Australia To Face Samurai Blue

At the official draw in Kuala Lumpur, the Socceroos were selected in Group B alongside Asian heavyweights Japan.

But an opportunity to exact revenge against the nation that knocked them out of the running for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in dramatic circumstances, Iran, never eventuated for Holger Osieck's side.

With a bye in the first round of the second stage, Australia will open their campaign with a trip to Muscat to face Oman on June 8. That will be followed by a home fixture against Japan on June 12 which Osieck revealed on Fox Sports News would be played in Brisbane.

The Socceroos will complete their qualifying campaign with successive home fixtures against Jordan and Iraq on June 11 and 18 2013 respectively.

Osieck told Fox Sports News: “Now we know who we face, what we're going to do, so we start from here.”

The German, who previously coached in Japan with J-League powerhouse Urawa Reds, admitted he was excited to take on the Asian champions.

“They still have the same quality players as before. Referring to our Asian Cup final, we did very well, they didn't outplay us. Technically we were definitely on the same standard but they had a little bit the edge in the final," he said.

"Their players play in Europe, they are on a decent standard, it's going to be a tough one, but I'm really looking forward to it.”

Osieck added he was happy to draw Japan rather than Iran which he said would've been a logistically difficult away trip.

“Having played in Iran on a couple of occasions, it's not the easiest place to go to," he said.

"When you go to Japan, people treat you correctly, starting with immigration, customs, luggage etc. They provide you with excellent training facilities and even during the game they treat you very fairly.

"That's good but you have to play them and they're very strong."

As for Australia's other group opponents, Osieck admitted he knew little about Jordan, while he said he believed he side could take care of Iraq - who the Socceroos narrowly defeated in extra-time at the 2011 Asian Cup quarter-finals.

On 2011 Asian Cup quarter-finalists Jordan, Osieck said: “I don't know that much about Jordan and their football. I've seen them play at the Asian Cup. They did very well, and it's a team we must take very seriously."

On Iraq, the Australia boss added: “They have a lot of quality. They are comparable to Iran. Same style of football, very athletic players, good technique, tactically shrewd. It's definitely going to be a good challenge, but I think we're going to be on top of them.

“Looking back to the Asian Cup, we beat them, it was narrowly but we could've done the job in regulation time already.”

The top two sides from Group B will earn direct qualification into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with the third-placed side to playoff against the third side from Group A.

Full fixture of matches:
June 3 2012: Bye
June 8 2012: Oman (A)
June 12 2012: Japan (H)
Sept 11 2012: Jordan (A)
Oct 16 2012: Iraq (A)
Nov 14 2012: Bye
Mar 26 2013: Oman (H)
June 4 2013: Japan (A)
June 11 2013: Jordan (H)
June 18 2013: Iraq (H)

Groups

Group A
South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Lebanon

Group B
Australia, Japan, Iraq, Jordan, Oman