Group D is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing groups at the Asian Cup with Iraq and Jordan joining debutants Palestine and defending champions Japan. The Samurai Blue are expected to top the group, while the Jordanians defeated both Japan and hosts Australia in the recent World Cup qualifiers. Iraq always pose a threat in this competition, making it past the group stages six times in seven attempts while Palestine are obviously the minnows but be the feel good story of the competition.
Japan
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds), Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege)
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Internazionale), Kosuke Ota (FC Tokyo), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart), Tsukasa Shiotani (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Gen Sjoji (Kashima Antlers), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers), Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Hannover 96), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Gaku Shibasaki (Kashima Antlers)
Forwards: Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Yu Kobayashi (Kawasaki Frontale) Yoshinori Muto (FC Tokyo), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz 05), Yohei Toyoda (Sagan Tosu)
Japan head into the tournament as the defending champions and heavy favourites to defend their title. Back in 2011, former Southampton striker Tadanari Lee’s extra-time volley was enough to beat Australia 1-0 in the final in Qatar. What odds of a repeat of that final in 2015?
Japan are currently ranked 54th in the world, the second highest ranked Asian nation behind Iran.
As champions, Javier Aguirre’s side were not required to qualify, and enter the tournament on the back of form in friendlies and the 2014 World Cup.
Like the other nations from the AFC, Japan had a tournament to forget in Brazil, finishing bottom of their group with losses to the Ivory Coast and Colombia as well as a 0-0 draw with Greece.
In November, they faced the Socceroos again, this time in a friendly, where second half goals from Konno and Okazaki were enough to give Japan a 2-1 win, with Tim Cahill (who else) grabbing a consolation goal in injury time for Australia. Again, what odds these sides meeting again in the 2015 Asian Cup final?
Make no mistakes – Japan’s sole aim is to defend their title on the home soil of their greatest continental rival.
Defence may be the weakest position for the Japanese. Despite boasting the experience of Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagamoto and Southampton’s Maya Yoshida, it is a mostly inexperienced backline, with only five caps spreading between four other players. This is a position where they struggled at the World Cup and we could see a repeat here, particularly given the absence of Atsuto Uchida.
The four-time champions of Asia have named nine players currently plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues, including former Manchester United attacker Shinji Kagawa. The combination between Kagawa and Keisuke Honda caused sides troubles at the World Cup, and they will again be expected to run Japan’s attack this time around.
Jordan and Iraq may trouble the Japanese at times although they should be strong enough to go through this group undefeated. Expect the defending champions to be in the final.
Jordan
Goalkeepers: Ahmed Abdel-Sattar (Al-Jazeera), Amer Shafi (Al-Wehdat), Moataz Yaseen (That Ras)
Defenders: Mohammad Al-Dmeiri (Al-Ittihad Jeddah), Tareq Khattab (Al Shabab FC), Mohammad Mustafa (Al-Khor), Anas Bani Yaseen (Al-Raed), Oday Zahran (Shabab Al-Ordon)
Midfielders: Mohammad Al-Dawud (Al-Hidd), Odai Al-Saify (Al-SalmayaMunther), Abu Amarah (Al-Wehdat), Khalil Bani Attiah (Al-Faisaly FC), Raja’i Ayed (Al-Wehdat), Ahmed Elias (Al-Wehdat), Saeed Murjan (Al-Ramtha), Samir Raja (Al-Wehdat), Saleh Rateb (Al-Wehdat), Ahmed Sariweh (Al-Qadisiyah FC)
Forwards: Hamza Al-Dardour (Al-Khaleej), Yousef Al-Rawashdeh (Al-Ramtha), Abdallah Deeb (Al-Riffa), Ahmad Hayel (Al-Arabi Kuwait), Mahmoud Za’tara (Al-Wehdat)
Jordan qualified for their second consecutive Asian Cup tournament by finishing second in Group A behind Oman. Now managed by former Chelsea and Manchester United great Ray Wilkins, the Jordanians are seemingly on the rise. They narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2014 World Cup, despite beating Australia and Japan, and are currently ranked 81st in the world (6th in Asia).
Buoyed with a youthful and energetic midfield, the Chilvalrous possess pace, ability and, are able to back it up with tonnes of experience throughout their young squad. Seven of the players play for the Jordan League champions Al-Wehdat, and their familiarity in the squad could give them a vital advantage in the competition.
Frontline duo Ahmad Hayel and Abdallah Deeb will have the hopes of a nation in their boots and will be expected to score goals, while midfielder Odai Al-Saify will provide them with the final ball. At 28, Al-Saify is the fourth oldest player in the team, with 84 caps to his name.
Jordan has never failed to get out of the group stages in their three appearances at the Asian Cup. This should be the minimum aim for Wilkins, with a place in the semi-finals also not out of the question.
Iraq
Goalkeepers: Mohammad Hameed (Al-Shorta), Jalal Hassan (Erbil), Ali Yaseen (Naft Al-Janoob)
Defenders: Ali Adnan (Rizespor), Ali Bahjat (Al-Shorta), Ali Faez (Erbil), Ahmad Ibrahim (Ajman), Dhurgham Ismail (Al-Shorta), Sameh Saeed (Baghdad), Waleed Salem (Al-Shorta), Salam Shaker (Al-Shorta)
Midfielders: Saad Abdul-Amir (Erbil), Ali Hisni (Al-Minaa), Amjad Kalaf (Al-Shorta), Mahdi Kamel (Al-Shorta), Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town), Osama Rashid (Alphense Boys), Humam Tariq (Al Dhafra), Ahmed Yasin (Orebro)
Forwards: Alaa Abdul-Zahra (Al-Shorta), Marwan Hussein (Al-Shorta), Younis Mahmoud (unattached), Justin Meram (Columbus Crew)
Making their eighth appearance in the Asian Cup, the 2007 winners qualified after defeating China 3-1 in the final match to finish second in Group C.
Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud is the most experienced player in the side and will be the key to Iraq’s chances in Australia. The 31-year-old has more caps than thirteen members of the current squad combined, and with over 50 goals in 131 caps, he is Iraq’s most valuable player.
Ali Adnan will lead his side from the back, while big things are expected from the Çaykur Rizespor, who won the 2013 Young Asian Player of the Year.
Iraq has only failed to make it out of the group stage once in seven tournaments, but the chances are they will be in a straight battle with Jordan for the all-important second spot in the group behind Japan.
Palestine
Goalkeepers: Toufic Ali (Taraji Wadi Al-Nes), Rami Hamadi (Khader FC), Ramzi Saleh (Unattached)
Defenders: Mousa Abu Jazar (Khader FC), Mus’ab Al-Batat (Shabab Al-Dhahiriya), Abdelatiff Bahdari (Al-Wihdat), Raed Fares (Hilal Al-Quds), Ahmed Harbi (Markaz Shabab Al-Am’ari), Abdullah Jaber (Hilal Al-Quds), Alexis Norambuena (GKS Belchatow), Tamer Salah (Hilal Al-Quds), Haytham Theeb (Hilal Al-Quds)
Midfielders: Hussam Abu Saleh (Hilal Al-Quds), Abdelhamid Abuhabib (Markaz Balata), Ismail Al-Amour (Hilal Al-Quds), Jaka Ihbeisheh (NK Krka), Murad Ismail Said (Hilal Al-Quds), Ahmed Maher (Shabab Al-Dhahiriya), Hesham Salhe (Hilal Al-Quds), Khader Yousef (Taraji Wadi Al-Nes)
Forwards: Mahmoud Eid (Nykopings BIS), Ashraf Nu’man (Al-Faisaly), Khaled Salem (Shabab Al-Dhahiriya)
Palestine are ranked 113th in the world and make their Asian Cup debut against the defending champions. The West Asian side qualified for the finals as the winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, where they defeated the Philippines 1-0 in the final.
Palestine will no doubt face a far tougher test in their opening group match against tournament favourites Japan on matchday one in Newcastle.
Saudi Arabian based striker Ashraf Nu’man will have the arduous task of netting against some of the biggest nations in the confederation. The 28-year-old scored the goal that won Palestine qualification to the tournament, while experienced captain Ramzi Saleh’s performances will be a vital part of their campaign.
With no pressure to succeed, Palestine will be able to play with freedom, without the expectations of others in their group which may allow them to cause an upset or two along the road.
However it is unlikely that the Palestinians will progress past the group stage.
Summary
Watch out for: A key battle between Jordan and Iraq. The two sides meet on matchday one, and the result could decide who finishes in the top two. With Japan obviously setting the benchmark in the group (and the competition), this match in Brisbane will be the most important and must-see match in the group.
Don’t hold your breath: Not much is known about minnows Palestine, but it can be said, with some certainty, that they will not progress through to the quarterfinals. Do not expect a Costa Rica-esque fairy tale run from Ahmed El-Hassan’s squad.
Prediction: Japan first, Jordan second
Fixtures (AEDT)
12 January 2015
Japan v Palestine, Hunter Stadium, 6.00pm
Jordan v Iraq, Suncorp Stadium, 8.00pm
16 January 2015
Palestine v Jordan, AAMI Park, 6.00pm
Iraq v Japan, Suncorp Stadium, 8.00pm
20 January 2015
Japan v Jordan, AAMI Park, 8.00pm
Iraq v Palestine, Canberra Stadium, 8.00pm
Missed one of our group previews? Right this way for Group A, Group B, and of course, Group C…