China in group with Iraq, Singapore and Palestine
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-05 09:23
SINGAPORE (AFP) - China were pitted with Palestine, Iraq and
Singapore in the qualifying draw of 2007 Asian Cup.
The Asia's top tournament will be co-hosted by four Southeast Asian
countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, while China
should have no problem progressing against minnows Palestine but
Iraq and fast-improving Singapore could cause them a
headache.
asian cup, china Defending champions Japan avoided South Korea and
arch-rivals China on Wednesday, whom Japan beat 3-1 in a
bad-tempered final in Beijing in 2004.
Also in Japan's group are India and Yemen, with the top two going
through to the finals from July 9-27, 2007, which will be co-hosted
by Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The co-hosting is a decision the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
now regrets.
"It is proving very difficult for us. We have to have four
organising committees, four media centres and there are also
financial considerations," AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam told
AFP.
"It was my mistake. If we had a choice we definitely wouldn't do it
again."
Japan and Saudi Arabia have both won the Asian Cup three times. The
two met in the final in 2000, with Japan emerging victorious
1-0.
"We will field our first team for all the matches," said Kohzo
Tashima, technical director of the Japan national team. "The group
is not that easy and we have to make our qualification doubly
sure."
Twenty-four Asian teams went into the hat for the draw with the
qualifying games to be played on February 22, March 1, August 16,
September 6, October 11 and November 15.
South Korea, led by Dick Advocaat, will take on Asia's number two
team Iran in Group B. Both sides will also be in Germany at the
World Cup this year. Taiwan and Syria round out their group.
China in group with Iraq, Singapore and Palestine
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-05 09:23
"I am satisfied with the draw. We will have no major difficulties
to advance to the next round," said Song Ki-Ryong, a spokesman for
the Korea Football Association.
Guus Hiddink's Australia, which will be competing in an Asian Cup
for the first time after offically joining the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) this month, will have a tough time against
Bahrain, Lebanon and Kuwait.
It means the Australians face three long journeys to the Middle
East where they will have little support. Kuwait are always
difficult to beat at home while Bahrain shocked everyone by making
the semi-finals in China.
Lebanon, meanwhile, have a sizable expatriate population in
Australia for support.
On the flip side, the shorter travelling distance from Europe could
encourage Australia's European-based stars like Harry Kewell, Mark
Viduka and Tim Cahill to made the trip.
AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam said there was no excuse for them
not to play.
"It is easy for them to travel," he said. "Australia are lucky
because all their games in the Middle East are only five hours or
so from Europe."
But Gary Moretti, a Football Australia official, said it was not
that easy, pointing out that February 22 was not a FIFA match day
-- meaning clubs are not duty-bound to release players.
"The challenge for us will be to see what sort of squad we are able
to assemble for these games because it won't be easy to get a
full-strength team out every time," he said.
Bin Hammam said he expected all the top teams to progress, and was
relieved that the possibility of three leading teams being drawn in
the same group didn't happen.
"It could have been a worse scenario, where one of the top teams
faced elimination, but now I think all the top teams will go
through," he said.
"From our point of view, the commercial side of things is going
well. The TV is fixed up and all we need now is for the fans to
fill the stadiums," he said.
Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan will fight for
honours in Group C while Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Qatar and
Uzbekistan are pitted in Group F.
The Asian Cup was first played in 1956.
