can beat teams, good teams,” Verbeek told the-AFC.com of the impact of his side’s Gulf Cup triumph. “We’re back at the front in the Gulf and now the next step is to do that at the Asian level.”

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.

Palestine, ranked 99th, are returning to the Finals after conceding 11 goals in three successive defeats in their debut on the Asian stage in Australia in 2015, but the experienced side will surely present a more determined challenge this time around

Buoyed by strong showings against some of the Continent's heavyweights since 2015, Jaber believes anyone expecting his side to be pushovers in the United Arab Emirates is in for a shock.

Playmakers from the participating countries took part in the latest workshop on the AFC Asian Cup, which inspired everybody to reach new levels of enthusiasm thanks to a motivational opening from fellow Playmaker – life coach Farhad Kardan, who currently lives between the United Arab Emirates and Japan.

Throughout the afternoon, guests exchanged uplifting stories, competed against each other in a number of activities from the interactive roadshow before uniting to compete in a football friendly match.