2019 Asian Cup Group B: Teams, fixtures and key players

Fifa world ranking: 41 Ranking in Asia: 2 Previous Asian Cups: 3 Best Asian Cup performance: Champions (2015) 2015 Asian Cup: Champions Nickname: Socceroos Manager: Graham Arnold Captain: Mark Milligan Player to watch: Martin Boyle Fixtures: January 6 v Jordan (Al Ain); January 11 v Palestine (Dubai); January 15 v Syria (Al Ain) A new-look Australia will seek the consolation of a successful Asian Cup title defence after their disappointing group stage exit from the World Cup this year. Under Bert van Marwijk, the Socceroos bowed out of Russia winless and with only two goals from penalties, underlining the team's struggles to score against quality defences. New manager Graham Arnold, in his second stint in charge, has shaken up the team's attacking formation. He has opted for a trio of interchangeable strikers up front rather than a traditional centre forward. Fifa world ranking: 109 Ranking in Asia: 19 Previous Asian Cups: 3 Best Asian Cup performance: Quarter-finals (2004, 2011) 2015 Asian Cup: Group stage Nickname: The Chivalrous Manager: Vital Borkelmans Captain: Amer Shafi Player to watch: Munther Abu Amarah Fixtures: January 9 v Australia (Al Ain); January 10 v Syria (Al Ain); January 15 v Palestine (Abu Dhabi) Jordan will be looking to have a similar impact to the one on their Asian Cup debut in 2004, when the country pushed defending champions Japan to the brink of elimination in the quarter-finals. New manager Vital Borkelmans has had limited time with his team, who have been handed a difficult draw. But, having defeated Australia earlier in qualifying, the west Asian nation will be confident their robust football will pay dividends. _____________ Read more on 2019 Asian Cup: 2019 Asian Cup: Groups, teams, tickets and all you need to know Bernd Stange counting on Syria fans to carry team through 2019 Asian Cup group phase Jan Kocian wants Yemen to dream of big victories at 2019 Asian Cup Aref Al Awani: Legacy for UAE football will come from Asian Cup Celtic asked that he be rested: Arnold on why Rogic did not play for Australia against Oman Sven-Goran Eriksson's New Year wish to grow interest in football in Philippines In pictures: Australia thrash Oman 5-0 in Dubai friendly ahead of 2019 Asian Cup _____________ Fifa world ranking: 99 Ranking in Asia: 16 Previous Asian Cups: 1 Best Asian Cup performance: Group stage (2015) 2015 Asian Cup: Group stage Nickname: The Knights Manager: Noureddine Ould Ali Captain: Abdelatif Bahdari Player to watch: Abdelatif Bahdari Fixtures: January 6 v Syria (Sharjah); January 11 v Australia (Dubai); January 15 v Jordan (Abu Dhabi) Palestine have qualified for the Asian Cup for the second tournament in a row after securing their spot at the 2015 finals by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives a year earlier. This time the west Asian side have progressed through the regular qualifying campaign and will hope to have shaken off the issues that hampered them late in the campaign. Bolivian manager Julio Cesar Baldevisieo controversially replaced Abdel Nasser Barakat, only to be fired himself and replaced by Noureddine Ould Ali. Fifa world ranking: 74 Ranking in Asia: 6 Previous Asian Cups: 5 Best Asian Cup performance: Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011) 2015 Asian Cup: Did not qualify Nickname: Qasioun Eagles Manager: Bernd Stange Captain: Omar Al Somah Player to watch: Omar Kharbin Fixtures: January 6 v Palestine (Sharjah); January 10 v Jordan (Al Ain); January 15 v Australia (Al Ain) Bernd Stange has one goal above all others when he leads Syria to the finals of the Asian Cup next month - to put a smile back on the faces of the country's war-ravaged people. The veteran German manager was lured out of retirement this year to take charge of the Syrians as they seek to build on their remarkable run to the verge of qualifying for their first World Cup finals last year. While a play-off loss at the hands of Australia ended those hopes, the 70 year old is hoping to revive memories of that campaign at the continental championship in January. ______________ More on 2019 Asian Cup: Football fans attending AGL games to get tickets to 2019 Asian Cup matches In pictures: Syria's footballers get big reception in Sharjah ahead of Asian Cup Al Ain's Fifa Club World Cup success can be inspiration for UAE at Asian Cup Asian Cup arrives in the UAE: Emirates flies trophy from Japan to Dubai Lowdown on 2019 Asian Cup being hosted by UAE in January-February Omar Abdulrahman injury hits UAE hard and deprives event of a star

2019 Asian Cup Group B: Teams, fixtures and key players

A breakdown of the teams in Group B – defending champions Australia, Jordan, Palestine and Syria – and what we can expect from each at the January 5-February 1 tournament