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Lebanon eye historic knockout stage spot
Kuala Lumpur: Denied a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ knockout stage by the slimmest of margins, Lebanon are determined to enjoy an extended run at Qatar 2023.
The West Asian side lost out to Vietnam on the fairplay rule in 2019 and head coach Nikola Jurcevic’s mission will be to ensure Lebanon advance past the group stage for the first time in what will be their third participation on the continental stage.
Factfile
FIFA World Ranking: 104
Previous Appearances: 2
Best Finish: Group Stage
2019 Result: Group Stage
Head Coach: Nikola Jurcevic (CRO)
Fun Fact: Lebanon’s first appearance in the Finals was when they hosted the 2000 edition
Previous Appearances: 2
Best Finish: Group Stage
2019 Result: Group Stage
Head Coach: Nikola Jurcevic (CRO)
Fun Fact: Lebanon’s first appearance in the Finals was when they hosted the 2000 edition
Lebanon, however, will have to be at their best from the first blow of the referee’s whistle after being drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Qatar, two-time runners-up China PR and debutants Tajikistan.
Qatar will be familiar opposition, with the two sides having met at the same stage in 2019, with their West Asian rivals registering a 2-0 win.
That was followed by another 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia and despite bouncing back with a 4-1 win over DPR Korea in their final group match, Lebanon missed out on the knockout stage.
Jurcevic, appointed head coach in October, is in a race against time to get his squad up to mark for their Qatar 2023 challenge.
The ongoing Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, however, gives the Croatian a chance to gain valuable insights ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ challenge.
Lebanon’s Group A fixtures
12 January
v Qatar (19:00 local time) Lusail Stadium)
17 January
v China PR (14:30 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
22 January
v Tajikistan (18:00 local time, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium)
12 January
v Qatar (19:00 local time) Lusail Stadium)
17 January
v China PR (14:30 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
22 January
v Tajikistan (18:00 local time, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium)
Lebanon eye historic knockout stage spot
Kuala Lumpur: Denied a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ knockout stage by the slimmest of margins, Lebanon are determined to enjoy an extended run at Qatar 2023.
The West Asian side lost out to Vietnam on the fairplay rule in 2019 and head coach Nikola Jurcevic’s mission will be to ensure Lebanon advance past the group stage for the first time in what will be their third participation on the continental stage.
Factfile
FIFA World Ranking: 104
Previous Appearances: 2
Best Finish: Group Stage
2019 Result: Group Stage
Head Coach: Nikola Jurcevic (CRO)
Fun Fact: Lebanon’s first appearance in the Finals was when they hosted the 2000 edition
Previous Appearances: 2
Best Finish: Group Stage
2019 Result: Group Stage
Head Coach: Nikola Jurcevic (CRO)
Fun Fact: Lebanon’s first appearance in the Finals was when they hosted the 2000 edition
Lebanon, however, will have to be at their best from the first blow of the referee’s whistle after being drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Qatar, two-time runners-up China PR and debutants Tajikistan.
Qatar will be familiar opposition, with the two sides having met at the same stage in 2019, with their West Asian rivals registering a 2-0 win.
That was followed by another 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia and despite bouncing back with a 4-1 win over DPR Korea in their final group match, Lebanon missed out on the knockout stage.
Jurcevic, appointed head coach in October, is in a race against time to get his squad up to mark for their Qatar 2023 challenge.
The ongoing Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, however, gives the Croatian a chance to gain valuable insights ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ challenge.
Lebanon’s Group A fixtures
12 January
v Qatar (19:00 local time) Lusail Stadium)
17 January
v China PR (14:30 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
22 January
v Tajikistan (18:00 local time, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium)
12 January
v Qatar (19:00 local time) Lusail Stadium)
17 January
v China PR (14:30 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
22 January
v Tajikistan (18:00 local time, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium)
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