Eldor Shomurodov out for essentially the whole tournament 

I swear, bubble wrap time for our players. Leicester plays Souttar and you know what happens next! 

Is anyone thinking of silvers as a striker? 

I've always liked the idea of someone pacey in the middle who can get in behind. I think Silvera or Boyle would be better in the middle than Leckie has ever been. 

As a lone striker, Boyle has been tried there b4  by the Hibs and didn't work as he went missing in the game. He is too small & can't hold the ball and need space to run. He is most effective on the wing.  Good example of that if you put Mo Salah as a lone striker just wont work also.

He can always vere to the centre but be a winger. His body use against England to set up Strain was good. It's all about space as you said. 

Upfront is already a stacked position, if Arnie goes with a solo striker. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_AFC_Asian_Cup_squads

Squads rolling in. 

I thought Mitoma was injured? Honestly glad to see him selected but man what a squad Japan has. Unreal!

"I don't know if (Mitoma) will be ready for the first match, but he is recovering well and I expect him to be available at an early stage," Moriyasu told reporters.

Japan have also gone next gen with keepers. Kamada isn't in squad but I'm not sure why. Very competitive though. 

Still, the mystery remains. Beat big teams but then have the off day and lose Costa Rica. I'll have to have another look at the possible paths. 

https://ultra.zone/AFC-Asian-Cup-2023-Group-Stage

Semi with Japan really beckons. 2nd place could see a clash with Oman then probably Qatar. I think Malaysia has a sneaky chance in their group. Kyrgyzstan seem alright too.

Played around with finishing 3rd it could mean Iran. I don't think I've got the strength for that. 

What kills me is we seem to have massive drive against bigger opponents. In saying that the majority are friendlies so of course we play the more risky ball which has been quite rewarding. Cautious play in tournaments was alright in 2023. 2019 was a shocking slow possession based game and I think we've moved past that with Arnold now. The Palestine game didn't feel that way however. 

Thanks for that website.

My thoughts if we top our group.
R16: Kyrgzstan
QF: Qatar
Semi: Iran
Final: toss up between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

And they left out Celtic's Kyogo, who scores belters like this against Rangers

kyogo

Shomurodov has been listed despite an injury. Uzbekistan will be aiming to go as far as possible. With the way their youth teams have been, semis or even final is surely a target. They'll be determined. 

He is renowned for never being picked for Japan, even though he deserves to be there. 

He has made 21 appearances for Japan. 5 of those appearances were in 2023.

Given recent games since the WC, Ecuador X2, Argentina, Mexico, England, apart from Palestine, I think Aus has improved as a team unit from the team that played in the late phase of the Qatar WCQs.

However, Japan is clearly the top national team in Asia. They finished two places above us in Qatar, placing 9th.

South Korea also reached the last 16 of Qatar 2022.

Saudi Arabia was clearly too good for us in the WCQs. They beat Argentina in Qatar, but faded after that game.

I wonder if China will finally produce what they should be capable of doing in the Asian Cup?

We've improved with Arnold, but Asia appears to be one of the fast improving football federations relative to others. In Qatar WC, Asia had the second highest number of teams and equal highest percentage of teams who qualified in the last 16 knock out phase.

The depth is increasing all the time in Asia.

None of that matters. All you needed to say is how good Japan is POST FWC22. they are easily a top 10 team in the world at full strength, coaching and system is miles ahead of ours. Have heaps of players starring in Europe and in amazing form. Take Kubo for example, he'll tear us to pieces. 

Should've been picked for the World Cup last year. Should have way more appearances in the past few years, especially considering how inform he always is for Celtic. He'd be Australia's golden child lmao.

I remember Hosogai often being overlooked despite 30 total caps. I felt his rough type perhaps didn't fit the playing group or coach's system.

I doubt it's the case for Kyogo but it's a very interesting point why decent players miss out particularly when some newer domestic names are in. Spoiled for choice I guess.

England's selections are still dubious but at least they get Watkins is top now. 

Japan are excellent but every time we clash they pay is a lot of respect and you might say too much. They certainly let a lot of chances go begging. We do too which is very frustrating. 

I'm always dreading just shaking my head that we'll be absolutely nowhere but Japan don't covert and we seem to get stuck in. Results wise we don't prevail but I feel we land a few blows. 

I still think it wasn't a foul from the corner in the last home game. Long bow I know but if Metcalfe's  deflection and Duke's header goin or the Hrustic curler it may have been different as it also would've been with all the early Japan chances. I think we controlled 45-80 or so until Japan struck late. Water under a bridge. 

Hong Kong beat China 2:1 today. I'm sure China were somewhat experimental. I'm interested how Oman and Bahrain will fare. I think we'll see some shocks and some of the best football from the mid to lower confederation yet!

Kyogo got picked b4 for Japan both friendly and world qualified everytime he played for Japan he wasn't good at all.

Prediction time

Champion: Japan
Australia result: Semis absolute minimum and see from there 
Top scorer: Kubo
Top Australian scorer: Boyle 
Australian top performer: Boyle 
Australian best tournament newcomer: Metcalfe
Australian you particularly want to do well: Iredale 
Underwhelming team: Saudi Arabia 
Surprise packet: Malaysia or Kyrgyzstan to advance. 

Champion: Japan
2nd Place: Iran
Australia result: 3rd
Top scorer: Son
Top Australian scorer: Duke
Australian top performer: Souttar
Australian best tournament newcomer: Metcalfe
Australian you particularly want to do well: Mcgree
Underwhelming team: China and UAE
Surprise packet: Oman, Vietnam and Malaysia to advance

I second these predictions

Can't not pick Japan as favs.
The amount of players at high level is unmatched by any other Asian NT's but you got to run the course over couple of weeks.
SK another strong squad.
Both of their Qatar runs were strong And there is something about the unity/mentality these guys combine when in a NT shirt.
I just finished last night viewing Captains of the World on Netflix, its a coverage of key games leading to the Qatar finale.
Just seeing and listenning to the Japanese segments was spine tingling of their attitude and drive (I always admire their DNA), amazing and I'm never surprised mind you.

Surprised Johnszasz you pick Saudis being underwhelming, off the Qatar big Argie win I consider them to be quite good for this cup though we shall see.

Champion: Patriotically Roos but yer got to accept your limitations - Japan.
Australia result: after Grp stage I'll asses.
Top scorer: I like Son.
Top Australian scorer: Any of them :) maybe Duke.
Australian top performer: Goodwin or Souttar
Australian best tournament newcomer: Yengi ?
Australian you particularly want to do well: Bos
Underwhelming team: don't care
Surprise packet: it will be a surprise

 Japan are the bench mark for Asia. I suppose them finishing 11th in Qatar, is pushing them towards a top 10 global ranking position? I greatly admire everything about Japanese football, as they've improved tactically. 

 Denmark were ranked 10 in FIFA when we played them in Qatar. Playing outside Europe, in Asia, South A or Africa, North A, I'd predict Japan would usually beat Denmark.

In national coach education courses from Football Aus, Japan have been considered behind us tactically  for some time, but the fear has been they will rip us to shreds when they catch up tactically, because they are so much better technically.

Then again I'm just watching replays where we did rather well against England and Argentina,  slightly lower ranked Mexico (10th globally) and Ecuador. They are all quality sides who played in the WC recently.

There have been criticism of Arnold and the Socceroos playing counter attacking football to be effective against the better teams. I'd call them accelerated attacks.

Against England the Poms  controlled  the game  and the tempo  against us at Wembley, albeit goalscoring chances were roughly equal. It was a close game though. 

Against Argentina in China we had control of the game for decent periods of the match, despite losing. We  played a defensive midfield trio of O'Neill and Baccus.

Then again watching the replay against Palestine, the Socceroos were simply shocking. It was an abysmal performance.