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."

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.

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.

With the opening phase of the competition now complete, the-AFC.com looks at some of the statistical leaders, and numerical highlights of the AFC Asian Cup's opening two weeks.

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.

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.

The line-up was confirmed on Thursday, when Oman and Vietnam claimed the Round of 16's two remaining places, setting the scene for what promises to be an unforgettable climax to the largest ever edition of the competition.