DOHA, Qatar — An Asian Cup that began with stars from across Europe’s top leagues has delivered an unexpected final.
On Saturday, at the spectacular Lusail Stadium, host and defending champion Qatar will play Jordan, with neither team featuring players of wide renown.
Premier League players like Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Wataru Endo (Liverpool) have departed. Likewise Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in and Roma’s on-loan forward Sardar Azmoun.
It’s the same story with notable coaches Roberto Mancini (Saudi Arabia) and South Korea’s Jurgen Klinsmann in a tournament that has cut big names down to size.
“The tournament shows football is evolving and developing,” Qatar coach Marquez Lopez said. “Every day there are more demands on Asian football. The upcoming generation can play beautiful football.”
Four-time champion Japan was the pre-tournament favorite, with South Korea and Australia also tipped as potential winners.
Despite being the defending champion, Qatar was not among the top picks to triumph in its own country.
Jordan’s head coach Lhoussanine Ammouta, left, and Qatar’s head coach Bartolome Marquez shake hands in front of the Asian Cup trophy ahead of a press conference in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Jordan will play Qatar on Saturday for the soccer final of the Asian Cup. Credit: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
Perhaps that was because of memories of the World Cup when it was eliminated from its own tournament after three-straight defeats in the group stage.
Just over a year on and it feels like a very different team.
“A month before the tournament no one expected us to reach the final. No one thought we would be delivering this performance,” Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos said. “Being here. Sitting here, talking here. This is my response. I’m playing in the final.”
While the quality of the Asian Cup cannot rival the World Cup, the improvement in Qatar is still unexpected. Marquez’s team has outperformed Japan, South Korea and Australia,…
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