GROUP A
QATAR (1 ASIAN CUP WIN, 2019)
Their sole Asian Cup win was an unexpected success and suggested that Qatar had arrived at Asia’s top table. Then came the ordeal of the 2022 World Cup: three defeats out of three with the entire planet watching.
Within weeks, Felix Sanchez, the coach who delivered both triumph and disaster, was out and replaced by Carlos Queiroz.
One of the most experienced coaches in world football, Queiroz himself was then suddenly fired in early December despite a good start to World Cup qualification, winning handsomely against Afghanistan and India.
Just like before the World Cup, preparations have been extensive with the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Gulf Cup and various friendlies.
A lot of the stars from 2019 are still around and it remains to be seen if home advantage helps or, as in 2022, hinders.
ONE TO WATCH
Almoez Ali
The goals seemed to have dried up for the 2019 top scorer, before he recently hit four in a World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan.
THE COACH
Marquez Lopez
“Tintin” has had a month to get to grips but the ex-Espanyol coach has experience in Qatar and marks a return to Spanish coaches.
TAJIKISTAN (0 ASIAN CUP WINS)
The Central Asians have slowly been climbing up the FIFA rankings and a good showing in Qatar could see them enter the top100 for the first time ever, but they will be more delighted at qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time.
The national team has been developed partly through the use of a large contingent of players from Istiklol, the country’s dominant club and well-respected throughout Asia, although there are suggestions that there is too much reliance on the old guard and the Istiklol connection, and that Croatian head coach Petar Segrt needs some freshness within the squad.
The Crowns have shown that they can win in Central and Southeast Asia but results against the Western Asian nations have not been quite as impressive, though that could simply be down to a lack of experience.
ONE TO WATCH
Alisher Dzhalilov
Can play out wide or more central and represented Russia at various youth levels before plumping for Tajikistan.
THE COACH
Petar Segrt
The 57-year-old Croatian has moved from Afghanistan to the Maldives to Tajikistan and this could be his biggest challenge.
CHINA (0 ASIAN CUP WINS)
It feels like a long time since 2004, when China reached the final of the Asian Cup. That was followed by two group-stage exits and then two quarter-final appearances, achievements that are still the parameters that define failure and success. Anything beyond the last eight is a big bonus.
It’s never easy to predict what China will do, but it’s safe to say that COVID and the lockdowns hit the football scene hard. A rebuild, of sorts, has been ongoing with Aleksandar Jankovic
