ABU DHABI (AFP) - The football may not be of the environment received at the Euros, but there is always something compelling about watching national teams duke it out for their continental crown. Here is a look at the five leading contenders for football's Asian Cup, which starts in the united Arab Emirates on Saturday (Jan 5):

Australia

The Socceroos won the biggest title in their chronicles at the last Asian cup in 2015, where they edged South Korea after other get older to win a thrilling firm in Sydney. It provided other vindication for their switch from Oceania to the Asian confederation in 2006, in the past considering they have never bungled to qualify for the World Cup.However, Australia's star has dimmed in recent times, and after reaching Russia 2018 via the play-offs they exited without a win, scoring lonely twice in their three society games. other coach Graham Arnold must fill the chasm left by retired compilation scorer Tim Cahill, and get the goals flowing again, if the Socceroos are to keep the trophy in Australian hands.

Iran

Asia's top-ranked team won bank account at last year's World Cup, where they were edged 1-0 by Spain and finished 1-1 neighboring Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, in the past exiting at the society stage. However, they will desire to go house considering more than just praise at the Asian Cup, a tournament where ability has eluded them in the past their rule of three straight titles finished in 1976.Ex-Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz, with a former co-conspirator to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has forged a formidable unit which was unbeaten in World cup qualifying, strolling into the Asian cup along the way.Last get older around, Iran went out on penalties to arch-rivals Iraq in a pulsating quarter-final which featured four goals in extra-time and a contentious second tawny card for moving picture to Iranian defender Mehrdad Pooladi. thesame fireworks can be received considering the two teams meet for their firm society D game on Jan 16.

Japan

Japan go into the Asian cup chasing a record-extending fifth title and in a rich vein of form. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in five games in the past Hajime Moriyasu replaced Akira Nishino as coach after their wonder rule to the knockout stages of last year's World Cup.But Japan embark on their middle Eastern adventure without two players who epitomise their waspish moving picture - Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. Both were omitted by Moriyasu, who looks to Red Bull Salzburg's Takumi Minamino to provide the creative spark in Kagawa's absence.Portimonense's Shoya Nakajima and Groningen's Ritsu Doan will mount up thrust as they try to avenge their 2015 Asian cup flop considering they crashed out in the quarter-finals. Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Galatasaray full-back Yuto Nagatomo bring experience to Japan, who approach Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in society F.Ranked 50th in the world, at the back Iran (29) and Australia (41), all less than the semi-finals would be seen as failure for Japan.

Saudi Arabia

SaudiArabiaplayers listening to the head of the General Authority forSaudi Sport, Turki Al-Sheikh (centre) at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on June 13, 2018, ahead of theRussia2018WorldCupfootball tournament. PHOTO: AFP
The former giants of Asian football need to reverse a needy rule of form as they look to compensation to the winners' circle for the first get older in the past the 1990s. Victories in 1984, 1988 and 1996 made the Saudis the continent's premier side but despite reaching the 2000 and 2007 finals they have been unable to mount up to their tally.There was not much to yell about at last year's World Cup, considering Saudi Arabia in limbo 5-0 to Russia in their foundation game and never recovered. In the UAE, a sharp hop on top of the Saudi border, Juan Antonio Pizzi - the fourth coach in the Saudi warm chair in the past the 2015 Asian cup - can expect an easier ride than in Russia as they gate neighboring North Korea on Tuesday.However, Saudi Arabia flopped at the last Asian Cup, going out at the society stage, and they are under pressure heading into this edition after winning lonely one of their six games in the past the World Cup.

South Korea

In Tottenham Hotspur's nimble attend to Son Heung-min, South Korea boast Asia's most daring player and they will be regarded as narrow favourites to hoist the trophy on February 1. The Taeguk Warriors showed their environment considering they horror-struck holders Germany at last year's World cup and they came within a whisker of winning their third Asian title in 2015, going all along to James Troisi's extra-time strike for hosts Australia in the final.Son will miss South Korea's first two games, neighboring the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan, owing to club commitments considering Spurs. But considering a great quantity of capability including Newcastle's Ki Sung-yeung and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, man of the say yes in the 2-0 win on top of Germany, South Korea should have at least one foot in the knock-out stages by then.



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