Doha, Qatar: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 has reached the knockout rounds and 16 teams remain in the race to be crowned champions of the 18th edition of the continental showpiece.
Among them are defending champions Qatar, four-time winners Japan and five other nations who have lifted the prestigious title, while four countries – including debutants Tajikistan – will compete in the Round of 16 for the first time.
Ahead of the eight matches between January 28 and 31, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for.
Koreans and Saudis to serve up heavyweight clash
With five continental titles between them and 17 FIFA World Cup appearances, South Korea and Saudi Arabia are two giants of Asian football. Both nations will have begun the competition with serious aspirations of being crowned champions, but one of them will exit at the Round of 16 after the draw threw up a mouthwatering clash in the first knockout round.
On the pitch, Korea have no shortage of star power, with Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in consistently performing at the highest level in Europe. The Saudis, meanwhile, boast their own star man in the reigning AFC Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari, who is no stranger to the big stage having netted a stunning winner against Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup here in Qatar.
Off the pitch, both head coaches have been crowned continental champions before - Roberto Mancini in guiding Italy to the 2020 UEFA European Championship title and Jurgen Klinsmann when he led the United States to CONCACAF Gold Cup glory in 2013. The stage is set for an exhilarating encounter on Tuesday, when only one side’s quest for the title will continue.
Will hot shot Hussein continue scoring streak?
Only one player has managed to find the back of the net in all three matches and, with five goals so far, Iraq’s Aymen Hussein goes into the knockout rounds in red-hot form and leading the scoring charts by two goals from Japan’s Ayase Ueda, Korea Republic’s Lee Kang-in and Qatar’s Akram Afif.
Having wrapped up a 3-1 win over Indonesia with an emphatic finish, Hussein bagged a brace as the Lions of Mesopotamia stunned Japan 2-1 to end their 11-game winning run. Another double, this time against Vietnam and including a 102nd-minute penalty, ensured Iraq advanced to the knockout rounds with a perfect three wins from three.
The win over Japan in particular has raised expectations and led to talk of a repeat of Iraq’s historic title back in 2007. Jesus Casas’s side may be some way from repeating that feat, but should their prolific striker’s form in front of goal continue, the Iraqis’ chances of going deeper in the tournament will only be heightened.
Qatar aiming for 11 on the bounce
Holders Qatar’s winning run at the AFC Asian Cup now stands at an incredible 10 in a row following group stage victories over Lebanon, Tajikistan and China PR. The three wins in a row added to the seven successive victories achieved en route to being crowned champions in the United Arab Emirates five years ago.
It’s a formidable run of form that has also seen them concede just once in those 10 games – against Japan in the 3-1 win in the 2019 final – as Asia’s biggest competition continues to bring the best out of them. Up next, they face a Palestine side whose 3-0 victory over Hong Kong, China on Matchday Three took them into the knockout rounds for the first time.
Last time out against China, Qatar head coach Marquez Lopez rested Afif and Almoez Ali, but the star duo will surely be recalled against the Palestinians. A full crowd awaits at Al Bayt Stadium as the Maroons target an 11th consecutive win, while knockout round newcomers Palestine will aim to spring a surprise to prolong their own remarkable tournament.
Can Uzbekistan breach water-tight Thai defence?
It’s not only Qatar who have yet to concede as Thailand, too, advanced to the knockout rounds on the back of three successive clean sheets. While the hosts did so with three wins, a pair of scoreless draws that the Thais claimed went a long way towards sealing their place in the last 16 for a second AFC Asian Cup in a row.
Supachai Chaided’s double in a 2-0 opening-day win over Kyrgyz Republic remains the War Elephants’ only goals. Masatada Ishii’s well-drilled side have since picked up 0-0 draws against Oman and Saudi Arabia to finish runners-up in Group F and, perhaps most impressively, those stalemates were achieved with a completely different goalkeeper and back four with Saranon Anuin catching the eye by saving a penalty on his international debut against the Saudis.
Up next come Uzbekistan, who themselves have conceded just once. Thailand-based forward Igor Sergeev is out with a serious injury, but with the likes of Jaloliddin Masharipov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev within their ranks, the White Wolves have plenty of talent going forward as they try to become the first team to score past Thailand as well as progress to a fifth quarter-final appearance.
