12/09/2023【Feature】Kenneth Kwok - AMF pretournament preview
Kenneth Kwok is former head coach of HKU23 and led them to play 2018 AMF.
South Korea's Quest for Gold
In this year's Asian Games men's competition, I have high hopes that South Korea, the defending champions from the previous edition, will successfully retain their title. Since the last edition, they have shown their commitment to winning the Asian Games gold medal, led by Son Heung-min.
In this edition, South Korea's lineup continues to be led by players who are playing in Europe, including the defender Park Kyu-hyun from Dynamo Dresden and the forward Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain. The latter will take on the role previously held by Son Heung-min, becoming the key player of the team's attack. In addition, the forward Jeong Woo-yeong from Stuttgart and the midfielder Paik Seung-ho, who came through Barcelona's youth academy, are also worth keeping an eye on. Furthermore, it is reported that if they can successfully win the gold medal, the players will be exempted from mandatory military service, which I believe serves as a significant incentive for the players. Given these various factors and the fact that the tournament is being held in the East Asian region, I believe South Korea will successfully defend the championship.
In the Asian Games men's football group stage, there are a total of 6 groups, with the top team from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16.
Group A consists of China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India. I believe China, benefiting from home advantage, should easily advance as the top position. While Bangladesh had a remarkable performance in the last edition, defeating Qatar, they haven't been as active in international competitions in recent years. On the other hand, India has shown progress in their youth development, with their youth teams performing better than Bangladesh and Myanmar. Therefore, I see India having a chance to make it to the round of 16. Group B includes Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Iran, and Mongolia. In this group, I favor Saudi Arabia to finish first, with a close battle between Vietnam and Iran for the second spot. Vietnam's youth team has been on the rise in recent years, even reaching the quarter-finals in the last Asian Cup. Given that the tournament is being held in East Asia this time, Vietnam may have an advantage in terms of climate, which makes me believe they can edge out Iran and Mongolia for second place.
Group C features Uzbekistan, Syria, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has had a strong record in recent Asian Games, and I believe they will easily secure the top spot in this group. For the second spot, I see Syria as a strong contender. Their players possess a robust physical presence and a tough playing style, which I think gives them the ability to finish in second place. Group D includes Japan, Palestine, and Qatar. Japan, the clear favorite for gold, is expected to finish first in the group. While Palestine has a stronger attacking capability and some players playing in Europe, compared to Qatar, which has a more advanced youth development system, it's clear that Palestine lacks the experience. Therefore, I believe Qatar is more likely to secure the second spot.
Group E consists of South Korea, Bahrain, Thailand, and Kuwait. South Korea is the top pick for the championship, and their first-place finish in the group should be straightforward. For the second spot, I lean towards Thailand. They performed well in the recent AFF U-23 Championship and have been naturalizing players, significantly strengthening their squad. I believe they have the potential to surprise in this edition. Group F includes North Korea, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Chinese Taipei. North Korea likely has an advantage in adapting to the weather and environment compared to other opponents, making them capable of securing the top spot. However, I consider Indonesia as the team to watch in this edition. Since the appointment of former South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, the team's performance has been steadily rising. They notably won gold by defeating Vietnam and Thailand at this year's Southeast Asian Games. Although there are reports suggesting that Indonesia may have the opportunity to field a younger team, and coach Shin Tae-yong may not accompany the team, I still anticipate that Indonesia can advance to the knockout stage successfully.
