Group B: Australia set to be tested
2nd January 2019
Abu Dhabi: Defending champions Australia will be seeking a second consecutive crown but standing in their way in Group B of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 are a trio of West Asian opposition.
Syria will be seeking a win after the Socceroos ended their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in the Continental Playoff while Palestine and Jordan will be aiming for extended campaigns too.
We take a look at the Group B challenge.
AUSTRALIA
World Ranking: 41
Previous Appearances: 3
Best performance: Champions (2015)
Head Coach: Graham Arnold
Australia are a team in transition but that doesn't mean they are not capable of defending the title won on home soil in 2015. Head coach Graham Arnold has spent time working on his squad and the Socceroos should cruise into the knockout stage.View this post on Instagram
All you need to know about the defending champions Australia ?? ahead of the #AsianCup2019!
A post shared by #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) on Dec 28, 2018 at 2:15am PST
SYRIA
World ranking: 74
Previous Appearances: 5
Best performance: Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011)
2015: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Bernd Stange
Having lured Bernd Stange out of retirement, Syria will now be hoping the German can chart an extended campaign for them in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. Syria impressed in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers, losing 3-2 to Australia in the Continental Playoff and if Stange can get them up to mark, they will be tough opposition.View this post on Instagram
All you need to know about Syria ?? ahead of #AsianCup2019
A post shared by #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:59am PST
PALESTINE
World ranking: 99
Previous Appearance: 1
2015: Group stage
Head Coach: Noureddine Ould Ali
Palestine's target will be to better their 2015 performance, where they exited in the group stage in their maiden appearance in the AFC Asian Cup Finals. Head coach Noureddine Ould Ali has been putting in extra hours to mould his squad and he will hoping this will show in their performances.View this post on Instagram
All you need to know about Palestine ?? ahead of #AsianCup2019!
A post shared by #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:58am PST
JORDAN
World Ranking: 109
Previous Appearances: 3
Best performance: Quarter-finals (2004, 2011)
2015: Group stage
Head Coach: Vital Borkelmans
View this post on Instagram
All you need to know about Jordan ?? ahead of #AsianCup2019!
A post shared by #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:32am PST
Two of Jordan's three previous appearances in the AFC Asian Cup Finals have ended in the quarter-finals and bettering that will be Vital Borkelmans' squad's target, after having seen their campaign come to a close in the group stage in 2015.
Source: the-afc.com