Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Perth: Experienced defender Clare Polkinghorne is confident there will be no complacency from the hungry Matildas as they chase AFC Women’s Asian Cup glory.
As the highest-ranked team in Asia (sixth in the world), Alen Stajcic’s side will start warm favourites for the tournament in Jordan next week.
As well as securing some more silverware, the tournament also doubles as qualifiers for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019, with the top five teams at the AFC Asian Cup Jordan 2018 to book their ticket to France.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/australia_rejoice_-_tournament_of_nations_3.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Group A of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Jordan 2018 promises to be a highly competitive affair.
Headlined by host nation Jordan, Group A also features eight-time winners China, Southeast Asian champions Thailand and the Philippines, who are returning the Asia’s elite women’s football championship for the first time since 2003.
The return of China PR goalkeeper Zhao Lina is the standout detail of today’s announcements, after the star custodian had announced her international retirement following January’s Four Nations Tournament.
Elsewhere, Philippines boss Rabah Benlarbi has selected a vastly different squad than the one which represented the Malditas in the qualifiers. The final playing list features a strong representation of US-based players, including six who currently play their football in the American college system.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup squads are entitled to replace any player up until six hours before their opening match.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Group B at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 is blessed with some of the biggest names in the Asian game.
2017 AFC Women’s Player of the Year Sam Kerr headlines Alen Stajcic’s star-studded Australian team, while Japan, Korea Republic and Vietnam can all boast continental stars of their own in a group that promises to deliver memorable matches.
While Kerr’s dominant year at club and international level has made global headlines, the forward is just one of many weapons in a Matildas squad full of talent, depth and major tournament experience.
Reigning champions Japan will arrive in Amman with a mix of youth and experience. The veteran quartet of Saki Kumagai, Aya Sameshima, Rumi Utsugi and Mizuho Sakaguchi have collectively amassed 400 international caps, while forwards Kumi Yokoyama and Mina Tanaka will look to leave their mark on a major tournament for the Nadeshiko.
Korea Republic’s world class midfielder Ji So-yun is ably supported by Lee Min-a and captain Cho So-hyun, while Vietnam will look to the goals of talented striker Huynh Nhu as they aim for the first ever AFC Women’s Asian semi-final appearance.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup squads are entitled to replace any player up until six hours before their opening match.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Munich: Vietnam’s evergreen shot-stopper is back for another tilt at continental glory, with 2014’s heartbreaking playoff defeat to Thailand acting as motivation.
For over a decade Dang Thi Kieu Trinh has been an ever-present figure at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Since making her competition finals debut against a Homare Sawa-inspired Japan in 2006, the goalkeeper, now a veteran at 32, has featured in every edition of the tournament since and seen her side consistently improve.
That improvement almost culminated in a place at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but Vietnam fell agonisingly short, losing 2-1 to regional rivals Thailand the winner-take-all playoff for fifth at the 2014 Women’s Asian Cup in Ho Chi Minh City.
This time around, the Vietnamese Golden Ball winner is motivated to go one better.
“The memories of that match are unhappy ones as we did not perform well and missed the chance to reach the World Cup,” she said.
“We consider the loss of that playoff game as our motivation to play well in Jordan.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Barcelona: As eight-time champions China PR prepare for next Friday’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 opening match against Thailand, star midfielder Wang Shuang reveals her hopes and expectations in an exclusive interview with the-AFC.com.
With over 70 international caps under her belt at the age of just 23, the Steel Roses star playmaker has established herself as the team’s key player with a series of blistering performances.
A veteran of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Rio Olympics, the 2017 Chinese Women’s Footballer of the Year is set to make her AFC Women’s Asian Cup debut against Thailand in Amman next Friday.
In an exclusive chat, Wang sheds light on her preparations, her partnership with striker Wang Shanshan and her excitement at training alongside women’s football icon Sun Wen.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Kanjana Sung-Ngoen became a national hero at the last AFC Women’s Asian Cup, now, four years on, she remains the key weapon in Thailand’s attacking arsenal.
The striker etched her name into national football immortality at Vietnam 2014, scoring twice against regional rivals Vietnam in the all-important playoff for fifth, to ensure her team became the first from Thailand to qualify for a senior outdoor World Cup.
The Southeast Asians went on to perform admirably at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, finishing third in their group beating Ivory Coast 3-2 to earn a maiden win on the global stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic had to overcome overwhelming odds just to reach the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, now, with two of the world’s best teams standing in their way, their biggest star is a picture of confidence.
March 2018: An English superclub takes the lead in a crucial UEFA Champions League knockout stage match thanks to a goal from their brilliant Korean international.
The above sentence could apply to Son Heung-min’s recent strike for Tottenham Hostpur against Juventus, but, in this case, it describes the clinical Ji So-yun finish that put Chelsea on the road to victory against Montpellier in last week’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
In fact, Ji has been scoring crucial goals on the big stage ever since she first appeared for Korea Republic as a 15-year-old at the 2006 Asian Games; and few have enjoyed a better vantage point from which to gauge the improvement of the women’s national team.
“I've been playing for the national team for over 10 years and we've improved greatly. We've played against many stronger opponents and I see great potential,” she said.
“I always feel confident when we're playing against the best Asian teams. We're a strong team and we have many talented players and great team work.”