Massimo LUONGO (Australia)
The 22 year-old midfielder slipped through the cracks in many ways with only a handful of appearances for Australia’s youth sides, but since Postecoglou’s arrival he’s firmly on the radar.
A talented ball-playing central midfielder he’s well in the mix to occupy one of the two 'number 8' roles that the side appears set to use.
WU Lei (China)
The great hope of Chinese football, Wu reportedly turned down a move to Bundesliga club Hannover to re-sign with Shanghai East Asia.
An attacking midfielder who is likely to line up as one of the 'number 8's' in Alain Perrin’s 4-1-2-3. Wu is both a creator and finisher, comfortable on the ball and able to dictate the flow of play.
JONG Il-gwan (DPR Korea)
Australian football fans will remember Jong from his exploits at the 2010 AFC Under-19 championships where he scored a hat-trick in the final against the Young Socceroos en route to winning the tournament MVP.
Since then he has matured into a key contributor for the senior side and along with Pak Kwang-ryong will be the main source of goals.
Sardar AZMOUN (Iran)
Unlikely to be a starter but pushing hard for a spot. Even off the bench he is capable of turning a game in an instant.
With a strong build, good pace and a mentality to run at defenders the 20 year-old Rubin Kazan striker is fast emerging as the best talent in the next generation of Iranian stars.
Ahmad IBRAHIM (Iraq)
Regarded as one of the best young defenders in West Asia, Ibrahim is still only 22 but has racked up almost 50 international caps for Iraq.
A tall, strong defender who likes to start attacks from the back, Ibrahim will be a calming presence on what is a particularly youthful Iraqi side.
Yoshinori MUTO (Japan)
A product of the FC Tokyo youth setup that took a detour via university before making it to the first team. As soon as he arrived it was clear this was a special talent.
A versatile attacking player who can operate either in wide areas, as a central playmaker or as a striker, Muto has gone from being an outstanding club player to a key cog in the national team in just six months.
Likely to line up on the left of a three-man midfield, the 22 year-old, with the pin-up boy looks, is set to be a key part of the next generation of Japanese stars.
NAM Tae-hee (Korea Republic)
One of the most highly-regarded young Korean players, 23 year-old Nam is equally at home in any of the three advanced midfield positions but with Son Heung-min and Lee Chung-yong locks for the wide roles, he will be in a battle with two or three others players to secure the central playmaking role.
At 18 he became the youngest Asian player to play in the French top flight and has been a standout for Qatari club Lekhwiya since a 2012 move – a player destined for bigger things and who may be one of the real standouts of the tournament.
Abdelkareem HASSAN (Qatar)
One of the first graduates to emerge from one of the world’s best youth setups – the Aspire Academy – 21 year-old Hassan is the prototype of the modern Qatari football.
A left-back with a tank like frame and limitless energy, he has a reputation as a fiery defender but in both defensive and offensive phases he’s a key cog in the Qatari system.
Fahad AL MUWALLAD (Saudi Arabia)
Rated by many as one of the most promising players in Asia, the 20 year-old winger is already reportedly on the radar of several leading European clubs.
Possessing searing pace, trickery and an eye for goal the Al Ittihad man will likely be used off the bench and could cause tired defences all sorts of trouble.
Omar ABDULRAHMAN (United Arab Emirates)
No longer flying under any radars but still only 23, Abdulrahman is one of, if not the best, playmaker at the tournament.
A dribbler, a provider, a tempo-dictator and a finisher, the Al Ain man has long been tracked by a host of top European clubs and seems certain to become the first Emirati to appear at the highest level abroad.
Under a slight injury cloud heading into the tournament but, if fit, will be close to the competition’s MVP should the UAE progress from the group stages.
