Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Australia head coach Graham Arnold on Friday named an initial 25-player squad for next week’s training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as his first international friendly match back in charge of Australia against Kuwait on October 15.
Arnold’s squad selections for October’s FIFA window includes 21-players that featured in the Socceroos’ recent training camp in Turkey, and also marks the returns of attacking weapons Mathew Leckie and Tom Rogic to the squad for the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The squad that will convene in the UAE from Monday features four players yet to make their senior international debuts – youngsters Thomas Deng (21), Denis Genreau (19), and Awer Mabil (23) – as well as 25-year-old attacker Martin Boyle. While Deng, Genreau, and Mabil will each be aiming to achieve maiden match minutes for the Socceroos in Kuwait City, Boyle will travel with the squad for the UAE leg of the camp only.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: We are less than a hundred days away from January's AFC Asian Cup 2019, and the-AFC.com continues its series of articles to determine your all-time best AFC Asian Cup side.
You cast well over a million votes for your best-ever AFC Asian Cup forward, and now it's time to turn our attention to midfielders.
So, here are 10 candidates for the spots at the middle of the park. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite midfielders to set the tempo for this all-star XI in the poll below.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Carlos Quieroz admits winning the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will be a tough challenge but the Islamic Republic of Iran head coach has vowed his team will be ready.
Iran won the last of their titles in 1976 and Quieroz said this is a wait that must end.
“My responsibility as a coach is to lead my team to our target. Our biggest challenge in the UAE is winning the title. We’ve not won the title since 1976,” the former Real Madrid coach said to the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran website.
Iran are in Group D alongside Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen and their first target will be to navigate into the knockout stage in UAE 2019 on January 5-February 1.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) determination to embrace technological advances for the development of football in Asia has been underlined with the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system at some stage in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 – which is just 100 days away.
After approval from FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and consultation with the AFC Competitions and Referees Departments, the AFC Executive Committee approved the implementation of VAR at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 – pending final confirmation that all necessary preparation is in place.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, said: “Asian football is determined to embrace technology for the good of the game and we are looking into the introduction of VAR at some stage during the AFC’s pinnacle competition – the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
“We saw the VAR first hand during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and it was clear to everyone that there needed to be a great deal of training of officials and investment in facilities to make sure that the system was effective and a positive addition to the game.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Islamic Republic of Iran dropped one rung to 33 but remain Asia’s top team in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Thursday.
Australia, who had relinquished the top spot to IR Iran in the August rankings, remain as Asia's second best team at 43rd while Japan moved up one spot to 54th.
Korea Republic improved to 55th, up two places and are the continent's fourth best ranked team.
Saudi Arabia complete Asia's top five, moving down one spot to 71st.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced that Graham Arnold’s first game in charge of the Socceroos will be played next month against Kuwait in Kuwait City.
Arnold’s men will meet Romeo Jozak’s side in an international friendly match on October 15 after completing a short training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The match venue and kick-off time are still to be finalised.
The match is part of Australia's buildup to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on January 5-February 1.
Arnold said that he’s looking forward to the chance of building upon Australia’s new style of play against a challenging West Asian opponent.
“During our recent training camp in Turkey we worked hard to add attacking layers to the strong defensive base the Socceroos had at this year’s (FIFA) World Cup,” Arnold said.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Community ambassadors of all nationalities from across Asia came together at Zayed Sports City Stadium for a rousing evening of speeches, workshops and celebration, in the lead up to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Over 60 ambassadors or “Playmakers” representing 19 of the 24 competing nations were welcomed by HE Aref Al Awani, with the LOC Tournament Director challenging the group to deliver the best AFC Asian Cup in history, during the welcome event in the Royal Box of the 43,000-seat stadium, which will stage the highly-anticipated opener on January 5, 2019 as well as the final match on February 1, 2019.
Addressing the group, His Excellency Aref Al Awani said: “Just as a football team needs players working in harmony, for us to succeed, the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 needs to be a tournament for every single football fan, from every country and culture across the continent. The Playmakers Programme reflects our ambition to partner with the real super-fans, community influencers and football lovers who will infuse the tournament with their enthusiasm. I have no doubt that they will inspire others to do the same.”