Which teams now stand between the Socceroos and the glory of the Asian Cup? Today is the fifth matchday of the qualification process… and our rivals have begun to emerge.
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The life of a Group E
Group E is the closest of all, with all teams still a chance of qualifying. Favourites Iraq and China are tied in the lead, three points ahead of Singapore and Palestine. If Iraq beat Singapore at home, and China beat Palestine away today, they will both qualify. If that doesn’t happen though, next month’s matches of China and Singapore at home to Iraq and Palestine respectively will be keenly followed.
Though Qatar have already qualified from Group F with a perfect record, the battle for second is closely contested. Tiny Hong Kong are battling with Uzbekistan for the final birth. This shootout is destined to go down to the final round, though Hong Kong face an uphill battle to qualify. Draws in both matches between the teams mean that goal difference will be used to separate the sides if they are tied on points. Hong Kong’s goal difference though is some six goals poorer than Uzbekistan’s. As a result, Hong Kong need to get a result away to Qatar then beat Bangladesh and hope that Uzbekistan slip up in their own matches against those two sides.
Battle for Asia’s best
Soon after the final round of matches are completed in November, AFC House in Kuala Lumpur will host the draw for the Asian Cup finals. This draw will confirm Australia’s group opponents and base host nation. Whatever the draw, the Socceroos will face a significant hurdle in each match.
To progress to the final eight, Australia will have to overcome one of the host nations, most likely one of Asia’s heavyweights, and another nation of a similar calibre as Iraq (conquerors of the Olyroos in Athens). Even heavy favourites have come unstuck in the past, as Saudi Arabia proved in limping home from the 2004 tournament with just a single point.
But when the first match kicks off on the 7th of July next year Australia’s squad will be, barring injury, filled with its European-based stars. It will be Australia’s third ever appearance at a major tournament, and more than a billion people will be watching.
The 2007 Asian Cup will be the opportunity to show that Germany was no fluke. Mark down the day of final - the 29th of July. In less than nine months, the Socceroos will have the chance to prove they are Asia’s best.
Group E is the closest of all, with all teams still a chance of qualifying. Favourites Iraq and China are tied in the lead, three points ahead of Singapore and Palestine. If Iraq beat Singapore at home, and China beat Palestine away today, they will both qualify. If that doesn’t happen though, next month’s matches of China and Singapore at home to Iraq and Palestine respectively will be keenly followed.
Though Qatar have already qualified from Group F with a perfect record, the battle for second is closely contested. Tiny Hong Kong are battling with Uzbekistan for the final birth. This shootout is destined to go down to the final round, though Hong Kong face an uphill battle to qualify. Draws in both matches between the teams mean that goal difference will be used to separate the sides if they are tied on points. Hong Kong’s goal difference though is some six goals poorer than Uzbekistan’s. As a result, Hong Kong need to get a result away to Qatar then beat Bangladesh and hope that Uzbekistan slip up in their own matches against those two sides.
Battle for Asia’s best
Soon after the final round of matches are completed in November, AFC House in Kuala Lumpur will host the draw for the Asian Cup finals. This draw will confirm Australia’s group opponents and base host nation. Whatever the draw, the Socceroos will face a significant hurdle in each match.
To progress to the final eight, Australia will have to overcome one of the host nations, most likely one of Asia’s heavyweights, and another nation of a similar calibre as Iraq (conquerors of the Olyroos in Athens). Even heavy favourites have come unstuck in the past, as Saudi Arabia proved in limping home from the 2004 tournament with just a single point.
But when the first match kicks off on the 7th of July next year Australia’s squad will be, barring injury, filled with its European-based stars. It will be Australia’s third ever appearance at a major tournament, and more than a billion people will be watching.
The 2007 Asian Cup will be the opportunity to show that Germany was no fluke. Mark down the day of final - the 29th of July. In less than nine months, the Socceroos will have the chance to prove they are Asia’s best.
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