Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Islamic Republic of Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz has named a provisional squad of 35 players for the AFC Asian Cup 2019.
Queiroz, preparing Iran for what Team Melli hope will be a first AFC Asian Cup title since 1976, will announce his final squad on December 15 ahead of the training camp in Doha, Qatar.
Iran are also scheduled to play a friendly match with Qatar during the training camp.
Three-time champions Iran are in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 along with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Milovan Rajevac is expecting his trio of Japan-trained players to enhance the level of his squad when Thailand return to the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in more than a decade, with their sights set on a place in the knockout rounds of the UAE 2019 finals.
Thailand last played at the continental championship when the country co-hosted the 2007 edition with Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and they have been drawn to face hosts the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and India in Group A.
In six previous appearances, the War Elephants have only progressed beyond the group phase once – that was in 1972 when they finished in third position – but with Rajevac able to add Chanathip Songkrasin (pictured above), Teerasil Dangda and Theerathon Bunmathan to his squad, the Serb is confident his team can have a successful January.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Kyrgyz Republic may be newcomers to the AFC Asian Cup, but head coach Aleksandr Krestinin believes his side are good enough to reach the knockout stage at UAE 2019.
The Central Asians are in Group C alongside Korea Republic, China PR and fellow first-time qualifiers the Philippine, but, while aware of the scale of the challenge ahead, Krestinin told the-AFC.com he is confident of a successful campaign in the United Arab Emirates.
"We understand our level, and the level of the AFC Asian Cup," the 40-year-old explained. "We must be competitively capable, and we have everything to be able to do that."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Lebanon qualified for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time after playing in the 2000 edition as the host country. And Hassan Maatouk’s contribution has been crucial to their success.
Despite boasting a host of foreign-based players, Maatouk, who returned to Lebanon after six years in UAE football, remains Lebanon’s talisman. He helped the Cedars qualify for UAE 2019 with five goals in six matches.
Nationality: Lebanon
Date of birth: 08/10/1987
Position: Forward
Current club: Nejmeh SC (Lebanon)
Previous clubs: Al Ahed (Lebanon), Ajman, Al Shaab, Fujairah (All UAE)
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Ali Daei believes that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan are the most likely contenders to reach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final, with the continental competition now less than four weeks away.
The Iranian legend is the tournament’s record goalscorer, having found the back of the net 14 times over three editions, yet the former striker never lifted the trophy for his country, whose wait for the title stretches back to 1976.
But on the back of a strong 2018 FIFA World Cup and with head coach Carlos Queiroz having been in charge for almost eight years, Daei thinks the time could be now for Team Melli, although it is the side from East Asia he considers as favourites.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Syria lured Bernd Stange out of retirement to take the helm of their squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, but the veteran German coach is confident the side that narrowly missed out on a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia can succeed no matter who is sitting on the sidelines.
Stange’s team have been drawn to face Australia – who ended Syria’s hopes of a debut World Cup appearance – Palestine and Jordan in Group B of the 2019 edition of the Continental showpiece, with the Syrians kicking off their campaign against the Palestinians in Sharjah on January 6.
And as they seek to build on the performances that took the country into the play-off phase of qualifying for Russia 2018, Stange stresses the desire to succeed comes from within the playing group.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the 24 teams battle for the Continental crown in January, goals will be the most valuable currency. The-AFC.com kicks off our weekly Asian Cup UAE 2019 series '10 of the Best' with a look at 10 target men whose nations will rely on to deliver the goals.
UAE's Ali Mabkhout nipped the top scorer award in 2015 with five goals. But with the tournament expanded from 16 to 24 teams this time around, the goals race is set to be even more heated. Here are a selection of leading candidates who could take the mantle from the Emirati this January.