sually, the defending continental champions who then host the next tournament would be considered as a favourite to win once more, but Qatar will do well to win the 2023 Asian Cup in January. Instead, Japan are the clear frontrunners to lift the trophy. The Samurai Blue were Asia’s most impressive representatives at the World Cup, progressing to the last16 with victories over Germany and Spain, and any doubts that they are not still the best side in the continent have been dispelled by fine friendly results since. Indeed, Japan won the tournament, for a record fourth time, when it was last hosted in Qatar back in 2011, defeating
