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AFC - The draw for the final
leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers was made at AFC House today
and lived upto expectations by serving up a number of mouthwatering
contests.
Ten teams which cleared the tough third round came out of the pots to be
placed into two groups of five each based on their showing in the 2006 FIFA
World Cup and its qualifiers. The top two teams from each group qualify for
the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa while another half berth can be
secured by way of playoffs.
Australia, Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar made up Group A while Group
B will see Korea Republic, Iran, Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea and the UAE doing
battle.
Before the draw could commence under the glare of the world media and scores
of dignitaries, there was the little matter of separating Saudi Arabia and
Japan who were tied fourth based on their performance in the 2006 FIFA World
Cup. This was duly accomplished, resulting in Japan taking up fourth
position while Saudi Arabia made their way to fifth.
Japan will renew their rivalry with Bahrain after today’s draw pitted 2006
FIFA World Cup final round qualifying rivals together again.
Korea Republic, who are eyeing their sixth consecutive appearance in a FIFA
World Cup, find themselves in familiar company having contested Saudi Arabia
in the final qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup too.
Australia had qualified for the 1974 and 2006 World Cups as a member of the
Oceania Football Federation and this is the first time they are playing in
the Asian qualifiers since joining the AFC family in 2006.
Defence-oriented DPR Korea, who had qualified for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in
England, did not concede a single goal and will be looking forward to
maintain their clean slate when they take on will begin their campaign away
against the UAE.
Bahrain, who failed to make the cut for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
last time round by a whisker after losing to CONCACAF side Trinidad and
Tobago in the inter-continental playoff, will once again face-off with
Uzbekistan, whom they defeated in the inter-AFC playoff in 2006 FIFA World
Cup qualifiers.
Having punched their ticket with a solitary goal win over Asian champions
Iraq on the last day of the qualifiers, Qatar will now have to negotiate
their way through a tough group and will take on Uzbekistan, who were the
first team to qualify for the last phase and also scored the most goals, on
the first Match Day.
THE GROUPINGS
Group A: 1. Australia, 2. Japan, 3. Bahrain, 4. Uzbekistan, 5. Qatar
Group B: 1. Korea Republic, 2. Iran, 3. Saudi Arabia, 4. DPR Korea, 5. UAE
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