Azkals’ Eriksson among coaching heavyweights

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The biggest-ever Asian Cup has a large collection of international coaching heavyweights providing extra glamor.

Only one of them knows what it’s like to win the biggest prize in world soccer: Marcello Lippi led Italy to the World Cup title in 2006.

More recently, Lippi has won Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League titles with Guangzhou Evergrande. But the Italian has an uphill task ensuring a disappointing two-year spell in charge of China ends with silverware before his expected retirement.

China enters the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates with one win in seven games, including disappointing draws against Palestine, India and Bahrain. A runner-up in 1984 and 2004, China opens its campaign Monday against Kyrgyzstan, followed by matches against the Philippines and South Korea in Group C.

A former Real Madrid and Portugal coach, Carlos Queiroz has genuine hopes of winning with Iran after eight years in charge of Asia’s top-ranked team. But the longest-serving coach in the tournament also knows how to downplay expectations.

Just like the European Championship added eight countries in 2016, its Asian counterpart has also made the jump to 24 teams.

Expansion has opened the door for Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Yemen to make their Asian Cup debuts.

A title winner with clubs in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, Sven-Goran Eriksson has little prospect of winning the Asian Cup with the Philippines. For the Swede hired in October, it’s all about being among the 16 teams to make it through to the knockout phase.

“With this generation of players, the Philippines have the chance to show that football is good in the Philippines,” said Eriksson, who took England to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002 and 2006. “If we can go through that will mean a lot for the country.”