2024-01-26T14:49:47+00:00
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/ With preparations for the start of the Asian Cup’s quarter-final matches, the day after tomorrow, Sunday, with Australia’s meeting with Indonesia, and Tajikistan’s meeting with the Emirates, five players emerged in the group stage and stole the spotlight, four of them from West Asian countries, and more are expected from them in the next round, the most prominent of whom is the Iraqi player. Ayman Hussein.
According to a report by Agence France-Presse, the players are:
Ayman Hussein (Iraq)
Iraq have been one of the standout teams so far, thanks in large part to Ayman Hussein.
5 goals in 3 matches made the 27-year-old player top the scorers list, as he scored two goals during Iraq’s 2-1 victory over Japan, the strong candidates for the coronation, before the Al-Rafidain Lions finished the group stage with 3 victories.
The Air Force striker has a massive physique (1.88 metres), with his team trailing 1-0 against Vietnam at the end of the first half. He participated as a substitute in the second half, scoring the equalizer and missing a penalty kick, then he showed the courage to take a second penalty kick in the 12th minute of time. stoppage time to give his team an exciting 3-2 victory.
Musaab Al-Battat (Palestine)
The Palestinian national team captain has proven to be an inspiration on and off the field. The right-back tops the tournament statistics thanks to two assists and 8 chances created.
Al-Battat (30 years old) led his country to victory over Hong Kong 3-0 to achieve its first victory ever in the tournament, as he sent two perfect crosses that ended with two headed goals.
Battat was also a leader off the field, and the unofficial spokesman for the team that advanced to the next round for the first time in its history. After achieving this historic achievement, he confirmed that the players fulfilled “the promise we made to the Palestinian people.”
Akram Afif (Qatar)
Striker Afif was one of the stars of Qatar’s victory in the 2019 Asian Cup, and it appears that he is following the same path in the edition hosted by his country.
Afif (27 years old) scored two goals to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over Lebanon in the opening match, and he also scored again during the home team and title holders’ victory over Tajikistan 1-0.
Afif played professionally in Belgium and Spain earlier in his career, and said that he would leave Al-Sadd Qatar to return to Europe if he had the opportunity.
Scouts of clubs interested in his services will have noticed his speed, dribbling ability and finishing attacks over the past two weeks.
Mehdi Qaidi (Iran)
It was possible for Qaidi not to fulfill the hopes placed on him in a previous period, but he returned to the right track after playing a major role for Iran in the group stage.
The brilliance of this 25-year-old winger, who is characterized by dribbling, helped his country lead its group with three victories by scoring two wonderful goals in the Asian Cup.
Through its strong performances in the group stage, Iran appears to be a strong candidate to win the title in Qatar, and Qaedi’s brilliance may help it win the crown for the first time since 1976.
Lee Kang-in (South Korea)
Korea’s German coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, made Lee a central player in his squad, and he was the Paris Saint-Germain player who his coach thought well of him.
Lee (22 years old) stole the spotlight from his captain, Heung-Min Son, by scoring two goals in the opening match in which South Korea beat Bahrain 3-1, and forced an own goal for his team against Malaysia from a direct free kick.
South Korea was not convinced in general in Qatar and will face a difficult match in the last 16 against Saudi Arabia, but with Lee’s brilliance and his ability to threaten by shooting from a distance, perhaps the “Taeguk Warriors” will be able to end a title drought that has lasted since 1960.