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AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:27 pm
by blahblah
The tournament kicks off January 12 in Qatar.
Group D
January 14
Australia v United Arab Emirates
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Grand Hamad Stadium
January 17
Vietnam v Australia
Kick-off: 1630hrs
Venue: Grand Hamad Stadium
January 20
Jordan v Australia
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
Should we progress:
Quarter-Finals
January 23
QF3 – Winner Group C v Runner Up Group D
Kick-off: 1630hrs
Venue: Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
QF4 – Winner Group D v Runner Up Group C
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Grand Hamad Stadium
Semi-Finals
January 26
SF2 – Winner QF2 v Winner QF 4
Kick-off: 1630hrs
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium
SF1 – Winner QF1 v Winner QF 3
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
Final
January 30
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
Kick-off: 1745hrs
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium
That is a shed-load of games in a very short space of time. It will be demanding on our lads and I expect Victory's contingent will tuckered out for a while after their return if we go far into the tournament.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:02 pm
by ZANZIBAR
This has ruined my fantasy team with maclaren, mauk, gersbach out.
Any of this televised?
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:50 pm
by blahblah
This has ruined my fantasy team with maclaren, mauk, gersbach out.
Any of this televised?
Live on Fox Sports Asia here in the Philippines, no idea if it is being shown in Oz.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:10 pm
by Stuckey
It's top 3 make it to the Olympics correct?
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 6:09 pm
by blahblah
It's top 3 make it to the Olympics correct?
Yes. There is a 3rd/4th play-off on the same day as the final.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:38 pm
by Stuckey
It will be interesting to see if we fair better than the last qualifiers were the games were staggered over a long period. Maybe having the squad together for the entire period may help them.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:21 am
by blahblah
It will be interesting to see if we fair better than the last qualifiers were the games were staggered over a long period. Maybe having the squad together for the entire period may help them.
The fitness of our players will have an impact over the course of the tournament. The real issue for us, Korea and Japan is the fact the tournament is over non-FIFA dates which robs each of us of a number of key players who are not released by their European clubs.
Edit: Just noticed it is mainly our problem alone!
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:45 am
by Stuckey
It will be interesting to see if we fair better than the last qualifiers were the games were staggered over a long period. Maybe having the squad together for the entire period may help them.
The fitness of our players will have an impact over the course of the tournament. The real issue for us, Korea and Japan is the fact the tournament is over non-FIFA dates which robs each of us of a number of key players who are not released by their European clubs.
Hopefully those clubs see the value in their players qualifying for the Olympics which will put those players on the world stage. Although risking a important player for that would be unlikely.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:54 am
by Stuckey
The battle for one of Asia’s three berths at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro kicks off on Tuesday evening, with Australian hopes appearing to suffer a blow following the late withdrawal of Chris Ikonomidis.
Read more at
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/olyr ... HoX9gBi.99
Disappointing but not surprising.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 8:49 am
by blahblah
The battle for one of Asia’s three berths at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro kicks off on Tuesday evening, with Australian hopes appearing to suffer a blow following the late withdrawal of Chris Ikonomidis.
Disappointing but not surprising.
Always as issue for games on non-FIFA dates, at least it means Chris is seen as a required part of the Lazio squad.
I watched the 1st half of Syria v Iran last night, not inspiring football at all.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 8:55 am
by Stuckey
Similar to Brad Smith and Jordan Lyden I guess. Jordan is only 19 but has just made his first team debut for Aston Villa.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:52 am
by blahblah
Similar to Brad Smith and Jordan Lyden I guess. Jordan is only 19 but has just made his first team debut for Aston Villa.
Mabil (Midtjylland), De Silva (Roda), Irvine (Ross County), Degenek (1860), Dougall (Rotterdam), Williams (Barnsley) are all eligible and not in the squad. Some may just not be good enough compared to existing squad members, others may be injured, however I don't doubt a few are not being released as they are needed.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:03 am
by Stuckey
I think in the case of Ikonomidis, Mabil, Lyden and Smith I'd probably rather them stay with their club in case going away with the NT resulted in them losing their place in the squad. If the side makes the Olympics I'm certain these players will be available then if fit. Although that's sad for the players that got them there who miss out.
IMO the squad is strong enough to make it deep into the tournament. It would be great to see us win one of these for a change. Australian youth's trophy cabinet is pretty bare.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:40 am
by blahblah
I caught the Japan - North Korea game last night, some good football to be had and the Japanese were lucky to come away with a 1-0 win.
Re: AFC U-23 Championship
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:39 pm
by Stuckey
Our first game is tonight. 3:30am Eastern though I doubt I have the energy to get out of bed for that.
I think the next game is at a more respectable 12:30am Eastern.