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Asian Cup knockout stage begins with exciting matchups and surprises

Posted : 26 January 2024

The Asian Cup enters its knockout stage with intriguing matchups, including Son Heung-min's South Korea facing Saudi Arabia and Palestine challenging hosts Qatar. The tournament's unpredictability has been highlighted as favorites Japan finished second in their group behind Iraq, who impressed with a 2-1 victory over Japan.

 

Iraq will face Jordan, while Iran takes on Syria in the next round. South Korea, led by Jurgen Klinsmann, will battle Saudi Arabia, and Klinsmann emphasizes the difficulty of underestimating any team in Asia. Son, South Korea's captain, views their previous draw against Malaysia as a wake-up call.

 

Saudi Arabia, despite topping their group, faces a tough challenge against South Korea, described by manager Roberto Mancini as a very difficult match. Meanwhile, Japan, facing Bahrain, has not lived up to expectations, with winger Kaoru Mitoma yet to play due to injury.

 

The Japanese coach, Hajime Moriyasu, acknowledges the risk in bringing Mitoma to the tournament. Reigning champions Qatar, having impressed in Group A, are strong favorites against Palestine, who secured their first-ever Asian Cup knockout round berth. Palestinian captain Musab Al-Battat sees their achievement as fulfilling a promise to the Palestinian people.

 

The knockout phase begins with Australia playing Indonesia, followed by the United Arab Emirates against Tajikistan. Indonesia, ranked 146th globally, is the lowest-ranked team remaining, securing advancement with one win and two defeats in the group stage. The tournament's dynamics make predicting the eventual winner challenging, adding to the excitement of the Asian Cup's decisive phase.

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