Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Vietnam boast an exciting young crop of players that have excelled at youth levels in recent years, with gifted midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai arguably the biggest talent of the side heading to the United Arab Emirates.
The Southeast Asian nation had never previously qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, having appeared as co-hosts in 2007 (South Vietnam played in 1956 and 1960), but Quang Hai and his teammates have raised hopes that the current generation could go on to achieve something special.
Nationality: Vietnam
Date of birth: 12/04/1997
Position: Midfield
Current club: Hanoi FC (Vietnam)
Previous club: Saigon FC (Vietnam)
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/nguyen_quang_hai_celebrate_-_vietnam_u23.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/nguyen_quang_hai_vietnam_u23.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Baghdad: Former Iraq captain Abbas Obaid believes the 2007 champions are in for a tough test at AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 and will need to make the most of their 20-day training camp in Qatar.
"The Iraqi league is now on a break for 40 days, 20 days for the training camp in Qatar and 20 days for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 - this is a vital time for the national side," says the man who skippered the side at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup in Lebanon.
"Because our domestic league is not at its strongest level in recent times, I feel the players may find it difficult to raise their game to match the standard of the Asian Cup."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As teams stepped up their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 with the latest round of friendlies, the-AFC.com roams social media to see what the continent's stars have been up to.
Proud moments, boots drama, milestone celebrations, festive mood and medical updates all feature in our inaugural selection of posts for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 social wrap.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacalod: Goals from Nguyen Anh Duc and Phan Van Duc steered Vietnam to a 2-1 win over the Philippines in their 2018 AFF Cup semi-final first leg on Sunday.
Philippines had early chances in the opening minutes but it was Vietnam who scored first.
Doan Van Hau's floated pass saw striker Anh Duc catch the Philippines defence napping, and he sent a header over goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard to open the scoring in the 12th minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Perhaps no single player in the continent is as important for their home nation as Sunil Chhetri has been for India over the past decade.
India have booked their place amongst Asia's top 24 national teams thanks in a large part to Sunil Chhetri, who - even at the age of 34- continues to be unrivalled as the country's best player and widely acknowledged as the finest footballer it has ever produced.
Nationality: India
Date of birth: 03/08/1984
Position: Striker
Current club: JSW Bengaluru (India)
Previous clubs: Mohun Bagan, JCT, East Bengal, Dempo, Chirag United, Churchill Brothers, Mumbai City (All India); Sporting B (Portugal)
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: It has been a mixed 12 months for Syria’s Omar Khribin, from losing the 2017 AFC Champions League final, to winning the AFC Player of the Year Award a few days later, to coming within a whisker of reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His next challenge? The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Syria were very close to making the FIFA World Cup for the first time, but they fell in the Continental playoff, with Australia going on to become Asia's fifth representative in Russia 2018. A "golden generation" spearheaded by Khribin and his strike partner Omar Al Somah looks to make amends in UAE 2019.
Nationality: Syria
Date of birth: 15/01/1994
Position: Striker
Current club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Previous clubs: Al Wahda (Syria), Air Force Club, Al Mina’ (Iraq), Al Dhafra (UAE)
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
After enduring a tough period since losing the 2007 AFC Asian Cup final to Iraq, Saudi Arabia qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and now go into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 as among the favourites with Salem Al Dawsari one of their key players.
Despite the likes of Nawaf Al Abed and Yahya Al Shehri possessing unmatched raw talent in Saudi Arabian football, it is Al Dawsari who has excelled at both club and country level to become arguably the Green Falcons' most dangerous player.
Nationality: Saudi Arabia Date of birth: 19/08/1991 Position: Attack Current club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Previous clubs: Villareal (Spain, loan)