Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Marcello Lippi has declared striker Wu Lei ready to play in China’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Round of 16 meeting with Thailand at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday evening after recovering from a shoulder injury which kept him out of Wednesday's loss at the hands of Korea Republic.
The Shanghai SIPG forward has been training separately from his teammates since sustaining the injury against Kyrgyz Republic on Matchday One but Lippi will pick the 27-year-old as the Chinese attempt to win a game in the knockout phase of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 2004.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/wu_lei-china-philippines_2.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/marcello_lippi_-_china_pr_head_coach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/thailand_celebrate_after_progressing_to_the_round_of_16.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Round of 16 tie between Jordan and Vietnam will be a meeting of familiar foes but head coach Vital Borkelmans says the circumstances are now different with the stakes much higher.
The two sides met twice in the UAE 2019 Qualifiers, with the matches ending 1-1 and 0-0, but that was before Borkelmans took over the reins from Jamal Ahmad Abu Abed.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Oman's desire to create more history will drive them when they take on Islamic Republic of Iran in their AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 tie at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Three-time champions Iran may be the favourites but Oman, said skipper Ahmed Al Mahaijri, are not daunted with the prospect of facing the Continent's top ranked team.
"Iran is a very strong team but so are we. We played Japan and Uzbekistan and we showed that we can hold our own against teams who are ranked much higher than us," said Al Mahaijri.
"We have already created history by making the knockout stage but we are not satisfied with just that. We want to create more history."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Decorated goalkeeper Amer Shafi believes his Jordan side has what it takes to re-create the achievements of their 2004 squad, and reach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-finals with a win against Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium on Sunday.
A veteran at 36, it is 15 years since Shafi made his continental bow in China, where Jordan excelled to reach the last eight in their first appearance at the Finals, where they fell to eventual winners Japan on penalties.
Just like in 2004, Al-Nashama have flown through the group stage unbeaten and without conceding a goal in the current AFC Asian Cup, and, with a quarter-final place up for grabs once again, their experienced shot-stopper hopes that is not where the similarities will end.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Almost six decades after Korea Republic last won the Continental title, Ki Sung-yueng believes it’s time the country ended their AFC Asian Cup drought.
The Koreans won the AFC Asian Cup in 1956 and 1960 – the first two editions of the competition – but have failed to add a third title to the pair in the 15 instalments of the tournament since.
But the Newcastle United midfielder believes Paulo Bento and his team have the tools to finally bring that run of disappointment to an end in the United Arab Emirates over the coming weeks.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: After an exciting group stage of the biggest ever edition of the AFC Asian Cup, we look back at some of the best goals of UAE 2019 so far, and ask you to pick your favourite in our poll at the end.
In the 36 matches played in the group stages of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, we have seen 96 goals scored - 2.67 per match - and some of them truly memorable strikes. Here are our selected 10 for you to review and judge which is your best.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: The group stage of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 has seen its share of standout performances from the established stars of Asian football to the emergence of a new generation of talent.
But just who has been the best performer overall?
We want you to have your say, vote in our poll below to decide which of the following 10 players you think has been the best performer of the group stage.