AFC Asian Cup: Hong Kong boss Andersen ‘little bit shy’ for opener, leaves door ajar for eleventh-hour squad changes

Jorn Andersen thrust Hong Kong squarely into the role of underdogs on the eve of their long-anticipated AFC Asian Cup finals opener with United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

Head coach Andersen has been bullish about his team “closing the gap” on Asia’s traditional football powerhouses. But speaking at his prematch press conference in Doha, Andersen insisted: “We have to be a little bit shy, we are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, and cannot have our expectations too high.

“Our target is not big, we are here to gain experience for Hong Kong football in a major tournament.”

Andersen did not rule out last-minute changes to his 26-man squad ahead of the deadline at 11.30am Qatar time, six hours before kick-off on Sunday, although his options to do so are limited.

He is short of bodies in the middle of defence, with Helio Goncalves and Sean Tse Ka-keung both laid low with injuries. Every hour counts.

“We are still not finished,” the coach said. “We can use the time to find a solution.”

His team, who also face Iran and Palestine in Group C, narrowly lost their closing two friendlies, against Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia, following a milestone victory over China on New Year’s Day.

And there was recognition from Andersen of the ginormous strides taken by his team over an intense month-long training camp, and since the addition of a clutch of newly naturalised players in the past four months.

In Everton Camargo, the Brazil-born forward, Andersen has an X-factor performer, capable of causing trouble to a UAE team ranked 86 positions above 150th-placed Hong Kong in the global Fifa standings.

“Everton scored goals from the start, and is very important for us,” Andersen said. “He has raised the quality in the team, and makes the difference. He is maybe the best player in Hong Kong at this time.”

Andersen’s players have gradually adapted to his front-foot philosophy, and are beginning to share the Norwegian’s no-fear mindset.

“We have our own style, we know our opponents here are stronger than us, but we are not thinking about that,” veteran goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai said.

“We will be aggressive, press high and play forwards. Those are the coach’s instructions. In the beginning [of Andersen’s reign] we were not sure we could play this way, but now we have the confidence to do it.”

Yapp Hung-fai looks to have won the battle for Hong Kong goalkeeping duties against UAE. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

There was a heavy hint towards Andersen’s choice of goalkeeper for the tournament opener in Yapp joining his boss on the press conference dais.

Yapp, 33, has 88 caps, stretching back to a debut in February 2010, and appears to have beaten 24-year-old Tse Ka-wing to the No 1 jersey.

“I am very excited to play in the biggest tournament in Asia, and will enjoy it,” Yapp said.

“The long-term target for Hong Kong is to qualify for the next AFC finals. Tse is young, and has the ability to be the future for Hong Kong.”

UAE head coach Paulo Bento, who guided South Korea to the last 16 of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, insisted his side would “have problems” if they replicated their first-half showing in a warm-up defeat by Oman last week.

Bento’s team had won their previous six matches, and the Portuguese felt returning to that form against Hong Kong was a tough task.

He expected Hong Kong to play “with a lot of energy, and intensity in the defensive process”.

“They play direct, and show aggressiveness to win the second ball and develop the counter attack.

“We will try to control the game, as much as we can … [but] we have a lot of respect for the opponents we are going to face. It will be a tough game for us, for sure.”