Copa America 2019: Japan (Preview)

A year into his reign as national team coach, Hajime Moriyasu switches focus ahead of a new cycle of World Cup qualification, to consider the small matter of national pride in their warm up to hosting the Olympics in 12 months’ time. While the Copa America represents a worthy continental prize to the South Americans taking part, as one of the two invited teams in this year’s tournament, Japan will distinctly be travelling with different measures of success being attached to their plans.

The last month has borne witness to a myriad of squad announcements, most of which have conflicting restrictions and briefs; Japan’s U20 side travelled to the World Cup in Poland, an U22 selection travelled to France to play in the annual Toulon youth tournament, a more recognisable senior outfit was selected for two international friendlies at the long laboured Kirin Cup, while a mixture of all three was selected in a predominantly Olympic games focussed squad travelling to Brazil for the Copa America.

There’ll undoubtedly be a few Japanese players out there feeling hard done to, as every man and his dog seemed to be called up to one squad or another. An interesting personal example to highlight the stretched resources over the last month sees Hamburg midfielder Tatsuya Ito having to feature in the Toulon final on Saturday night (ironically against Brazil), before travelling half way across the world to South America, ahead of Japan’s Copa America opener against Chile on Monday evening. This month like no other has pulled the national team picture quite literally across the world.

This squad, aside from its internally forced age parameters feels typically Olympic in its experimental nature; the overage players include two outgoing sages in Eiji Kawashima and Shinji Okazaki, while still missing some of the more credible U22 players of this cohort; the likes of Ritsu Doan were called up for senior duty, while Ao Tanaka travelled to France for Toulon. The squad of 23 boasts only seven players with previous national team experience (there will be no official warmup matches either), two of whom have over 88 caps. The disparity is stark, as is the case with most Olympic selections, marking expectations as a clearer unknown than usual.

Tactically, Japan continue to shift between the 4231/4221 system that saw them progress to the Asian Cup final back in February, and the 3421-system used predominantly over Moriyasu’s managerial career to date, most recently reintroduced in Japan’s Kirin Cup friendlies and in both other youth team tournament appearances this summer. Despite this, the Copa America squad doesn’t exactly provide the essential wingbacks or central defenders to fully excel in this system, instead a plethora of support attackers, many a Samurai Blue fan will no doubt be salivating at the thought of.

Top of that pile is the hottest property in Asian football, if not the World. Takefusa Kubo’s rise to prominence seems to have peaked perfectly for his 18th birthday at the start of the month, which effectively pitted him as the most exciting free agent around, going into the Copa America. On the eve of the tournament it was announced he would be signing for Real Madrid, further intensifying the scrutiny he’s likely to face in Brazil after a stellar start to the season back in Japan with J1 table toppers FC Tokyo.

While Kubo offers the raw unpredictability, the building blocks of a new Japanese senior team will truly be under the spotlight, not least in defence. Eiji Kawashima, ridiculed for a failed World Cup last year in Russia, will either look to bow out on a high or play mentor to up and coming Sanfrecce Hiroshima keeper Keisuke Osako, with Moriyasu keen to plug one of his most problematic positions to date. In front of them, Naomichi Ueda’s progress since moving to Belgium will be assessed, next to the growing stature of Takehiro Tomiyasu who particularly stood out at January’s Asian Cup.

Japan’s development under Moriyasu has been understatedly fruitful so far. With a daunting task of leading a transitioning Japan to an Asian Cup upon arrival, through World Cup qualifying simultaneously juggling reputational pressure with a home Olympics looming. The tough schedule and increasingly polarised demands have understandably left the Copa America way down the list in terms of priorities, which should regrettably affect the product on the pitch in Brazil.

That product has widely divided Daihyo fans, but whether you agree with the style implemented by Moriyasu or not, the change in tact is quite recognisably evolved over time. From the creative and possession focussed approached of Alberto Zaccheroni and Javier Aguirre, Moriyasu (and Akira Nishino before him) like it or not have clearly been affected by Vahid Halilhodzic’s more functional and reactive philosophy during his tenure over the last World Cup qualifying cycle.

While Halilhodzic quite openly focussed on developing a quicker, more direct approach with a focus on hardening the mentality of Japanese footballers in general, Nishino, and in particular Moriyasu have attempted to bring back the guile, in particular of those in behind the attacker. Too often at the Asian Cup however, we saw Japan relinquish possession easily and take a back seat in proceedings. Last week’s Kirin Cup struggles only added to this; a draw against Trinidad & Tabago and an unimpressive win against El Salvador do little to suggest Moriyasu has upped the charm offensive.

A crumb of comfort for Japan is usually they up their game on the road. Away from Asia, away from the expectation in a sense, Japan have confounded expectation and played some of their most expressive football when little has been promised. Last summer’s World Cup took plenty by surprise, especially the near masterful art of coping with Belgium in the knockout phase, whilst going back further their friendly tour of Europe ahead of the 2014 World Cup, or the Confederations Cup the year previous, showed the very best of what Japanese football is all about; expression without restriction.

Commanding a squad made up of retiring pros alongside fresh debutants may prove a clever mix to generate these perfect circumstances. Little to no expectation will be put on any player (Kubo, potentially aside), while Moriyasu will be given his fair due to experiment and rotate where applicable. With that in mind, whilst results aren’t a necessity, the flow of performance and the stylistic tendencies it’ll create should prove interesting viewing, come kick off on Monday night against Chile.

Key Men

Head Coach – Hajime Moriyasu

Former Japanese international turned coach, who worked under Akira Nishino on the run up to and at the World Cup over the summer. Famed for leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three titles in four seasons playing an attacking brand of possession football. Started afresh with many new faces after last summer’s World Cup success, but still tinkers between playing styles and formations.

Star Player – Gaku Shibasaki

Becoming the staple of this current Japanese national side, the thread that has run through from the World Cup, to the Asian Cup and now into the Copa America, Shibsaki is the one of only two Samurai Blue regulars to make the trip to Brazil. Confident central midfield pivot who brings together the best defensive and attacking qualities of the team’s play.

Shop Window – Shinji Okazaki

Third in Japan’s all-time goalscoring lists, the diminutive and well-liked striker goes into this tournament a free agent after being released by Leicester City at the end of the season. Even at 33, he has the poacher’s instinct to create goals out of mere half chances, but missed the Asian Cup cut after struggling to pick up minutes domestically.

Young Prospect – Takafusa Kubo

There’ll be no young player receiving as much scrutiny at the Copa America than Takafusa Kubo, after the 18-year-old joined Real Madrid ahead of the tournament. While he’s likely to be phased in by Moriyasu, his ability to explode in small cameo appearances makes him a useful reserve option to have. Small, quick and flexible in his combination play, Kubo will be in a confident mood after his Samurai Blue debut last week against El Salvador.

Copa America 2019: Qatar (Preview)

Qatar stand on the edge of making remarkable history, as they look to back up their Asian Cup crown from February with a second separate continental trophy within a year at this month’s Copa America. In truth, it’s unlikely that this will come to fruition to put it kindly, with few even giving the Maroon a chance of threatening for a point let alone a second successive fairy-tale tournament run to the latter stages.

And while their triumphant course to glory in the UAE was a considerable notch below what would be required in Brazil, it shouldn’t be forgotten how far they’ve come already. This time last year, Qatar were generally seen as a mess, projecting early that a transition to a more home-grown, younger unit would take time to come to fruition, given the average age of the squad coming through (the Asian Cup group averaged just over 24) coupled with modest club experience, which was almost entirely accrued in the domestic league.

Positive friendly results against Iceland and Switzerland in November sparked early curiosity. There was a glimmer of a promise that something might be different about these young players, something that hadn’t been seen before on the continent could potentially live up to its lofty billing. That billing of course, generated by the multi-billion pound Aspire Academy, tasked with producing the next generation of Qatari sport talent, with more than one eye firmly fixed on a competitive showing at the 2022 World Cup. Through the youth ranks they’ve indeed blossomed; qualifying for two of the last three U20 World Cups and making it to the semi-finals at the last two Asian U23 Championships. Their Asian Cup triumph however was the loudest indication that this group were ready to compete on the world stage.

The fallout from such success though has been moderately muted. Post the lavish celebrations (and cake cutting) players returned to their QSL clubs, cruelly missing out on a transfer or two which would’ve naturally occurred if the January window hadn’t yetd closed weeks before. The domestic season was another duopoly fight that didn’t show us any more than we haven’t seen before, while the Qatari clubs in question coasted through their Champions League preliminary groups in second gear. The headlines haven’t kicked on from February, with the big names who stamped their authority in their national colours failing to take the initiative once they returned to their employers. The Qatari youth sides haven’t exactly ridden the coattails of their elders either, finishing winless in recent U20 World Cup and Toulon tournament appearances.

Conveniently (if you’re feeling optimistic) the Copa America falls at a crucial juncture to keep brand-Qatar in the footballing public’s eye. A month out from the World Cup qualifying draw, which Qatar will remain part of despite having their hosting spot already guaranteed, it would surely feel like a missed opportunity if one or two of this promising group weren’t able to engineer a move to Europe over the summer.

Injury has held back Asian Cup top scorer and player of the tournament Almoez Ali, while upon his comeback he’s returned to a peripheral role for his club side Al-Duhail who continue to rely on the glitzier foreign talent around him. His partner in crime from the Asian Cup, Akram Afif has continued in trailblazing fashion for Qatari champions Al-Sadd, but while he is clearly a step ahead of anyone domestically, there is little hint his parent club Villareal will be keen on recalling him anytime soon.

Whether these two, or any of a host of promising talents catch the eye in Brazil is debatable. A star studded friendly against the Seleção last week in Brasilia was a close match on the scoring board, but a heavy hit home that the gap in talent is significant ahead of their Copa opener against Paraguay on Sunday.

Qatar, dissimilar to fellow AFC invitees Japan will be at full strength, free from serious injury and in the mindset of making a dent in the contest, a side out to pull a surprise or two rather than merely relying on the tournament for development purposes. With the Confederations Cup taking a back seat for the next cycle, this looks to be the last competitive outing these players will have to truly fight for something and sell their country in a positive light.

That light of course remains flickering. Political divides across the region has seen the modestly sized peninsula annexed from support. Add to this the problematic issues regarding their hosting, through questionable labour standards and corruption allegations, it’s fair to say the Qatari picture isn’t painted too rosy outside their borders at present. Even on a footballing standpoint, the cloud that emerged during the Asian Cup over Almoez Ali & centre back Bassam Al-Rawi’s eligibility for Qatar remains a question unanswered.

In adversity, and through little expectation usually comes a Qatari side fighting. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, a man who’s been in Qatar for over a decade now has been reinstated as the man to lead the country through to the World Cup, after numerous suggestions that he’d make way for a “bigger name” come tournament time. Far from being merely an excellent youth team coach, Sanchez fully demonstrated his arsenal in tactical play in the UAE, having the nous and patience to know when to pounce, how to counter effectively and to attribute the best players to key roles.

They have the qualities to prove the perfect underdogs, as they did at the Asian Cup on countless occasions. Soaking up possession early in the piece, as they did against South Korea, and to a smaller degree against Japan in the final, they showed their patience to pick holes in stronger teams on the break. Through the pace of Akram Afif, the vision of Hassan Al-Haydos and the bullish pressing of Assim Madibo (which Neymar learnt to his cost last week), the team has its fair share of big game players that can hurt even the most established teams on their day.

When it comes to expectation however, it’s difficult to gauge. A realist, Sanchez has expressed this adventure as a perfect testing ground to develop further as a group and as individuals. Whether his employers will be quite so forgiving if they were to make a show of themselves in the wider public spotlight is another thing. In the end, while the World Cup remains a clear distance off, the Copa America will be assessed as a success for Qatar more by the column inches and media exposure it generates, rather than the results or the development it accrues.

Key Men

Head Coach – Felix Sanchez (ESP)

A Spanish youth development coach, turned Qatari national hero, moulding a distinct group of talent over the last 10 years into continental champions. Riding a wave of enthusiasm his contract was extended to their showpiece 2022 assessment, while talk of a big-name outsider is shelved (for now). Borne out of a typical Spanish form, Sanchez proved he could switch up their usual possession hungry approach and play on the break at the Asian Cup.

Star Player – Almoez Ali

Player of the tournament and record goal scorer at the Asian Cup with 9 goals from 7 appearances, the rangy Sudanese born striker has become an essential focal point to the side’s game plan. Has developed considerably from being used merely as a static leading man, Ali’s movement out wide by necessity at club level has improved his all-round game, which contributes to an effective link up with Al-Haydos and Afif in the Qatari attack.

Shop Window – Akram Afif

Having tried and to a degree failed to break Europe earlier in his career, the last six months has well and truly promised that Akram Afif, the golden child of Qatari football should be given another shot in the big leagues. Quick, direct with a cultured finish to boot, the 22-year-old remains on the books at Spanish side Villareal but will be keen on making a step up even on a temporary basis from his spell with home town club Al-Sadd, where he won the domestic title last month.

Young Prospect – Tarek Salman

A flexible, multi-faceted midfielder turned centre back, who encapsulates the spirit of much of this new Qatari team. Not the most physical (but on occasion petulant), nor quickest of defenders, Salman does however have the right head to succeed in the modern game, having the awareness and skill set to defuse and launch attacks in a blink of an eye. Formed an impressive centre back partnership with Bassam Al-Rawi in the UAE, despite both players only being 21 and having only brief experience outside of Qatar.

Asian Cup 2019: Japan (Preview)

Six months on from surprising the world by qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup, Japan are a side full of optimism as they look to muster the perfect response to their failed Asian Cup campaign in Australia four years ago. Under yet another coach, restoring the identity of Japanese football is at the heart of the new JFA led project, building towards another promising era of potential success.

It wholly depends on who you speak to you, to whether they think Japan’s campaign in Russia was tactically well executed, or on the whole had a lot to do with lady luck. One things for sure, when said events fell favourably for the Samurai Blue, coach Akira Nishino played his cards well. The eventual performance (not withstanding the first half nerves) that followed the early red card for Colombia, the brave but ultimately prudent rotation of his squad in the final group match to keep fresh for the knockouts and the purposeful pressing illustrated against Belgium, all owe a great debt to Nishino’s initiative.

Of course, his backroom staff need to take partial credit for that success, one in particular; the incoming Hajme Moriyasu, fresh in the knowledge he’d succeed Nishino upon culmination of the World Cup, had an early say in how the side set up. The early tinkering to a Moriyasu-inspired three at the back, wing back system against Ghana on the run up to the World Cup may have back fired spectacularly then, but almost certainly has granted further time for Moriyasu to adapt to his playing staff post-summer.

While the philosophy has carried on; that of bringing back the Japanese identity of old, high levels of possession, creativeness and slow build up, in direct opposition of the direct, workmanlike but effective requirements of former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, Moriyasu has been quick to change the personnel on the pitch.

Losing the likes of Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Gotoku Sakai to retirement after the World Cup, Moriyasu has subsequently cut the summer contingent further, excluding the likes of Eiji Kawashima (who admittedly had a woeful World Cup), Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui, Takashi Usami, and Shinj Okazaki from his Asian Cup preparations. While there’ll be contrasting arguments on their usefulness to the current squad, such a swift disregard of such talent is a brave call on the eve of a continental tournament.

This does however allude to the vast resources Moriyasu has at his disposal. In have come the attacking trio of Ritsu Duan, Shoya Nakajima and Takumi Minamino, three players playing regular European football, all under 25 and all cemented into Moriyasu’s starting plans. Nakajima in particular who could’ve felt hard done to, to not have been selected for the World Cup, seems to have improved from it, with a point to prove that he can indeed spring forward from where the likes of Kagawa and Honda left off.

The gradual phasing out of their older talents and when this is best to be undertaken has been a thorny subject for years, yet Moriyasu has, for the time being at least been given a break in this regard. Under Vahid Halilhodzic, the Samurai Blue regularly lined up with Messrs Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki taking their places on the bench, yet the style of football being bred at the time, lead for quick calls for a return to the status quo. The fact Moriyasu, a J-League man through and through, has been quick to instill promising talent he knows well in an attacking, possession-based system has clearly gained sympathisers.

There will be questions no doubt, of Japan’s credentials at the Asian Cup. They can’t merely coast through a tournament without scrutiny, and despite a lack of noise at present, come January fans will expect their side to compete for silverware. Given the long-term goals of the national side; to qualify and compete at 2022, seek victory on home soil at the Olympics in 2020, even portray a positive vision of Japanese football at next summer’s Copa America, is it too soon to be making a true assessment of Moriyasu’s progress at the Asian Cup?

The side feels fresh, a distinct change from that under Halilhodzic, even Nishino, but reliance on key players in defensive areas will stabilise the core required if they have hopes of going deep into the tournament. The back four is likely to feature their three most experienced players, in Maya Yoshida (now made captain under Moriyasu), Hiroki Sakai and Yuto Nagatomo. All three have experience of big competitions, but also play regular European football with their clubs, a key prerequisite going into the Asian Cup.

The keeper situation however remains a doubt. With Kawashima, unanimously thrown onto the scrap heap after the World Cup, Kashiwa Reysol stopper Kosuke Nakamura was ear marked as the heir in waiting to make his tournament debut. Multiple injuries since the summer have subsequently thrown that certainty into doubt, with Gamba Osaka’s Masaaki Higashiguchi in pole position to take the number one jersey on the eve of the tournament. Now 32, Higashiguchi’s erratic style of old has tempered slightly, but his lack of international experience will remain a concern ahead of kick off.

Japan all-in-all head into the Asian Cup as a subdued capsule. Preparations have been modest - as usual they have only scheduled home friendly matches since the summer, in which little has overly brought out a change in style or personnel that could suggest what Moriyasu is looking at heading to the UAE. With a relatively simple looking passage through to the knockouts ahead of them, Japan shouldn’t make heavy work of their Round 1 opponents, yet an early predicted meeting with Australia in the quarter finals, could see them struggle to better their abject showing in 2015.

Key Men

Head Coach - Hajime Moriyasu

Former Japanese international turned coach, who worked under Akira Nishino on the run up to and at the World Cup over the summer. Famed for leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three titles in four seasons playing an attacking brand of possession football. Has already illustrated his fondness for youth and the J.League, relying on untested international players in the run up to the Asian Cup.

Star Player - Gaku Shibasaki

Unassuming but poised, deep creator, who had found it difficult to fit in the national team picture, until Akira Nishino took charge ahead of the World Cup, now looks the key cog in Moriyasu’s game plan. Amassed a significant career in Japan with Kashima Antlers, including winning the FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball in 2016, before moving to Spain, with Tenerife and now Getafe. A vital figure in transition between defence and attack.

Under Pressure - Masaaki Higashiguchi

Long been a strong performer domestically, Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Higashiguchi has been flung into the spotlight, as the Samurai Blue number one upon the eve of the tournament with only a handful of caps to his name. Was always likely to play catch up with Kosuke Nakamura, however injury has thrown him a lifeline. Quite eccentric and lively in style, the keeper has been susceptible to the odd brain fade.

Young Prospect - Ritsu Doan

Player of the tournament at the 2016 AFC U19 Championship, Doan played a key role at last year’s U20 World Cup, scoring three goals over four matches. The 20-year-old can play anywhere across the three in behind the striker yet has already established favour with Moriyasu on the right side. A threat from dead ball situations, Doan scored his first Japan goal in October against Uruguay.

Asian Cup 2019: Lebanon (Preview)

Lebanon head to their debut Asian Cup on foreign soil in red hot form, boasting one of the longest unbeaten streaks in world football over the last two years, seeing them rise to within the top 10 of Asia. While expectations are noticeably suppressed (for good reason) on the leadup to January, the Cedars remain a team that have found a new lease of life since the appointment of their unknown Montenegrin manager and will look to surprise one or two more in the UAE.

Lebanese football has regularly been seen as an untapped resource, that Asia has rarely seen blossom. Club football remains modest, continuing to fall way behind their neighbours, in terms of both resources and footballing prestige. The rise of the national team in the last four years could look to turn things around for the country though, heading into their first Asian Cup appearance for nearly 20 years with more than a sense of optimism.

Their story of qualification was that of slow growth. Starting in a World Cup preliminary group that featured South Korea, immediate progression was written off early, but the tussle with Kuwait for second became an interesting subplot of the entire group phase. Regrettably, a 1-0 defeat at home, followed by a goalless draw in Kuwait, left themselves adrift of their peers. While Kuwait’s resulting ban from international football, saw Lebanon eventually finish ahead, the fact they couldn’t see a reversal in their results prior left them cut adrift of making it through as a lucky loser.

The early qualification stages were used as a building block however, in hope of achieving their more realistic aim of qualifying for the Asian Cup. Their progress in Round 3 clearly demonstrated how far they’d come in such a short space of time; cruising to four wins from five, with their only dropped points coming in an eventful 2-2 draw in Pyongyang to North Korea; the campaign was an unequivocal success. Far from mere qualification, Lebanon have pretty much remained unbeaten for the last two years.

Their unbeaten run, that stretched between March 2016 through to October this year, saw them extend their streak to 13 matches, only matched by former World Cup champions Spain. Previously a national team that had for too long lacked an end product on the competitive stage, was now a side reborn under new leadership.

That leadership, headed by Miodrag Radulovic has engulfed the country and its wider diaspora, who look to head to the Emirates in their numbers to support their nation. A relatively underwhelming appointment back in 2015, taking over the role from legendary Italian footballer Guiseppe Giannini, Radulovic proved to be the perfect fit for Lebanon, recruiting several new faces from scouring Europe, whilst bringing a new attacking philosophy to the team that provided dividends in later qualification.

The side has regularly been limited by the fact the core of the squad ply their trade at home in Lebanon. The recruitment of talent from across Europe has both improved the quality but also the range of their skill base. German born, but based in the lower leagues of England, Omar Bugiel has epitomised the rise of Lebanon under Radulovic. A modest player domestically, but a player that brings a goal scoring outlet that the national team has long desired.

Taking any pressure off their leading light Hassan Maatouk was an essential task Radulovic had to deal with. Maatouk has been an ever present since the turn of the decade, when Lebanon hit their lowest mark in the world rankings, to continue to lead his side to this day, to their highest position, comfortably within the world’s top 100. While their attacking fulcrum has recently returned home, his wealth of experience and notch above ability that he demonstrated regularly whilst playing in the Emirates, remains the catalyst in which the side builds attacking play on.

In the last few years, the emergence of younger heirs has been slow to progress. But in the aforementioned Bugiel, and Greek based Hilal El-Helwe, who scored three over the course of qualification, Lebanon have enough tools to frighten any team on the break. With a nucleus of the well experienced Joan Oumari to marshal the defence, and the talent of new Danish born recruit Bassel Jradi in midfield, the squad look well positioned to challenge to better their previous best at an Asian Cup and navigate past the group stage.

Enabling such an attacking game at the highest level remains a tricky proposition however. The last few months have not only seen Lebanon lose their world leading unbeaten streak but lose twice; to Kuwait (fresh after their ban was lifted) and heavily to reigning champions Australia. Without a win in their last four, a retreat in tactics has been noticeable (fielding a back five against the Socceroos), alluding to a more cautious approach upon their kick off with a deadly Qatari attack to come in January.

Lebanon have remained an enigma of Asian football for years, and that will persist going into their Asian Cup campaign. Illustrating fine attacking football in qualification is one thing but showcasing the same sort of invention at the elite table may be another feat entirely. The emergence of Jradi, Bugiel and El-Helwe promises much, but without the freedom and willingness to trust their ability to contest, a cautious campaign is likely to win out. 

With a similarly tough ask facing them in game week two against Saudi Arabia, a last-minute shootout with North Korea could ultimately decide their progress. A flash back to last October, in their 5-0 home win in qualification against the same opponents, a repeat performance would be something memorable to witness at the Asian Cup.

Key Men

Head Coach - Miodrag Radulovic (MON)

The key man behind the rise of Lebanese football, since his appointment in 2015, becoming the first Montenegrin coach in history to qualify a national team for a major tournament. Well liked in the country, for bringing through talent to match the local feel of the squad, can pull on a varied coaching career that included a spell with Uzbek giants Pakhtakor.

Star Player - Hassan Maatouk

Legendary winger or lone front man who has captivated Asian football for years with his immense talent and impressive work rate. A regular goalscorer for Al-Fujairah in the UAE, until moving home with Nejmeh last summer. Is set to become the record appearance holder and goalscorer for the Cedars in the coming years.

Cult Hero - Joan Oumari

Outspoken Berlin born centre back, who only returned to the national team, after greater guarantees of minutes under Radulovic. Has played his entire career outside of Lebanon, much of it taking place in Europe, however moved to play alongside Fernando Torres at Sagan Tosu earlier this year.

Young Prospect - Hilal El-Helwe

Winger, who has the capacity to play down the middle, El-Helwe offers creative movement and a deft finish. The 24-year-old, has been integral to the successes made under the Radulovic, utilising his recent form to make the move out of the lower leagues in Germany to Apollon Smyrnis in the Greek Super League.