In the second of our pre-Olympic previews, join the-AFC.com as we run the rule over Jia Xiuquan’s side who, having performed minor miracles to reach Tokyo 2020, will be determined to challenge a pair of heavyweights in Group G.

Before the football action begins on July 21, the-AFC.com is here to tell all you need to know about the continent’s contenders, including their road to Tokyo, their star players and what to expect from their opponents.

The first team in our series is Asia’s highest ranked women’s national team, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts, Australia, who will be eager to begin a new era in style under head coach Tony Gustavsson.

Mana Iwabuchi’s 54th-minute penalty kick separated the two sides, who will begin their respective Olympic campaigns next Wednesday.

The result stretches Japan’s winning streak to five ahead their opening Olympic clash against Canada, while Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand having failed to win any of their five matches under new boss Tony Gustavsson.

Playing in the tournament as an invited team, Qatar were denied an opening win by a Panama side who came from behind three times to force the draw in a match where the kickoff had to be delayed by almost two hours due to severe weather warning.

Goalscoring records, unprecedented winning runs, maiden victories and impressive qualification feats all feature as the-AFC.com reviews our What They Said series from the few weeks of action.

Schrock's United City finished third in Group I of the recently concluded 2021 AFC Champions League (East) group stage in Tashkent while Kaya FC, who progressed from the playoff after defeating Shanghai Port FC, ended their Group F campaign in Bangkok with six defeats.

From high-scoring forwards to those that create the goals and win the ball back, we shine the spotlight on the players whose statistics stood out as the continental competition got underway in East Asia.