How many games will Heung-Min Son miss for Tottenham because of the AFC Asian Cup 2023?
Premier League clubs are resigned to losing big stars at the start of the year with many players in action in AFCON and the AFC Asian Cups.
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup kicked off at a packed Lusail Stadium on Friday night as host nation and reigning champions Qatar brushed Lebanon aside in a comfortable 3-0 win.
All the teams have arrived and are ready to kick off their #AsianCup2023 journey! 🌏🏆
— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 12, 2024
Who will lift the trophy?#HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/AQao4y5YlD
One of the pre-tournament favourites are South Korea with the Tigers of Asia having only won the competition on two occasions (1956 and 1960). Fans are optimistic that this can be the year the Korea Republic side address the lengthy drought and trust head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and with a side featuring the talent of Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan, Bayern’s Kim Min-jae or captain and talisman Heung-min son feel they can deliver glory in Qatar.
⚡아시아 정상을 향해⚡ #바레인전 𝐃-𝟐
— theKFA (@theKFA) January 13, 2024
▪#손흥민 대한민국 최연소 아시안컵 출전 2위 (18세 186일 / 1위 김봉수, 18세 7일)
✔2023 AFC 아시안컵
🇰🇷v🇧🇭#바레인 24.01.15(월) 20:30
🏟자심 빈 하마드 스타디움
📺tvN, 티빙, 쿠팡플레이#대한민국 #축구국가대표팀 #아시아_정상을_향해 pic.twitter.com/OvyjtQRQsp
The Tottenham Hotspur captain has been in sparkling form this season, scoring 12 goals and assisting five in 20 Premier League games so far.
Spurs fans will now miss the Korean star for at least the rest of the month of January and even longer if the team advance deep into the tournament with the final of the Asian Cup set for 10 February in Doha.
Should Korea Republic progress from the group stage, the would play their Round of 16 game between 28-31 of January. The quarter-final is scheduled for 2/3 February with the semifinals due to be played on 7/8 of the same month.
Tottenham fixtures during AFC Asian Cup
14 January: Spurs vs Man United (EPL)
26 January: Spurs vs Man City (FA Cup)
31 January: Spurs vs Brentford (EPL)
3 February: Everton vs Spurs (EPL)
10 February: Spurs vs Brighton (EPL)