Six players to watch out in Asian Cup final today

QATAR
Akram Afif
Afif has been in exceptional form, scoring five goals and providing three assists. His pace, skill and vision have created havoc for opposing defences throughout the tournament. The 27-year-old played a paramount role in helping his team lift the trophy five years ago, registering a record 10 assists, and will surely be fired up for another standout performance.

Hasan al-Haydos
Al-Haydos has played the skipper’s role to perfection with his technical prowess, exceptional vision and strong leadership qualities.
The 33-year-old can score too, as stunningly seen
in the group stage match against China, with further goals against Palestine and Uzbekistan. Qatar will be counting on their veteran talisman to lead them to victory again.

Almoez Ali
Unlike 2019, Ali has not been firing in the goals at Qatar 2023 but there is no disputing the vital role he plays in the squad.
The forward’s workrate is second to none, as he is equally adept in leading attacks and falling back to defend. More importantly, he scores when he has too - as seen in the semi-final win over Iran.

JORDAN
Mousa al-Tamari
The only player in the Jordanian squad who plys his trade in Europe - with Montpellier SC in France - Mousa al-Tamari’s performances in Qatar 2023 have shown just why his services are so coveted, scoring three goals - including a sublime solo effort against Korea Republic in the semi-finals - and one assist.
His direct play and dribbling speed make him a threat to any defence. The 26-year-old forward also works incredibly hard for his team, not only in pressing defenders but also tracking back to help out his own defence.

Yazan al-Arab
Has been a colossal figure for Jordan in the heart of their defence, forming one half of a solid centre-back partnership with Abdallah Nasib that not only earned a clean sheet against South Korea, but also denied the Taegeuk Warriors any attempts on target in their semi-final clash.
Powerfully built and standing at 1.86m, al-Arab is a towering presence in both boxes. His pace on the ground is expected to be put to the test against the likes of Qatar’s Almoez Ali and Akram Afif, which is likely to be one of the more fascinating battles on the pitch.

Yazan al-Naimat
With three goals to his name, Yazan al-Naimat has been a revelation in the tournament. Having scored in the Group E match against Korea Republic, the 24-year-old went up another level in the knockout stage - netting in the Round of 16 and semi-finals.
The Al Ahli SC player possess a knack of finding space between defenders and more often than not, times his run to perfection, If al-Naimat is allowed the space to operate, Qatar could well pay a heavy price.