Asian Cup draw: Australia face Syria, Uzbekistan and India in tough Group B

While the return to Qatar may not bring first round games quite as tough as France, Denmark and Tunisia, Australia have been handed one of the tougher 2023 Asian Cup draws in Group B. Uzbekistan and Syria are the teams from pots two and three that many wanted to avoid while India are the highest ranked of the basement boys. As even third place may go through to the second round, the 2015 champions should have few problems in progressing but if they want to finish above all three geographically diverse opponents and enjoy an easier route forward, then it will be best to rediscover that Qatar magic that saw wins against the Danes and the Tunisians.

The opening fixture on 13 January brings back memories of another trip to Qatar. Australia kicked off the 2011 Asian Cup against India. Then Holger Osieck’s men ran out 4-0 winners. Graham Arnold will probably spend some of the build-up to the game telling all that this will be a more difficult clash. It should be but it gives the perfect opportunity for a perfect start. If this was in Mumbai or Kolkata then it really would be a mouth-watering appetiser. In recent years the south Asians have been a force to be reckoned with on home soil thanks to victories over Kyrgyzstan, a pot 3 team, as well as Hong Kong. Some would like Croatian coach Igor Stimac to be a little more adventurous but it’s unlikely in such a tough group. They started the 2019 Asian Cup with a stunning 4-1 win over Thailand but few would predict a similar shock this time around especially with veteran striker Sunil Chhetri four years older and the squad made up of domestic-based players.

There is a split in opinion in the subcontinent. Some fans are depressed about the standard of the opposition and expect three