Age old problems leave Asian Cup an open race

Thursday, 1 January 2015 00:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SINGAPORE (Reuters): The Asian Cup heads to Australia for the first time next month with the scars of a woeful 2014 World Cup for the continent and the recurring problems of match-fixing and swift sackings leaving the tournament wide open.

Japan's coach Javier Aguirre of Mexico looks on during a training session ahead of their friendly soccer match against Brazil at the National Stadium in Singapore - REUTERS Holders Japan are favourites to win a record extending fifth continental title but dark clouds hang over their coach Javier Aguirre after he became embroiled in a Spanish match-fixing case dating back to his time as Real Zaragoza boss. The Mexican has long denied any wrongdoing but the negative attention has not helped confidence in Japan, where a mixed start and the exclusion of form players, like Gamba Osaka forward Takashi Usami, have raised questions about his suitability. The pressure on Aguirre, though, is nothing like what Ange Postecoglou is under as the hosts welcome Asia’s biggest tournament for the first time since joining the confederation in 2006. Australia, runners up to Japan in 2011, won only one match in 2014, a friendly triumph over Saudi Arabia in September, with defensive lapses in the young side a glaring issue as the coach struggles to replace a golden generation which qualified for three consecutive World Cups. “Things haven’t been going well prior to this tournament, we have to be brutally honest. We’ve probably gone a little bit backwards,” former Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich told Reuters.. Postecoglou was in charge for the predictable three World Cup defeats in Brazil, where the Socceroos, Japan, Iran and South Korea all finished bottom of their groups as Asia failed to earn a single victory for the first time since 1990.