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Eight of Asia's biggest club sides are battling for the 2018 AFC Champions League title, and among their ranks are some top players hoping to impress their national team managers as we approach the AFC UAE 2019 UAE Cup.
Some have already shown glimpses of their talents at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, while others are dreaming of one another. So, let's look at some of the biggest AFC Asian Cup hopefuls featuring in August's AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis and Iran IR)
The 25-year-old was one of the stars of Team Melli's 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and impressing throughout. At Persepolis, Beirut has kept five clean sheets, more than any other goalkeeper in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
The quarter-finals throw a big challenge for the goalkeeper as his Persepolis side face Qatar's Al Duhail, who have been an unstoppable attacking force this season, bagging 21 goals in the continental competition, the highest among West Asian teams and only second to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' 26.
The 194cm tall custodian's performances for club and country mean he is set for a starting role January as Carlos Queiroz's Iran IR look to lift their first AFC Asian Cup title since 1976. Beiranvand and co start their continental campaign on January 7 against Yemen before facing Vietnam and Iraq in D. Group
Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers and Japan)
Another man who made an impression in Russia is back-to-back Gen Shoji who was a key cog in the Japan side that reached the World Cup round of 16 before
Shoji made 41 clearances in his six AFC Champions League appearances for Kashima Antlers, among the highest in the competition to help his side navigate the group stage with just six goals conceded, no other team in East Asia conceded less
Kashima Antlers faces the challenge of Tianjin Quanjian as they attempt to reach the AFC Champions League semi-final for the first time in their history. Shoji will be hoping for a historic success story of his success story for the sake of the samurai. Al Haydos (Al Sadd and Qatar)
The 2011 AFC Champions League winner has grown to be one of the most influential players for club and country. The 27-year-old has been at Al Sadd since the age of eight and has won two league titles and a FIFA World Cup Club bronze medal alongside the 2011 continental trophy.
Al Haydos contributed six key assists and one assist in this Yesterday overcame Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win
Alongside club teammates Akram Afif and Ali Asad, Al Haydos is expected to form the Spine of Qatar's attacking midfield in UAE in January, where they will be hoping to progress to the end of their history. DPR Korea then Saudi Arabia in Group E.
Zhao Xuri (Tianjin Quanjian and China PR)
The veteran midfielder boasts an impressive minutes- per-goal ratio of 157 despite playing in a deep role. The two-time AFC Champions League winner with Guangzhou Evergrande joined Tianjin in 2016 and has since become an essential member of their starting XI.
Zhao's experience continues to be crucial for a Tianjin side playing in the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history. And with over 70 caps to his name, he will be important for China PR in January's AFC Asian Cup.
Having made his international debut in 2003, Zhao went on to appear in two editions of the AFC Asian Cup; 2007 and 2011, before missing on the 2015 edition in Australia. At 32, UAE 2019 may well be his last chance to represent China PR in the continental competition, and if his club is anything to go by, we could see his best in January.
Rouzbeh Chesmi (Esteghlal and IR Iran)
After a match and a clean sheet, Cheshmi's World Cup was finished with a muscle injury to the disappointment of the 24-year-old defender who had recorded the team's best pass completion rate ( 94%) in his only outing in Russia 2018 against Morocco.
Two months later, Cheshmi's attention turns to the AFC Champions League as he looks to help his Esteghlal side to the semi-finals for the second time after 2013. The Iranian Cheshmi's replacement in the World Cup by Majid Hosseini, has impressed, but the Esteghlal defender's versatility mean his starting spot in UAE 2019 is a strong possibility and a strong showing in the quarterfinals of the team at the AFC Asian Cup.
Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Korea Republic)
Right-back Lee was arguably Korea Republic's best player in Russia 2018, putting in impressive performances both in defense and attack. And while the Taeguk Warriors defeated world champions in a game where Lee showed his true qualities.
An AFC Champions League winner with Ulsan Hyundai in 2012, Lee joined Jeonbuk in February 2017, just three months after they were crowned Asian Champions for the second time in their history. This term, the 32-year-old has contributed an assist and 12 key passes as Jeonbuk
A late bloomer, Lee only made his international debut in 2013 at the age of 27, and was not part of the Republic of Korea that reached the AFC Asian Cup final in Australia in 2015, so UAE 2019 could be his only chance to leave a mark in the world.
Almoez Ali (Al Duhail and Qatar)
When it was announced that Al Duhail captain and talisman Youssef Msekni will be sidelined for a few months with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury back in April, many feared the worst for the Qatari Side, but then Almoez Ali stepped up.
Leaving seven of Al Duhail's eight-match winning streak in this year's AFC Champions League, Ali took on a more aggressive role in Msekni's absence and delivered a goal and four assists as the Qatari champions swept aside their Gr oup B opponents.
One of the stars of the Qatar side that was crowned U-19 Asian Champions in Myanmar in 2014, Ali made the step up to the senior team, and his current club form , he will be an important asset for coach Felix Sanchez as January 2019.
Source: the-afc.com
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