(Reuters) – The Group B teams at the Asian Cup in Qatar from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10 are examined below:
AUSTRALIA
FIFA Ranking: 25
Best finish: Champions (2015)
Coach: Graham Arnold
Prospects: Australia’s impressive performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they competed closely with eventual champions Argentina in the last 16, has raised hopes for a strong performance in this year’s tournament.
Arnold has introduced several new players to the squad, but their familiarity with the conditions in Doha gives hope that their success at the World Cup can be replicated.
UZBEKISTAN
FIFA Ranking: 68
Best finish: Semi-finals (2011)
Coach: Srecko Katanec (Slovenia)
Prospects: Uzbekistan has consistently advanced from the group stage in the previous five editions of the Asian Cup. The absence of top scorer and captain Eldor Shomurodov due to injury has dealt a blow to their chances of a deep run in this tournament.
SYRIA
FIFA Ranking: 91
Best finish: Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011, 2019)
Coach: Hector Cuper (Argentina)
Prospects: Hector Cuper, an experienced coach, has struggled to create a competitive team. A 5-0 loss to Japan in a World Cup qualifier suggests that Syria will face difficulties in advancing beyond the group stage.
INDIA
FIFA Ranking: 102
Best finish: Runners up (1964)
Coach: Igor Stimac (Croatia)
Prospects: India’s recent record in the Asian Cup has been poor, failing to progress from the group stage in the last three attempts. As the lowest-ranked side in the group, their chances seem slim. However, their win in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship and a victory over Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier provide some hope for the team.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney and Aadi Nair, editing by Peter Rutherford)
