The first match in an action-packed first Sunday at the AFC Asian Cup will see one of the tournament favourites Japan take on Vietnam at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
This clash will be the opening match in Group D of the competition, which also includes Indonesia and Iraq, who will square off at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Japan clinched their first-ever Asian Cup trophy back in 1992 by defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final, with Takuya Takagi playing a pivotal role and scoring the match-winner in the 36th minute.
However, they had to wait almost a decade for their second title but managed it in 2000, when they once again overcame the Green Falcons 1-0 thanks to Shigeyoshi Mochizuki's first-half strike.
The Samurai Blue were extremely impressive once again in 2023, losing only one game since bowing out in the last 16 at the 2022 World Cup, while they have also secured victories over Germany, Canada and Turkey in recent months.
0 Comments