Doha: Today's Asian Cup final between Australia and Japan will see a world-first in TV coverage as a 51-camera platform will beam the game live to an expected audience of 100 million.
The involvement of 51 cameras, including seven superslomos, four ultraslomos, one spidercam, two helicopters and 16 EVS cameras on the platform, linked to two OB vans, will make it a first in terms of television coverage.
The host broadcasters are Qatar's Al Dawri and Al Kass channel, a dedicated football channel.
The Qatar Local Organising Committee Operations Director Jassim Al Rumaihi said the final would be a memorable one as far as the fans were concerned.
The AFC also announced that four players were in the running for the Golden Ball. "Keisuke Honda (Japan), Park Ji-Sung (South Korea), Mark Schwarzer (Australia) and Server Djeparov (Uzbekistan) are the four nominated players. The winners will be announced at the end of Saturday's final," said Asian Football Confederation's Competitions Director Tokuaki Suzuki.
Most capped
Former AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov has won three Samsung MVP awards in all of Uzbekistan's group stage games, while Honda has won two MVPs here in Doha.
Schwarzer, who will become Australia's most capped player when he takes to the Khalifa Stadium pitch, has had four clean sheets and has just conceded one goal while Mancheter United midfielder Park Ji-sung is expected to announce his international retirement.
South Korea's Koo Ja-Cheol and Bahrain's Esmail Abdul Latif currently lead the chart for the Konica Minolta Golden Boot with four goals apiece.
Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, UEFA President Michel Platini, CONCACAF President Jack Warner and host of dignitaries are expected to attend the final.
Who do you think will win the Golden Ball? Is there anyone else you think deserves to be in the running? Why? Tell us by posting a comment below.