AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023/ Graham Arnold Hopeful to Lead Australia to Win the Title

Doha, January 08 (QNA) - Australia national team coach Graham Arnold confirmed that the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, scheduled from Jan.12 to Feb.10, 2024, will be highly competitive, but he is looking forward to winning the title. He told journalists upon his arrival in Doha today in preparation for the tournament that they are happy to return to Qatar again and look forward to performing well during the continental tournament. The Australian team finished runner-up in the 2011 edition in Qatar, where they lost the final match to the Japanese team 1-0. They are looking forward to reaching the final again in Qatar, but hope to win the 2023 edition. The Australian national team also performed well in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and lost to the Argentine national team, winner of the title. Coach Graham Arnold said he was satisfied with the preparations made by the Australian team for the tournament. He clarified that they have completed their preparations well during the past period and recently had a friendly match they won against Bahrain. He was also optimistic to achieve victory in their first match at the Asian Cup, stressing the importance of the first opening encounter. Australia play in Group B alongside Uzbekistan, Syria and India. The Australian team begin their journey by facing India on January 13, then meet the Syrian national team on January 18, and conclude the group stage by facing Uzbekistan on January 23, 2024. Arnold expressed his hope to win the continental title making it the second in Australia's history. He indicated that everyone are in their best technical and physical shape for the start of the competitions, and look forward to giving everything they have in order to win the title, stressing at the same time that the competition will be strong, but he prepared well the Australian team to compete in the tournament and win the title. Australia is participating in the continental finals for the fourth time. Its first appearance was in the 2007 Asian Cup, which was held in four countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Then the participation continued until the current edition in Doha. During its past three participations, Australia succeeded in being present in the knockout rounds. Its best achievement was first place in the 2015 edition, which was held on its home soil. (QNA)