GROUP A

Australia (FIFA Ranking 100) 

Best Finish: 2011 – runner-up

Coach: Ange Postecoglou

After establishing himself as a legendary player/coach for South Melbourne in the NSL and national youth team roles, Postecoglou went on to coach in his native Greece. On return he brought beautiful football to Brisbane Roar, winning two championships and then being poached by Melbourne Victory. He beat Tony Popovic and Graham Arnold to the vacant Socceroos job in 2013, selling the pitch of technical and attack-at-all-costs football.

• See every game: Asian Cup TV guide

Star Player: Tim Cahill

Tim’s forehead has brought Australia more joy than the Pilbara’s iron ore and Coober Pedy’s Opal mines combined. At 35 it is bittersweet that he is still so prolific as it highlights how no one has stepped up to replace him. In an ideal world we would not rely on him so much, but the world is cruel, so we still live by the whim of Tim.

Best-case scenario:

Mile Jedinak, all brawn and beard, lifting our first piece of men’s silverware since the 1967 Friendly Nations Tournament in Vietnam during the war.

Worst-case scenario:

Surely we all want Ange and the team to do well but if they failed to advance from the group stage it would be the biggest disaster since that fateful night in 1997 against Iran at the MCG.

South Korea (FIFA Ranking 69)  

Best Finish: 1956, 1960 – champions

Coach: Uli Stielike

The German coach made over 200 appearances for Real Madrid in the 70s and 80s and his moustache offers a glorious reminder of those days. But don’t be fooled, Stielike was instrumental as manager of the glorious German youth sides of 2000-06 and many of his prodigies held the 2014 World Cup aloft. He is also vastly experienced managing teams in Asia so be wary of what he brings to this South Korean side.

Star Player: Ki Sung-yueng

We love claiming a star in Australia and we have been quick to do so with Ki. The Swansea City midfielder spent four years in soccer school in Brisbane as a teenager under the tuition of Wales, Fulham and Reading player Jeff Hopkins. Ki has the envied ability to control a game’s tempo and needs to be shut down. He is also married to a star South Korean actress and sources tell us they are the ‘Posh and Becks’ of the Korean peninsula.

Ki Sung Yueng in action for Swansea City. Photo: Getty

Best-case scenario:

Ki and Uli walking with Asian Cup trophy in hand into a delirious Seoul airport welcome.

Worst-case scenario:

If they were to face peninsula pals North Korea in the quarter-finals and lose it would be dire.

Kuwait (FIFA Ranking 124)

Best finish: 1980 – champions

Coach: Nabil Maaloul

Maaloul pulled his team from a pre-tournament practice match on the Gold Coast earlier this week after the UAE refused to let him film the game from a ‘personal recording device’. The Tunisian “refused to hold the match asserting that it is not possible to take such behaviour, which deviates from sportsmanship”. Hopefully he knows Friday’s opener with the Socceroos will definitely be recorded for his convenience.

Star Player: Badar Al-Mutawa

The attacker has been a local hero for Kuwait club Qadsia since 2002, scoring 187 goals in 162 appearances. When a Kuwait-based family took over Nottingham Forest in 2012, Al-Mutawa got a trial, but trouble with work permits stopped the move.

Best-case scenario:

Maaloul can sit back and watch recordings of his team’s games showing an 11 who make it difficult for their more fancied group opponents.

Worst-case scenario:

A repeat of their 2011 Asian Cup results which were losses to Qatar, Uzbekistan and China, 3-0, 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.

Oman (FIFA Ranking 93)

Best finish: not passed group stage in two attempts

Coach: Paul Le Guen

With three Ligue 1 titles in charge of Lyon in native France, Le Guen is one of the most successful managers at the tournament. After stints at Rangers and PSG, Le Guen took Cameroon to the 2010 World Cup. When they were the first team knocked out of the tournament he swiftly resigned and was appointed as Oman boss in 2011.

Star player: Ali Al-Habsi

The captain and Wigan Athletic goalkeeper with vast Premier League experience is known for his penalty-stopping prowess. He has thwarted the likes of Robin Van Persie, Carlos Tevez and Javier Hernandez from the spot. Al-Habsi was a fireman before he went professional and is also the co-founder of a non-profit road safety organisation in Oman.

Best-case scenario:

A win against Kuwait, a draw with either Australia or South Korea and, depending on goal difference and other results, they could sneak through to the knockout stages.

Worst-case scenario:

Failing to test South Korea or Australia would be a disappointment for Oman.

GROUP B

Uzbekistan (FIFA Ranking 74)

Best finish: 2011 – fourth place

Coach: Mirjalol Qosimov

Qosimov has spent his whole career playing and coaching in the Central Asian country. As an attacking midfielder he won 60 caps for the national team and has a squad that is headlined by some mercurially talented players, and equally good mullets.

Star player: Server Djeparov

Djeparov was the Asian Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, and when he accepted the latter gong, sported one of the all-time great mullets. Obviously he is more than business at the front, party at the back; he is the mercurial, quick and gifted attacking midfielder that the Socceroos lack. Definitely a player to sit back and enjoy watching.

Server Djeparov is brilliant to watch. Photo: Getty

Best-case scenario:

Djeparov sports the mullet, instead of his recent Mohawk. Seriously, they have a tough group but on form should get through on top to the knockout stages.

Worst-case scenario:

A 6-0 loss, like that they suffered in the 2011 semi-final against the Socceroos.

Saudi Arabia (FIFA Ranking 102)

Best finish: 1984, 1988, 1996 – champions

Coach: Cosmin Olaroiu

The well-travelled Romanian has coached throughout Europe and Asia and shares the national team job with his role as head coach of Emirati giants Al Ahli. He has league titles in Korea, Romania, Qatar and the UAE but his biggest challenge will be to restore pride to the Saudi national team who have languished this decade amid unrest and poor performances.

Star player: Nasser Al-Shamrani

Let’s start with the bad; he is the man who spat at Matthew Spiranovic after Al-Hilal lost the ACL Final to Western Sydney in November. In between the saliva disposal and being banned for eight games because of it, Al-Shamrani was named Asian player of the year. The Luis Suarez of Asia?

Best-case scenario:

An appearance in the semi-final, sans spitting upon losing, would be a success for the Saudi’s but given the esteem they hold themselves in on the Asian football continent, they’ll be hoping for silverware.

Worst-case scenario:

A repeat of the 2011 Asian Cup disaster, losing to Japan, Jordan and Syria, 5-0, 1-0 and 2-1.

North Korea (FIFA Ranking 150)

Best finish: 1980 – fourth place

Coach: Jo Tong-sop

Jo Tong-sop is standing in for North Korea’s regular coach Yun Jong Su who has been banned from all stadiums for 12 months after he blew up when his side lost to rivals South Korea in the October Asian Games Final.

Star player: Jong Tae-Se

The Asian continent is partial to a player comparison but surely none have been anointed better than Jong Tae-Se, or “The People’s Rooney”. Born in Japan he currently plays for Suwon Bluewings in the J-League but has spent time in Germany. Jong rose to fame at the 2010 World Cup when he was shown crying through his national anthem.

Best-case scenario:

If South Korea top Group A and North Korea somehow finish second in Group B the eyes of the world will be on the teams’ quarter-final clash in Melbourne. Surely we could get the ‘Dear Leader’ through customs for that one?

Worst-case scenario:

If that game happened, with the ‘Dear Leader’ in town, and the North lost … well, that could be bad.

China (FIFA Ranking 97)

Best finish: 1984, 2004 – runners-up

Coach: Alain Perrin

Perrin has coached in the UK, France and Asia and was once an assistant to Arsene Wenger at Nancy in 1983. He took over China at a difficult time and said his first task was to restore morale with the players. The former PE teacher has never played football professionally.

Star player: Zheng Zhi

Zhi was Alan Pardew’s first official signing at Charlton Athletic in the Premier League, also going onto play for Celtic in the Scottish top flight. Now with Guangzhou Evergrande, he has won the AFC Champions League once and the Chinese Super League title four times.

Best-case scenario:

According to coach Perrin their aim is to qualify for the knockout stages behind Uzbekistan from their group. With a young squad this is a fairly accurate prediction.

Worst-case scenario:

Probably losing to their ‘little brothers’ North Korea which would make it hard for them to advance from the group.

GROUP C

Iran (FIFA Ranking 51)

Best finish: 1968, 1972, 1976 – champions

Coach: Carlos Queiroz

The former Manchester United assistant and Portugal boss, Queiroz was once described by Sir Alex Ferguson as “brilliant, just brilliant” and an “intelligent, meticulous man”. Queiroz declared mid-2014 World Cup that he would leave his coaching role due to a lack of government financial support. Lucky for the Iranians he agreed to stay, and they had some good showings in Brazil, including an agonising 1-0 loss to eventual runners-up Argentina.

Ansarifard in action in Asian Cup Qualifying. Photo: Getty

Star player: Karim Ansarifard

He is one of the two Iranians doing their thing in Spain for Osasuna and in 2012 was touted by FIFA as one of the young players to watch around the world. He is a complete centre forward who is adept in the air and on the ground, and can also play as a right-winger.

Best-case scenario:

Given their talent and World Cup showing, Queiroz and his side should be aiming for nothing less than winning the 2015 Asian Cup.

Worst-case scenario:

A possible semi-final loss to the Socceroos, which would allow us to somewhat atone for the pain of that MCG loss in 1997.

United Arab Emirates (FIFA Ranking 81)

Best finish: 1996 – runners-up

Coach: Mahdi Ali

Ali had a 15-year playing career in the UAE for Dubai club Al Ahli and has coached the national side since 2012. He also has coached the national youth sides extensively and has brought through much of the talent now filling the team at senior level.

Star player: Omar Abdulrahman

Another scarily talented playmaker who quietly goes about his business in Asia for UAE club Al Ain. The technically gifted midfielder was spotted by a scout playing in a yard in his local neighbourhood, which led to a trial at Al-Hilal.

Best-case scenario:

This team have the fortune of having been together since 2010 and the UAE Football Association have made no secret of their desire to reach the semi-final of this tournament at least.

Worst-case scenario:

Given the weaker teams they’re drawn with (Qatar and Bahrain), it would be disastrous if the UAE did not make it out of their group.

Qatar (FIFA Ranking 95)

Best finish: 2011 – quarter-finals

Coach: Djamel Belmadi

His second match in charge was Qatar’s first ever win against the Socceroos in October 2014. Belmadi spent a brief period at Manchester City, where he was the victim of bank account theft by bank employees. We wouldn’t have thought there’d be any money issues as head coach of Qatar though.

Star player: Bilal Mohammed

He is the most experienced player in the squad and is the most solid defensive point in a team that can sometimes leak goals easily. Mohammed is of Sudanese decent and is a constant threat from set pieces.

Best-case scenario:

If they steal a win against the UAE and get over the top of Bahrain, Qatar could get through the group stages – at best.

Worst-case scenario:

Being embarrassed would not help the country in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, given the controversy around their bid.

Bahrain (FIFA Ranking 122)

Best finish: 2004 – runner-up

Coach: Marjan Eid

Eid came into the coaching role after being an assistant to Adnan Hamad, who was sacked after Bahrain’s dismal 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations. Despite that ‘The Red’ boast a decent defensive record by conceding only one goal in six qualifying games – something Eid will look to keep going during the tournament itself.

Star player: Ismail Abdul-Latif

Abdul-Latif is the national side’s chief goal scorer having struck 34 times in 65 caps. The sometimes-combustible target man sent Bahraini’s into delirium with his injury-time winner that got them into a World Cup play-off with New Zealand in 2009.

Best-case scenario:

If they can steal a point from tournament heavyweights Iran in their opening game the stage will be set for Eid’s men to possibly get out their group.

Worst-case scenario:

A repeat of their 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations showing where they failed to win a game and finished bottom of the group.

GROUP D

Japan (FIFA Ranking 54)

Best finish: 1992, 2000, 2004, 2011 – champions

Coach: Javier Aguirre

There is a bit going on for Javier Aguirre before his first tournament in charge of the ‘Blue Samurai’. The Mexican coach is among 41 people named in an investigation into match fixing in Spain while he was coach of Real Zaragoza. The well-travelled manager has denied involvement.

Star player: Shinji Kagawa

So good are this side that there are literally five players vying to be named as THE star – but given his age and influence on Borussia Dortmund’s back-to-back Bundesliga titles, Shinji Kagawa is the man to watch. He can play as the link between midfield and attack both centrally and out wide but it is his speed of ball movement when passing and dribbling that is particularly spectacular.

Japan’s star, Shinji Kagawa. Photo: Getty

Best-case scenario:

They’re the glamour side of the tournament so a tournament win – which would be their fifth in the last seven – is the only pass mark.

Worst-case scenario:

Not making the final would be a major disappointment for Japan, especially after their underwhelming showing in Brazil that they were supposedly primed for.

Jordan (FIFA Ranking 81)

Best finish: 2004, 2011 – quarter-finals

Coach: Ray Wilkins

London-born Wilkins was a midfield stalwart in the 70s and 80s for Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and Rangers, also gaining 83 caps for England. He moved to coaching in the mid-90s with QPR and Fulham and spend almost 15 years as an assistant and caretaker with Chelsea. Of his time at Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian wrote, “without him we wouldn’t have won a thing”. He became the head coach of Jordan in September 2014.

Star player: Abdullah Deeb

Deeb is another striker who looms as the key man in the chances of the Asian Cup minnows. He has scored 20 times for Jordan, including a winner against the Socceroos back in 2012.

Best-case scenario:

Maybe plucking a win against Iraq and managing to draw with Japan. Would be very surprising if they did however.

Worst-case scenario:

Losing to rivals Palestine.

Iraq (FIFA Ranking 103)

Best finish: 2007 – champions

Coach: Radhi Shenaishil

The coach has made the controversial move of bringing back legendary striker Younis Mahmoud for the tournament, even though he is without a club. He has also heavily stacked his squad with players from Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Shorta, preferring a younger side in the wake of the 2007 Golden Generation’s demise.

Start player: Ali Adnan

The extremely attacking wingback was the 2013 Asian Young Footballer of the Year. He is the youngest of three squad members who play their club football in Europe as he secured a move to Turkey’s top-flight on the back of the 2013 AFC award. He is the nephew of Iraqi striker Ali Kadhim, who is regarded as one of the greatest ever footballers to play for the ‘Lions of Mesopotamia’.

Best-case scenario: 

Repeat the amazing scenes of 2007 when they ran away with the tournament while their country was in the middle of political turmoil.

Worst-case scenario:

Younis Mahmoud has a poor tournament and tarnishes his wonderful reputation at these tournaments to date.

Palestine (FIFA Ranking 113)

Best finish: first AFC Asian Cup 

Coach: Ahmed El-Hassan

The coach told The Guardian: “Through this team we hope to achieve a political goal, that we are worthy of a state and that we have built our institutions, despite the occupation, the separation between Gaza and the West Bank and the war against us … We are capable of making miracles.”

Star player: Ashraf Nu’man

The Palestinian side gained entry to the Asian Cup by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in 2014 where the striker Nu’man scored four goals. The Bethlehem-born striker plays in Saudi Arabia and has scored 14 times for the national team.

Best-case scenario:

Beating their rivals Jordan in the group game and possibly stealing a point from Iraq.

Worst-case scenario:

Receiving a drubbing from Japan in their first match in Newcastle.

Our predictions

WINNER – Japan

RUNNER-UP – South Korea

THIRD – Australia

FOURTH – Iran

BOLTERS – United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Iraq