Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com roams around social media to see what the continent's stars have been up to with just over two weeks to go until the AFC Asian Cup kicks-off.
Excitement is building up, love is in the air and there were celebrations of success and throwbacks to childhood years. All in this week's social wrap, with posts from Syria, Japan, Qatar and India.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
New Delhi: When Stephen Constantine leads his Indian team out to face Thailand in their opening game of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on January 6 he will be looking for a little bit of personal payback.
The Englishman, who has been in charge of the Indian side since January 2015, will be going head-to-head with Thailand coach Milovan Rajevac for the first time in almost a decade, with the experienced Serb having come out ahead the last time they met.
“He is a very good coach and has great experience, I faced him a few years ago when he was in Ghana and I was with Sudan, he won that game 2-0 so I’m looking to even up the score,” Constantine told the-AFC.com.
“But I would like to remind you that he had Michael Essien, Mathew Amoa and a few other very good players.
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: 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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: A year ago Bernd Stange was enjoying retirement, but in less than a month the 70-year-old will be at the helm of a talented Syrian side's push for a best-ever showing at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
In a wide-ranging interview with the-AFC.com, the globetrotting German boss discussed his return to football, his inside knowledge of Group B opponents Australia and the steely resolve of his playing group.
Stange has seen it all - and had seemingly seen enough when he decided to call time on his decorated career in July 2016 - but the veteran tactician simply couldn't shake his love affair with the game, coming out of retirement to lead Syria's campaign at UAE 2019.
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
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.”