The National's Ali Khaled names his team-of-the-tournament from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup after covering the Asian continental showpiece for the last three weeks in Australia. Click the arrows above to scroll through the images of Ali's Best XI, or simply read through the team below.
Mat Ryan (Australia), Goalkeeper
Won the AFC goalkeeper-of-the-tournament award. While other keepers dithered or collapsed under the merest of physical challenges, Ryan was a tower of strength for Australia, always aggressive, dominating his area and releasing teammates early with his distribution.
Cha Du-ri (South Korea), Defender
At 35, the overlapping full-back with boundless energy proved he could still mix it at a high level. Created the goal that beat Australia in the group stage and was superb in the final against the same opponents as South Korea worked tirelessly to overturn the half-time deficit. Like many of his teammates, did not deserve to be on the losing side.
Trent Sainsbury (Australia), Defender
Superb as the tournament progressed. Consistent throughout, he may not always get the plaudits of his more offence-minded teammates but scored the opener against the UAE in the semi-final and was acknowledged with a man-of-the-match award in the final when Australia withstood concerted pressure for the first time in the tournament.
Mohaned Salem (UAE), Defender
Delivered one of the individual performances of the competition in the quarter-final when Japan pounded the UAE defence for long periods. His heroic defending that day, alongside Mohammed Ahmad and Khamis Ismail, defined one of the greatest UAE footballing nights.
Dhurgham Ismail (Iraq), Defender
One of the bright spots in Iraq’s unexpected push to the semi-final. The dynamic, attacking full-back, 20, was a central figure in the greatest match of this tournament – and perhaps of any Asian Cup – the quarter-final victory over Iran. Calmly slotted the 116th-minute penalty and scored again in the decisive shootout.
Ki Sung-yueng (South Korea), Midfielder
The heart of the South Korean team that came so close to glory. Calm and controlling throughout the tournament, the Swansea City midfielder was a primary factor in his team not conceding before the final and always found a way to breach their opponents. Excellent in the final.
Omar Abdulrahman (UAE), Midfielder
Misses out on being the official man of the tournament due mostly to the UAE’s semi-final defeat. His control, passing and movement lit up a competition in which he delivered on all his promise and captured the hearts of the public in Australia along the way. His assist for Mabkhout’s opening goal against Bahrain was perhaps the pass of the tournament.
Robbie Kruse (Australia), Midfielder
The tournament ended on a bittersweet note for Kruse with his injury in the final, but he was one of the driving forces behind the home nation’s tournament-high tally of 14 goals. Creative and full of running, he narrowly comes ahead of teammate Mathew Leckie into this selection.
Massimo Luongo (Australia), Midfielder
The AFC’s Player of the Tournament and few would argue the choice. The previously unheralded Swindon Town midfielder was man of the match in the 4-0 opener against Kuwait and again in the semi-final when they overcame the UAE. Scored in the final to set his country on the way to victory. A star is born.
Ali Mabkhout (UAE), Forward
Just as he did at the Gulf Cup of Nations two months earlier, he scored a tournament-high five goals. Scored two against the Gulf champions Qatar, the competition’s fastest goal against Bahrain, after 12 seconds, the superb goal that accounted for Japan (the only one conceded by the champions), in the quarter-final, and the one that clinched third place for the UAE. Telepathic understanding with close friend Abdulrahman.
Sardar Azmoun (Iran), Forward
Iran’s new star, only 20, lived up to expectations despite injury worries at the start of the tournament. He scored the winner against Qatar to clinch qualification to the quarter-finals and opened the scoring in the memorable match against Iraq. Prodigious talent hints at why he has been dubbed, rather hyperbolically, the Iranian Messi.
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