Not only Juventus but also "Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates), Benfica (Portugal), Galatasaray (Turkey), Genk (Belgium), AEK Athens (Greece)" according to the report
Japan v Qatar: Yoshida urges calm ahead of Asian Cup final
Japan and Qatar progressed from highly charged semi-finals to earn their shot at Asian Cup glory.
Experienced defender Maya Yoshida has called for Japan and Qatar to show their continent’s football in its best light during Friday’s Asian Cup final.
Japan stormed past tournament favourites Iran 3-0 in their semi-final, although their opponents’ star forward Sardar Azmoun slapped Gaku Shibasaki to spark a melee during the closing minutes.
Qatar prevailed 4-0 in a highly charged encounter with hosts United Arab Emirates, with the ill-feeling between the two Gulf states manifesting as supporters threw shoes at Qatari players celebrating goals.
“I don’t want to see any stupid things after the game because we are really representing Asia,” Southampton defender Yoshida told reporters.
“We have the hashtag #bringingasiatogether, so it’s really important and beneficial to all the Asian countries to represent Asia by playing good football and with fair play.
“I expect both teams to play with 100 per cent effort, with fair play and to make a good game and show all over the world how we play.
“That makes another step not only for Japan but Asian football.”
Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos echoed Yoshida’s call for calm as the 2022 World Cup hosts aim to complete a shock triumph in a tournament where they have never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals.
“I think the most important thing in the game is to remain calm, everyone will be excited, but remaining calm is crucial,” he told a pre-match news conference.
“Everyone must be patient and put into practice what the coach tells us. We must be highly focused and patient.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Japan – Yuya Osako
The Werder Bremen forward got off to a flyer with a brace in Japan’s tournament opener against Turkmenistan. Muscular problems kept him sidelined for the next three matches but, following a substitute cameo against Vietnam in the quarter-finals, his double left Iran with a task they were ill-equipped to tackle.
Qatar – Almoez Ali
The only player to have more goals than Osako in the tournament is Qatar striker Almoez, who has plundered his way to double that haul. His wonderfully worked strike in the rout of UAE took him to eight from nine shots. In doing so he equalled the competition record of Iran great Ali Daei, who scored eight times in the 1996 edition.
Key Opta facts
– Japan are making their fifth final appearance – only Saudi Arabia have made the final on more occasions – and won each of the previous four. – Qatar are the 10th different nation to appear in an Asian Cup final – four of the previous nine sides making their first appearance in the final went onto win. – Qatar have scored 16 goals and conceded none in their six games at the 2019 Asian Cup; currently the best-ever goal difference by a team at a single Asian Cup tournament. – Japan have scored in all 16 Asian Cup games they’ve participated in since the start of the 2011 tournament, netting a total of 33 goals. – Qatar have as many wins and more clean sheets in the 2019 Asian Cup they had in their previous 32 games and nine tournaments combined. – Qatar’s Akram Hassan Afif has eight assists – four more than any other player – and has created a tournament-best 20 goal-scoring chances.
AFC Asian Cup 2019: How much prize money will Japan and Qatar pocket?
The AFC Asian Cup 2019 is now down to the last day and only two teams remain with Japan going up against Qatar for the distinction to be called champion.
Both nations have proven their worth to be in the final, with Japan climbing back to the top of the mountain and looking to win their fifth AFC Asian Cup title in history.
Meanwhile, Qatar have now shown that they are a threat in the region and their 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting just became more intriguing following their run to the final in this competition.
Now more than just winning a trophy and the distinction of being the best in the region, there comes the monetary gain for going far in the competition.
As stated by AFC, they’re out to make this the richest AFC Asian Cup ever as they’re giving away almost USD $15 million in total!
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
There were 24 total teams to participate in the competition and simply qualifying to be part of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 gets them $200,000!
This goes especially well for nations who made their debut in the competition namely Philippines, Kyrgyz Republic and Yemen!
That’s already a total of $4,800,000!
KNOCKOUT STAGES
While big money was already made for nations who simply qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, those who reach the semifinal of the competition have more prizes in store.
The two losing semifinal nations will bring home USD $1,000,000 each.
So add the two million to the current spending of 4.8 million, the running total is at USD $6,800,000.
FINALISTS
Now with Japan and Qatar already in the final, neither will go home empty handed when it comes to the cash prize as the runners-up will take home USD $3,000,000!
As for the champion, an incredible USD $5,000,000 will be given along with the trophy and the distinction of being the best in the region.
That brings us to a grand total of $14,800,000 for the competition!
This definitely comes as a big step-up as in the 2015 competition, there were no prize money given out as Australia were crowned as champions
If reports coming out of Russia are to be believed, IR Iran’s Sardar Azmoun will soon be unveiled as a new player at Russian Premier League giants FC Zenit Saint Petersburg following an impressive AFC Asian Cup 2019 campaign.
The 24-year-old Iran striker is currently a player for Rubin Kazan and is expected to make a move to their rivals in a deal reportedly worth €12 million, according to reports.
According to Russian football journalist David Sansun, the deal for Azmoun to move from Rubin Kazan to Zenit has been fully agreed and is expected to be announced on Friday itself.
Zenit, who will play in the Round of 32 of the Europa League later this month, will be able to register the Team Melli attackers for the continental championship. Zenit are to take on Turkish giants Fenerbache in the first leg at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on February 12.
Azmoun scored four goals for Carlos Queiroz’s Iran as they reached the semifinal of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only to be beaten by Japan 3-0 in the last four.
The striker joined Rubin Kazan in 2017 and has scored nine times in 40 matches during his second stint with the Russian club.
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Japan v Qatar: Yoshida urges calm ahead of Asian Cup final
Experienced defender Maya Yoshida has called for Japan and Qatar to show their continent’s football in its best light during Friday’s Asian Cup final.
Japan stormed past tournament favourites Iran 3-0 in their semi-final, although their opponents’ star forward Sardar Azmoun slapped Gaku Shibasaki to spark a melee during the closing minutes.
Qatar prevailed 4-0 in a highly charged encounter with hosts United Arab Emirates, with the ill-feeling between the two Gulf states manifesting as supporters threw shoes at Qatari players celebrating goals.
“I don’t want to see any stupid things after the game because we are really representing Asia,” Southampton defender Yoshida told reporters.
“We have the hashtag #bringingasiatogether, so it’s really important and beneficial to all the Asian countries to represent Asia by playing good football and with fair play.
“I expect both teams to play with 100 per cent effort, with fair play and to make a good game and show all over the world how we play.
“That makes another step not only for Japan but Asian football.”
Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos echoed Yoshida’s call for calm as the 2022 World Cup hosts aim to complete a shock triumph in a tournament where they have never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals.
“I think the most important thing in the game is to remain calm, everyone will be excited, but remaining calm is crucial,” he told a pre-match news conference.
“Everyone must be patient and put into practice what the coach tells us. We must be highly focused and patient.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Japan – Yuya Osako
The Werder Bremen forward got off to a flyer with a brace in Japan’s tournament opener against Turkmenistan. Muscular problems kept him sidelined for the next three matches but, following a substitute cameo against Vietnam in the quarter-finals, his double left Iran with a task they were ill-equipped to tackle.
Qatar – Almoez Ali
The only player to have more goals than Osako in the tournament is Qatar striker Almoez, who has plundered his way to double that haul. His wonderfully worked strike in the rout of UAE took him to eight from nine shots. In doing so he equalled the competition record of Iran great Ali Daei, who scored eight times in the 1996 edition.
Key Opta facts
– Japan are making their fifth final appearance – only Saudi Arabia have made the final on more occasions – and won each of the previous four.
– Qatar are the 10th different nation to appear in an Asian Cup final – four of the previous nine sides making their first appearance in the final went onto win.
– Qatar have scored 16 goals and conceded none in their six games at the 2019 Asian Cup; currently the best-ever goal difference by a team at a single Asian Cup tournament.
– Japan have scored in all 16 Asian Cup games they’ve participated in since the start of the 2011 tournament, netting a total of 33 goals.
– Qatar have as many wins and more clean sheets in the 2019 Asian Cup they had in their previous 32 games and nine tournaments combined.
– Qatar’s Akram Hassan Afif has eight assists – four more than any other player – and has created a tournament-best 20 goal-scoring chances.
https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/1034778/japan-v-qatar-yoshida-urges-calm-ahead-of-asian-cup-final/
Good, sensible comment by the Japanese defender...that the spirit!!
AFC Asian Cup 2019: How much prize money will Japan and Qatar pocket?
The AFC Asian Cup 2019 is now down to the last day and only two teams remain with Japan going up against Qatar for the distinction to be called champion.
Both nations have proven their worth to be in the final, with Japan climbing back to the top of the mountain and looking to win their fifth AFC Asian Cup title in history.
Meanwhile, Qatar have now shown that they are a threat in the region and their 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting just became more intriguing following their run to the final in this competition.
Now more than just winning a trophy and the distinction of being the best in the region, there comes the monetary gain for going far in the competition.
As stated by AFC, they’re out to make this the richest AFC Asian Cup ever as they’re giving away almost USD $15 million in total!
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
There were 24 total teams to participate in the competition and simply qualifying to be part of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 gets them $200,000!
This goes especially well for nations who made their debut in the competition namely Philippines, Kyrgyz Republic and Yemen!
That’s already a total of $4,800,000!
KNOCKOUT STAGES
While big money was already made for nations who simply qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, those who reach the semifinal of the competition have more prizes in store.
The two losing semifinal nations will bring home USD $1,000,000 each.
So add the two million to the current spending of 4.8 million, the running total is at USD $6,800,000.
FINALISTS
Now with Japan and Qatar already in the final, neither will go home empty handed when it comes to the cash prize as the runners-up will take home USD $3,000,000!
As for the champion, an incredible USD $5,000,000 will be given along with the trophy and the distinction of being the best in the region.
That brings us to a grand total of $14,800,000 for the competition!
This definitely comes as a big step-up as in the 2015 competition, there were no prize money given out as Australia were crowned as champions
What is India doing with this $200,000? Roughly 1.4 crore, isn't it?
If reports coming out of Russia are to be believed, IR Iran’s Sardar Azmoun will soon be unveiled as a new player at Russian Premier League giants FC Zenit Saint Petersburg following an impressive AFC Asian Cup 2019 campaign.
The 24-year-old Iran striker is currently a player for Rubin Kazan and is expected to make a move to their rivals in a deal reportedly worth €12 million, according to reports.
According to Russian football journalist David Sansun, the deal for Azmoun to move from Rubin Kazan to Zenit has been fully agreed and is expected to be announced on Friday itself.
Zenit, who will play in the Round of 32 of the Europa League later this month, will be able to register the Team Melli attackers for the continental championship. Zenit are to take on Turkish giants Fenerbache in the first leg at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on February 12.
Azmoun scored four goals for Carlos Queiroz’s Iran as they reached the semifinal of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only to be beaten by Japan 3-0 in the last four.
The striker joined Rubin Kazan in 2017 and has scored nine times in 40 matches during his second stint with the Russian club.
https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1034975/iran-sardar-azmoun-join-europa-league-zenit-rubin-kazan-afc-asian-cup-2019-reports/
Qatar leads 1-0!