Group A: UAE lead hopefuls

Abu Dhabi: With the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 just four days away, excitement is building for the Continental showpiece.

In what will be the biggest and best AFC Asian Cup, Asia's top 24 teams will vie to lift the sparkling new trophy come February 1.

Join the-AFC.com as we kick off our previews with a look at Group A.

UAE

World Ranking: 79

Previous Appearances: 9

Best performance: Runners-up (1996)

2015: Third place

Head Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni

 

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UAE are determined to win the AFC Asian Cup on home soil, having fallen in the final when they hosted the 1996 edition. Their form going into the Finals, however, has been erratic and head coach Alberto Zaccheroni has to get his squad firing despite the absence of the talismanic Omar Abdulrahman, who has been ruled out by injury. Zaccheroni, however, knows what it takes to win the AFC Asian Cup, having led Japan to success in 2011 and UAE will be counting on his touch to do the same.

THAILAND

World Ranking: 118

Previous Appearances: 6

Best performance: Third place (1972)

2015: Did not qualify

Head Coach: Milovan Rajevac

 

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Thailand, despite having relinquished their AFF Cup title recently, remain Southeast Asia's top team and they will be aiming to step up to the next level in UAE 2019. The War Elephants will be appearing in the Finals for the first time since co-hosting the 2007 edition and will be aiming to advance to the knockout stage, having failed to do so in their previous five appearances.

INDIA

World Ranking: 97

Previous Appearances: 3

Best performance: Runners-up (1964)

2015: Did not qualify

Head Coach: Stephen Constantine

 

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Having enjoyed a relatively trouble-free qualifying campaign, India will be aiming to make an impact in Group A and seal a knockout spot. Despite a challenging group, head coach Stephen Constantine believes his Sunil Chhetri-led squad will make heads turn in UAE 2019.

BAHRAIN

World Ranking: 113

Previous Appearances: 5

Best performance: Fourth place (2004)

2015: Group stage

Head Coach:Miroslav Soukup

 

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Bahrain will be aiming to kick off their campaign with an opening win over hosts the UAE which, if achieved, will boost their hopes of seeing action in the knockout stage. Miroslav Soukup's side will be confident they can match Thailand and India.


Source: the-afc.com