Japan vs Qatar
2019 Asian Cup final
Venue: Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Kick-off: 2pm GMT, Friday February 1
The 2019 Asian Cup reaches its climax on Friday, with debut finalists Qatar set to take on record four-time winners and regional powerhouses Japan in Abu Dhabi.
Having secured top spot in a relatively straightforward Group F courtesy of three consecutive victories over Turkmenistan, Oman and Uzbekistan, Japan, who last lifted the trophy in 2011, edged past Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 before securing another one-goal win over Vietnam.
Their semi-final clash was a more straightforward affair as a brace from Werder Bremen forward Yuya Osako helped seal a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of tournament favourites Iran on Monday, ending the eight-year reign of Carlos Queiroz in the process.
Standing between Hajime Moriyasu's side and a fifth title are 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, who breezed through a group containing Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and North Korea, scoring 10 goals - including a 6-0 drubbing of the latter - and conceding none in the process.
A terrific free-kick from Bassam Al-Rawi was enough to see off the challenge of Iraq in the first knockout phase, while Abdelaziz Hatim struck to secure a shock maiden win over 2015 runners-up South Korea in the last eight.
Qatar romped to a 4-0 success over hosts United Arab Emirates to book their final spot, a highly-charged affair widely referred to as the 'Blockade Derby' due to recent political tensions between the two nations.
The fixture, which saw the Qatari national anthem roundly booed ahead of kick-off, was temporarily delayed due to fans throwing shoes onto the pitch.
Score prediction: Japan 3-1 Qatar
Qatar, coached by Spaniard Felix Sanchez, can take immense pride from their surprise run to a first Asian Cup final, and boast comfortably the tournament's top goalscorer in Almoez Ali of Al-Duhail SC, who is the first player to net eight times in the tournament in 23 years.
If they can get him firing once again, then a first triumph could be within their grasp.
However, it is easy to see this next clash as perhaps one step too far.
While Japan looked somewhat laborious in the knockout stages before dispensing of fellow giants Iran, the Samarai Blue have significant pedigree in this competition and should possess the experience necessary to take their place as kings of the continent once again and book automatic qualification for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Japan win: 19/20
- Qatar: 14/5
- Draw: 2/1
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
Unfortunately, fans in the United Kingdom hoping to watch the Asian Cup final on television are out of luck, with no domestic broadcaster opting to screen the tournament. This is also the case in the United States.
But you can follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
Head to Head history (h2h)
The two sides have met 10 times previously, with Japan winning on three occasions and Qatar taking two victories alongside five draws.
Their last meeting came back in the 2011 Asian Cup quarter-finals, when Masahiko Inoha notched a late winner after a Shinji Kagawa double in a five-goal thriller in Doha. Japan went on to defeat South Korea and Australia en route to claiming their fourth title.
