Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Head coach Massimiliano Maddaloni believes passionate home support could well give China PR an added advantage when they begin their AFC U23 Championship campaign against Oman on Tuesday.
As tournament hosts, much is expected of Maddaloni’s talented squad despite the East Asians having exited at the group stage in the past two editions of the competition, and finding themselves in a difficult looking Group A where they also have Qatar and Uzbekistan for company.
However, with excitement growing ahead of the Oman clash, the Italian tactician feels a full house at Changzhou’s Olympic Sports Center will prove vital as China look to gain an early advantage in the race for a spot in the last eight.
“There is little doubt that the support of the home fans will give the China team an advantage as it will make the team play as one,” he declared.
“The additional boost playing at home will bring is that it can add an extra dimension, an extra something in matches when we need it most. However, we do need to remember that it could also hinder the younger players who are maybe not used to such support. We will see.”
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/omanu23-official_training.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/qataru23-official_training.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uzbekistanu23-official_training.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: With 2018 now upon us, the Asian Football Confederation is just over a week away from its first tournament of the year as the AFC U23 Championship in China begins on January 9, ahead of which we look at the 16 competing teams, starting with Group A.
China PR
Best finish: Group stage (2014, 2016)
How they qualified: As hosts
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jiangyin: Only seven days remain until the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 kicks off and the-AFC.com continues its profile of the 16 teams with the four sides in Group B, where defending champions Japan are among the contenders.
Japan
Best finish: Champions (2016)
How they qualified: Runners-up – Group J
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changshu: The countdown to the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 continues as the-AFC.com profiles the four participating teams in Group C, where inaugural winners Iraq are placed alongside Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Iraq
Best finish: Champions (2014)
How they qualified: Winners – Group B
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kunshan: As the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 edges ever closer, the-AFC.com rounds off its profiles of the 16 teams gunning for continental glory by taking a closer look at the four sides in Group D.
Korea Republic
Best finish: Runners-up (2016)
How they qualified: Winners – Group I
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com takes a look at the head coaches of Qatar, China, Uzbekistan, Oman, Japan, DPR Korea, Thailand and Palestine in part one of our profiles of the men in the dugout at China 2018.
Group A
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com takes a look at the head coaches of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Jordan, Iraq, Vietnam, Syria, Korea Republic and Australia in part two of our profiles of the men in the dugout at China 2018.
Group C
Daniel Teglia - Saudi Arabia
The 2018 AFC U23 Championship will be the first test for Daniel Teglia who was appointed in October. The 58-year-old is tasked with going one step further than the Green Falcons’ 2013 runners-up finish.
The Saudi Arabia U23 assignment is Teglia’s first managerial experience outside his native Argentina, having managed five different club sides since starting his coaching career in 2001.