Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sydney: Australia head coach Graham Arnold on Friday said he has not given up on injured Huddersfield star Aaron Mooy playing at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 despite the Premier League club announcing he will be out until February.
The Australian midfielder, who has been in fine form this season, suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the defeat at Arsenal last weekend.
This led to Huddersfield announcing on Wednesday he will be sidelined until February in a blow to the Socceroos who defend their AFC Asian Cup title in the United Arab Emirates in January.
Arnold said Mooy was such a significant player that he wanted a second opinion, with their own physiotherapist travelling to Huddersfield to review the situation.
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/graham_arnold_-_afp.html

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo: The stunning new AFC Asian Cup trophy landed in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday for the final leg of its tour and will be showcased at the TV Asahi Building Tokyo, Lobby Atrium from December 15-16, before making its way via Emirates Airlines to host city Dubai in the UAE on December 19, 2018.
The new silverware, which was unveiled during the glittering AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Draw at the Burj Khalifa in May this year, began its epic journey in China PR, finding its way to Korea Republic’s capital, Seoul, before landing in Doha, Qatar last week.
In keeping with the tournament’s ever-growing prestige and stature, the AFC decided to commission a new trophy for the first time since the inaugural edition in 1956. Produced by a world-renowned silversmith in London, the new trophy is revolutionary in design and communicates the powerful spirit of football’s second oldest continental competition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 success is the target for all 24 teams in next month's Finals, but Palestine head coach Noureddine Ould Ali believes his side has a greater motivation - bringing joy to the Palestinian people.
Ould Ali, now eight months into his tenure as head coach, will guide Palestine in their second appearance in the competition following their 2015 debut on the continental stage in Australia.
Speaking to the-AFC.com, the Algerian tactician revealed the desire of his players to provide happiness for Palestinians around the world with their performances in the United Arab Emirates.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo: Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has announced his 23-player squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 next month, but has also dropped beteran Shinji Kagawa from the Samurai Blue outfit, opting instead for a team filled with young Europe-based talents.
Moriyasu selected several players with only a handful of caps to their names for Asia's showcase football tournament in the United Arab Emirates starting in January.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Abu Dhabi: Since its inception in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has seen 32 nations grace the ultimate stage. The decision to expand the 17th edition of Asia’s crown jewel to 24 teams made an instant impact with Kyrgyz Republic, the Philippines and Yemen marking the first time the tournament will see three debutants since the 2004 edition in China PR.
As the Continent’s most-anticipated showpiece draws closer, the three debutants are leaving nothing to chance in their quests to confirm their deserving place amongst Asia’s elite.
Philippines extended their outstanding form beyond their Qualifiers, impressing with a six-match unbeaten run since March, which included commendable draws against Bahrain, Oman and Thailand before their narrow defeat to Vietnam in the AFF Cup semi-finals last week.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

New Delhi: With January’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 set to see India return to the Continent’s biggest stage for the first time in eight years, this wasn’t captain Sunil Chhetri simply hoping for safe passage to the United Arab Emirates in time for the tournament. It’s his vision for where his nation’s footballing aspirations should be pointed.
As the only remaining member of the side that reached the 2011 edition, which ended a hiatus that exceeded a quarter of a century, bombastic platitudes would be an easy card to play. But talking up potential upsets and derailing the continental giants are far from the 34-year-old’s priorities. The big picture is what dominates his outlook.
“I was really dejected when we missed out on the last edition,” he admitted to FIFA.com.
“I think it’s very, very important for a country like us to keep qualifying for this big tournament, because that tells you where you are and if you’re doing well.
“It also gives you a chance to rub shoulders with the biggest teams in Asia. If you do well, other teams take notice of you.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: When the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 gets underway next month there will be more than 550 players hoping to have a celebration as the final concludes on February 1, but before that there are plenty amongst that number who will be having a smaller party of their own given that their birthday falls during the four-week extravaganza.
22 of the 24 participating nations will likely have a birthday boy amongst their ranks, with 2007 winners Iraq heading the list given they could potentially have seven players set to blow out the candles should they progress to at least the quarter-finals.