The Asian Cup kicks off in Australia in a few days and there are three teams favoured to take out the trophy.
Here we run the rule over them.
Japan
The defending champions from 2011, Japan arrive Down Under boasting a formidable squad but rebuilding after the 2014 World Cup.
Samurai Blue defeated the Socceroos 2-1 in November and most recently beat Auckland City 2-0 in Cessnock. They have won three and drawn one of their six friendlies since the tournament in Brazil. The Samba Kings and Uruguay are the only teams to have beaten Japan since July, and although they struggled at the World Cup, failing to win any of their three games, they remain the best team in Asia.
Ranked 54th in the world, three spots below Iran, half of their team plays in the Bundesliga, Serie A and English Premier League and the rest at home in the J-League. A skillful side that likes to maintain possession and build from the back, Japan’s key men include Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Makoto Hasebe, FSV Mainz 05’s Shinji Okazaki.
Grouped with Iraq, Jordan and Palestine, the Samurai Blue will be expected to top their group. A meeting with arch-nemesis Australia would be one to savour.
Star player: Keisuke Honda
With 24 goals in 65 caps, the AC Milan forward is technically strong and possesses great vision. Although Japan has weapons across the park, the 28-year-old is Samurai Blue’s heartbeat.
Coach: Javier Aguirre Onaindia
The Mexican has been in charge of Japan since replacing Alberto Zaccheroni after the 2014 World Cup, but it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. The 58-year-old is an experienced coach who has led Mexico to two World Cups and has also managed Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, Zaragoza and Espanyol in Spain.
South Korea
Two-time winners of the Asian Cup, the South Koreans are grouped with the Socceroos and are expected to battle it out for the home team for top spot.
The Taegeuk Warriors struggled at the World Cup, notching one draw and two losses, and have also been in poor form since Brazil. Defeats to Iran, Costa Rica and Uruguary have been recorded along with victories over Jordan, Paraguay and Venezuela, with their world ranking slipping to 69th. But they remain a dangerous side with many talented players – 10 of their squad ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues.
Captained by Ki Sung-yueng, the Swansea City central midfielder, South Korea certainly have the players to win the Asian Cup. Whether they can put it all together, and live up to the expectation from their fans, remains to be seen. They will have to do it without forwards Kim Shin-wook and Lee Dong-guk, who are out with injury, but they have a glut of quality options in midfield and on the flanks to provide goals.
Star player: Son Heung-min
He may be only 22 but the Bayer Leverkusen winger is a versatile attacker who can both score and create goals. Son made his debut for South Korea as an 18-year-old and has banged in seven goals in 34 matches.
Coach: Uli Stielike
Only in charge of the Taegeuk Warriors since September, the German ex-sweeper has had a long managerial career in Europe, Africa and Asia. He has coached Switzerland and Ivory Coast, as well as leading Germany’s junior national teams, and spent the past six years managing teams in Qatar.
Australia
Finalists in 2011 and hosts this time round, the Socceroos remain one of the heavyweights in this tournament. Their form and results during and since the World Cup haven’t been great, with 1 win from their past 11, but this remains a side rebuilding and reforming under Ange Postecoglou.
The ex-South Melbourne coach has blooded a huge amount of new players and tried to infuse the squad with new talent and a new proactive way of playing. There have been bumps along the way but now is the time for the Socceroos to peform. Australia haven’t played on home soil since May, so having the tournament here should give them a boost.
Mat Ryan is in excellent form in goals at his club in Belgium, while Crystal Palace enforcer Mile Jedinak will skipper the side. Just how Postecoglou uses veteran Tim Cahill, whether starting him as a lone striker or bringing off the bench, will be interesting. The explosive Nathan Burns is also a wildcard, while Wanderers attacker Tomi Juric is another option.
The Socceroos will have a different challenge in their first two games than in recent fixtures, trying to break down the Kuwaiti and Omani defences, but their third group against South Korea is a massive one.
If the green and gold can get off to a good start and a get a roll on, with the crowds behind them they could be tough to stop.
Star player: Tim Cahill
Australia’s talisman, highest ever scorer and go-to guy. He might be 35 but he ages like a fine wine and is always good for a goal when the Socceroos need him.
Coach: Ange Postecoglou
The former Brisbane Roar boss has only been in charge of Australia for 14 months but he has overseen huge chances in the national team. The pressure will be on the 49-year-old to produce results in his second major tournament at the helm.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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