Australia, China, Iraq in group of death
Iranian legend Ali Daei draws Japan during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifying draw in Durban, South Africa on Sunday.
DURBAN, South Africa: Australia, China and Asian champions Iraq
were drawn together in a 'group of death' for the 2010 World Cup on
Sunday, meaning at least one will not get through qualifying.
From an initial 41 teams, Asian representatives have been whittled
down to 20 with the first and second in each group from the third
round progressing to the fourth and final round on the road to
South Africa.
Joining Australia, China and Iraq in Group 1 are Asian Games
champions Qatar.
Japan, arguably the football power on the continent and a team that
has qualified for the last three World Cups, will take on Bahrain,
Oman and Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand in Group 2 when
qualifying starts on February 6.
Korea Republic, Asia's most successful team on the world stage
having qualified for the past six World Cups, face a trip to
neighbouring Pyongyang after being pitted with arch-rivals DPR
Korea in Group 3.
Korean Republic, who made the semi-finals in 2002 on home soil,
will fancy their chances of making their seventh finals with Jordan
and minnows Turkmenistan also in their group.
Saudi Arabia, the losing finalists to Iraq at the Asian Cup earlier
this year, will face Uzbekistan, Lebanon and tiny
Singapore, who have never been this far
before.
In the final group, Iran, whose credentials remain strong despite a
number of senior players reaching the end of their international
careers, take on Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Syria.
Group 1 threw up an intriguing scenario.
Australia are still learning the ropes of how football is played in
Asia after their shortfalls were exposed in their inaugural Asian
Cup in June where heat sapped their strength and they failed to
make it past the quarters.
Their task of making their second successive World Cup -- they
qualified through Oceania for Germany in 2006 -- has been made
harder with long trips to face Qatar and Iraq.
Both matches are likely to be in Doha given the security situation
in Baghdad.
China also has plenty to prove, as one of the region's
underachievers.
They had a taste of the World Cup in 2002 but has never quite lived
up to expectations since.
Asian champions Iraq will be in South Africa for the Confederations
Cup in 2009 but whether they can return the following year will
depend on whether new coach Egil Olsen can unite the team.
According to goalkeeper Noor Sabri, "there is chaos within the
technical staff and squad", leaving the Norwegian with his hands
full.
But he is hugely experienced, helping his home nation qualify for
the World Cups in the United States in 1994 and France four years
later.
And at least Iraq has a coach, in contrast to Australia, South
Korea, and Iran who are all rudderless.
Asia's best finish ever at a World Cup was in 2002 when South Korea
finished fourth in the continent's first ever hosting of the
showpiece event.
And they have an excellent chance of making the finals again.
Japan, whose Ivica Osim had a stroke earlier this month, should top
their group, with Thailand facing a test of their character against
Oman and a tough Bahraini side.
Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan will be favourites in their pool, but
Group 5 is more open with Iran, Kuwait, UAE and Syria all capable
of progressing.
The winners and runners up from each group move to round four where
they will be split into two groups of five with the first and
second placed teams qualifying for South Africa.
