Group F to test Japan, Oman hope to make history

JAPAN

World Ranking: 50

Previous Appearances: 8

Best performance: Champions (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)

2015: Quarterfinals

Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Japan have settled well under head coach Hajime Moriyasu, enjoying a five-match unbeaten run after their heartbreaking Round of 16 defeat to Belgium in the 2018 Fifa World Cup. A record-extending fifth title is what the Samurai Blue are chasing and they will be challenging for sure.

UZBEKISTAN

World Ranking: 95

Previous Asian Cups: 6

Best performance: 4th place (2011)

2015: Quarterfinals

Head Coach: Hector Cuper
Uzbekistan will be a force in Group F as they look to better their best ever result of a fourth place finish in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. They impressed in the 2018 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers and will fancy their chances of advancing to the later stages of the knockout round.

OMAN

World ranking: 82

Previous Asian Cups: 3

Best performance: Group stage (2004, 2007, 2015)

2015: Group stage

Head Coach: Pim Verbeek
All of Oman’s previous AFC Asian Cup campaigns ended in the group stage but the reigning Gulf Cup champions look capable of bettering that this time around as head coach Pim Verbeek has built a solid squad.

TURKMENISTAN

World Ranking: 127

Previous Asian Cups: 1

Best performance: Group Stage (2004)

2015: Did not qualify

Head Coach:

Yazguly Hojageldyyew

Turkmenistan make a long overdue return and the Central Asians will be determined to hold their own against their Group F challengers, especially after Altyn Asyr’s exploits in making the 2018 AFC Cup final.