The 2023 AFC Asian Cup, currently unfolding in Qatar, has reached the halfway point of the group stage, offering a thrilling spectacle of Asian football. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Current Standings:
- Group A: Qatar and Tajikistan lead the pack with 9 and 4 points each, followed by China and Lebanon with 2 and 1 point each.
- Group B: Australia and Uzbekistan share the top spot with 7 and 5 points, while India is out of AFC Asia Cup 2023. Syria has 4 Points in the bag.
- Group C: Iran secured their places in the knockout stage with 9 points, while United Arab Emirates and Palestine held on to 2nd and 3rd place with 4 points, leaving Hong Kong out of contention.
- Group D: Iraq sits on top with 9 points, followed by Japan and Indonesia with 6 and 3 points each. Vietnam currently occupies the bottom spot with 0 points.
- Group E: Jordan and South Korea are neck-and-neck with 5 points each, while Bahrain and Malaysia has 4 and 1 points each.
- Group F: Saudi Arabia and Thailand has 6 and 4 points in table, while Oman and Kyrgyzstan have 1 and 0 point each.
| Group A | Points | |
| 1 | Qatar | 9 |
| 2 | Tajikistan | 4 |
| 3 | China | 2 |
| 4 | Lebonon | 1 |
| Group B | ||
| 1 | Australia | 7 |
| 2 | Uzbekistan | 5 |
| 3 | Syria | 4 |
| 4 | India | 0 |
| Group C | ||
| 1 | Iran | 9 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 4 |
| 3 | Palestine | 4 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 0 |
| Group D | ||
| 1 | Iraq | 9 |
| 2 | Japan | 6 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 3 |
| 4 | Vietnam | 0 |
| Group E | ||
| 1 | Jordan | 4 |
| 2 | South Korea | 5 |
| 3 | Bahrain | 6 |
| 4 | Malaysia | 1 |
| Group F | ||
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 7 |
| 2 | Thailand | 5 |
| 3 | Oman | 2 |
| 4 | Kyrgyzstan | 1 |
Exciting Matches:
- Iran’s comeback victory: Mehdi Taremi’s brace helped Iran overcome the United Arab Emirates in a 2-1 win, showcasing their strong contender status.
- Palestine’s historic moment: A 3-0 triumph over Hong Kong secured their first-ever appearance in the knockout stage, making them the tournament’s underdogs to watch.
- Japan’s dominant start: The Samurai Blue have impressed with their attacking prowess, securing two convincing wins so far.
- Group E’s close battle: Japan, South Korea, are locked in a tight race for qualification, promising thrilling encounters in the remaining matches.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- January 25th: Group Stage matches conclude
- January 28th-31st: Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Iraq, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Japan, Iran, Syria are qualified for Round 16. Round of 16 begins.
- February 2nd: Quarter Final- Tajikistan Vs Jordan, Australia Vs South Korea
- February 3rd: Quarter Final- Qatar Vs Uzbekistan, TBA
- February 6th-7th: Semi Finals
- February 10th: Finals
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