DOHA, Qatar — The 2023 Asian Cup is now over and Qatar, as soon as once more, are champions, defeating Jordán 3-1 on the Lusail Stadium on Saturday night after a hat trick of penalties from Akram Afif. Simply over a 12 months in the past, the venue within the north of Doha was the positioning of Lionel Messi’s coronation, however this weekend it was Hassan Al-Haydos’ flip, draped in a bisht of his personal because the Maroons celebrated changing into simply the fifth Asian nation to go back-to-back on the continental stage.
However throughout the month that it has taken to get us thus far, who has executed probably the most to make their mark? Narrowing the 624 gamers who made up the 24 squads into an 11-player unit, plus a coach, is an train fraught with uncertainty.
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What goes right into a standout event? Is it statistical domination or moments of particular person brilliance? Or maybe it’s contribution to a workforce’s overarching success, or some sort of irresistible narrative behind their performances?
Additional, are you making an attempt to assemble a functioning soccer aspect? Or are you merely making an attempt to suit 11 gamers right into a lineup with out it changing into an excessive amount of of a disjointed, attack-heavy monstrosity that may nearly actually be a hilariously incohesive mess should you tried to throw it onto the park?
In actuality, it is some mixture thereof, with the personalised weighting positioned upon these elements, simply a few of many, inevitably resulting in the disagreements and arguments that give soccer its lifeblood. Some gamers are most likely going to finish up out of place, as effectively, just because their performances deserve an elevated stage of recognition however there’s the issue of somebody that’s equally as legitimate already being in that very same spot.
Actually, any participant in consideration for these kinds of lists pays them little heed compared to the outcomes on the park — no quantity of media accolades can exchange the sensation that comes with silverware. However excellence nonetheless deserves to be recognised, so right here is ESPN’s Staff of the Match for the 2023 Asian Cup:
ASIAN CUP 2023 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Goalkeeper: Meshaal Barsham, Qatar
When a nation wants a hero, Meshaal Barsham steps up!
Particularly when it issues probably the most 👊#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #QATvUZB pic.twitter.com/fsQhWMFxFQ
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 3, 2024
Heading into Saturday’s remaining, one may have made a case for Jo Hyeon-Woo to fill this slot, given his heroic performances for South Korea regardless of not even beginning the event as their first selection.
Nevertheless, after his look within the decider, highlighted by his spectacular save of an much more spectacular bicycle kick try from Yazan Al-Arab on the hour mark, it was unimaginable to go previous Barsham, who was formally named the event’s finest goalkeeper by the AFC following the ultimate.
Certainly, whereas it is troublesome to relaxation the limelight off Afif, Qatar’s securing of back-to-back Asian Cup titles additionally would not occur with out the 25-year-old custodian’s contributions: saving three penalties within the shootout win over Uzbekistan within the quarterfinals, placing in a heroic efficiency in opposition to Iran (together with that cease of Reza Asadi’s A hundred and fifth-minute effort), and his rearguard efforts within the remaining.
Honourable mentions: Jo Hyeon-Woo (South Korea), Mathew Ryan (Australia), Khalid Eisa (United Arab Emirates), Rustam Yatimov (Tajikistan)
Left-back: Seol Younger-Woo, South Korea
Considered one of Korea’s most constant performers of their run to the semis, Seol began on each the left and proper for the Taeguk Warriors, in each a again 4 and a again 5, whereas enjoying all however quarter-hour of the event.
The 25-year-old, reportedly a goal of Serbian giants Crvena Zvezda, was making gut-busting runs proper by means of the tip of the 120 minutes in opposition to Australia within the quarterfinals, simply 72 hours after helping Cho Gue-Sung’s dramatic 99th-minute equaliser in opposition to Saudi Arabia. Certainly, Seol would end the event ranked equal third in probabilities created from open play and second in anticipated assists from open play, per Opta.
Honourable point out: Aziz Behich (Australia), Mohammed Waad (Qatar), Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov (Uzbekistan)
Centre-back: Ali Lajami, Saudi Arabia
Maybe considerably misplaced amid the controversy surrounding Saudi Arabia’s early spherical of 16 exit and Roberto Mancini’s disappearing act throughout his aspect’s penalty shootout loss to South Korea was the truth that Lajami put collectively a really robust event for the Inexperienced Falcons.
His fast considering to flick a header onward for Ali Al-Bulayhi’s 96th-minute winner ensured his aspect began the event on the suitable foot in opposition to Oman. He would go on to be certainly one of his nation’s finest in opposition to each Kyrgyz Republic and South Korea(he was rested for the 0-0 draw with Thailand), making a number of essential interventions and ending with the third-most ball recoveries of anybody in his aspect.
Honourable point out: Shojae Khalilzadeh (Iran), Abdullah Nasib (Jordan)
Centre-back: Harry Souttar, Australia
🇦🇺 Harry Souttar. Prepared. Regular. Header!#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #AUSvIDN pic.twitter.com/mQvcFADL6u
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 28, 2024
Souttar anchored a Socceroos defence that conceded only one aim from open play till their quarterfinal exit by the hands of South Korea, and he wasn’t at fault for the penalty or free kick that Hwang Hee-Chan and Son Heung-Min drilled, respectively, to ship Australia house.
A fearsome presence within the air that compelled sides to regulate their plans of assault — South Korea crossed with 36.8% accuracy in opposition to Saudi Arabia within the spherical of 16, in contrast with 12.5% in opposition to Australia — and possessing deceptively fast scrambling and restoration capability, the 25-year-old nonetheless faces an unsure worldwide future after he couldn’t safe a transfer away from Leicester Metropolis, the place coach Enzo Maresca has frozen him out.
Honourable mentions: Lucas Mendes (Qatar), Kim Min-Jae (South Korea)
Proper-back: Abdul Rahman Weiss, Syria
The Qasioun Eagles reached the knockout levels of the Asian Cup for the primary time, and Weiss was a significant contributor to the defensive fortitude that helped get them there; his aspect conceding simply as soon as from open play and even that aim, Jackson Irvine’s winner for Australia within the group levels, carried a little bit of fortune about it.
Beginning and enjoying each minute of each sport all through Syria’s event, the 25-year-old led his workforce in tackles received and was an equal chief in probabilities created from open play, interceptions, and recoveries throughout their 4 video games. Regardless of the loss, he was near finest on of their spherical of 16 conflict with Iran, the place they had been eradicated on penalties.
Honourable mentions: Ramin Rezaeian (Iran), Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia), Musab Al-Battat (Palestine)
Midfielder: Saman Ghoddos, Iran
Brentford star Ghoddos anchored the Iranian midfield as they moved by means of the gears and the event earlier than enjoying a key position of their explosion to life in opposition to Japan; making use of the press on goalkeeper Zion Suzuki that led to his poor tried clearance and the speedy counter-attack that led to Staff Melli’s equaliser.
The 30-year-old’s work fee was a key cog within the play of coach Amir Ghalenoei’s outfit, main the workforce in ball recoveries and ending amongst its leaders in touches and probability creation — presently ranked third for giant probability creation amongst all groups on the event, per FotMob. Regardless of being 30 years outdated and Iran boss Amir Ghalenoei being known as to aggressively pursue a coverage of squad rejuvenation within the years forward by Iranian followers, Ghoddos nonetheless shapes as an necessary contributor within the coming World Cup cycle.
Honourable mentions: Wataru Endō (Japan), Ali Jasim (Iraq)
Left-winger: Ehson Panjshanbe, Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s run to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup supplied the event with its premier fairy story; coach Petar Šegrt supplied a lot of the pixie mud, however Panjshanbe — in addition to Parvizdzhon Umarboev and Alisher Shukurov — gave the Crowns with loads of on-field drive.
Taking part in out on the left in a aspect constructed on operating and workforce cohesion, Panjshanbe led the Tajik squad in take-ons; was second in photographs, probabilities created and anticipated assists from open play in addition to ball recoveries; third for anticipated targets; and fourth in tackles. Extra tangibly, he assisted Nuriddin Khamrokulov’s dramatic, 92nd-minute winner in opposition to Lebanon that despatched the Tajiks by means of to the knockouts of their debut event.
Honourable point out: Mehdi Taremi (Iran)
Proper-winger: Akram Afif, Qatar
Afif’s honours checklist is a mile lengthy: The event’s Golden Boot winner with eight targets. The event’s equal chief in assists with three. The primary participant to attain a hat trick in an Asian Cup remaining. The winner of two of the three penalties he transformed in that sport. The primary participant to report greater than 10 aim contributions in a number of iterations of the Asian Cup since Opta started monitoring the stat in 2007. Both scoring or helping 78.5% of the targets that Qatar scored on their option to the title and 67% of their targets throughout the 2019 and 2023 iterations mixed. Recognised by the AFC because the participant of the event.
Any workforce of the event that does not function Afif in it may be discounted as a result of there isn’t a participant extra deserving of this recognition than the attacking dynamo.
Nonetheless simply 27, the star seems settled at Al Sadd, the place he scores for enjoyable within the dominant Qatar Stars League outfit. And honest sufficient if he desires to remain there, he would not owe us something. Nonetheless, there’s additionally going to exist that craving to find simply what he may do in one other prolonged go at issues after beforehand testing the waters in Spain and Belgium. The expertise, clearly, exists to make a go of issues and teases like he gave post-final are solely going to intensify that want to see him take a look at himself in opposition to one of the best of one of the best.
Honourable mentions: Takefusa Kubo (Japan), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Iran)
Attacking midfielder: Lee Kang-In, South Korea
𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜-𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗦 🔑 𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
🇰🇷 Lee Kang-in#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #JORvKOR pic.twitter.com/BTflm1XSBG
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 5, 2024
South Korea started the event with a really shaky group stage, however Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee produced a string of robust performances to maintain Klinsmann’s aspect on observe.
Grabbing a brace within the opening win over Bahrain and a aim and help of their 3-3 draw with Malaysia, Lee led the competitors, per Opta, in probabilities created and anticipated assists from open play, in addition to take-ons previous to the ultimate. It was he who produced his nation’s final actual menace on Jordan’s aim within the semifinal — getting in behind the defence solely to be prevented from taking pictures by a powerful last-ditch problem by Mohammad Abu Hasheesh.
The 22-year-old can be stage with Son for many photographs on the right track, with the Tottenham Hotspur celebrity additionally making a key impression — none extra so than within the spherical of 16 and quarterfinals along with his match-winning refusal to let his aspect lose to Saudi Arabia and Australia. Nevertheless, given the performances of others throughout the previous month, the Korean assault cannot justify a number of positions in a workforce of the event — so Lee, simply, will get the nod.
Honourable mentions: Son Heung-Min (South Korea), Yazan Al-Naimat (Jordan), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Uzbekistan)
Attacking midfielder: Musa Al-Tamari, Jordan
🤯 Mousa Al-Tamari 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 be stopped!#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #JORvKOR pic.twitter.com/cYCoKx92Tb
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 6, 2024
Within the wake of his nation’s qualification for its maiden Asian Cup remaining, after outplaying South Korea of their first continental semifinal, Al-Tamari was requested by Jordanian media if he was the best participant within the historical past of The Chivalrous Ones.
The 26-year-old shortly shifted consideration onto his teammates and coach Hussein Ammouta however, actually, after his performances all through the event, and particularly in that win over the Taeguk Warriors, it is troublesome to argue that the Montpellier attacker hasn’t already put ahead an irresistible case to imagine that mantle.
Seizing upon a sloppy move backward by SOuth Korea, Al-Tamari performed an ideal move between two defenders to spring Al-Naimat for the opening aim of that contest earlier than happening a barnstorming run from the midway line and driving an effort into the underside nook to present his nation an unassailable lead.
Constructive in possession and keen to again himself in opposition to defenders, Al-Taamari could not discover a option to spur his aspect into one remaining upset within the remaining in opposition to Qatar — stepping into their penalty space ten instances however unable to seek out the online — however he can nonetheless hold his hat on a event wherein he was amongst the competitions leaders in take-ons and wherein he proved significantly adept to carrying the ball and taking pictures.
Amid the semifinal celebrations, Jordanian media pressed Al-Tamari on whether or not golf equipment resembling Arsenal, Manchester United, or Actual Madrid would possibly come for him, with the attacker laughing and shortly including his appreciation for Montpellier as a substitute. However, based mostly on his performances in Doha, curiosity throughout the continent has certainly been piqued — one thing he hopes is replicated for different members of his squad.
Honourable point out: Ali Olwan (Jordan)
Striker: Ayman Hussein, Iraq
Hussein nearly missed out on this workforce after getting himself controversially despatched off in opposition to Jordan, setting the scene for his or her unlikely comeback and his nation’s untimely elimination from the event. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old was so dominant to that time that he nonetheless deserves recognition for his placing efforts.
With six targets to his identify, the Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya frontman led the Asian Cup’s Golden Boot race heading into the ultimate, a feat made all of the extra spectacular by the truth that he began solely two of Iraq’s 4 video games, coming off the bench within the different two and logging greater than 45 minutes solely as soon as — netting a ridiculous 2.74 targets per 90 minutes.
Honourable mentions: Oday Dabbagh (Palestine), Sardar Azmoun (Iran), Ayase Ueda (Japan)
Head coach: Hussein Ammouta, Jordan
Jordan entered the Asian Cup ranked No. 87 on the earth. They’ve by no means certified for a World Cup and their earlier finest at an Asian Cup had been two quarterfinal exits in 2004 and 2011. They had been defeated 6-1 by Japan in a pre-tournament warm-up fixture, misplaced to Saudi Arabia in November World Cup qualifiers, and had been held to a 1-1 attract Tajikistan in the identical window.
After advancing into the knockouts as the most effective third-placed finishers, their report goal-scorer Hamza Al-Dardour was despatched house after their dramatic spherical of 16 win over Iraq following a really public argument on the sidelines along with his coach. And but, Ammouta one way or the other guided The Chivalrous Ones to inside a whisker of an inconceivable Asian Cup crown, having set his aspect as much as perfection as they despatched a golden era of Taeguk Warriors packing.
“Fairly frankly it was the tactical self-discipline instilled in us by the coach earlier than the match,” Al-Taamari stated of the well-known win. “He gave us the boldness to enter the match in opposition to a really massive opponent. In fact, we gave the South Korean workforce the respect they deserve and we began pressuring them from the primary second to stop them from attacking us. In these matches, the spirit and endurance are crucial issues.”
The ultimate could not have gone the way in which he needed, however Ammouta can maintain his head excessive.
Honourable mentions: Tintín Márquez (Qatar), Amir Ghalenoei (Iran), Petar Šegrt (Tajikistan)
