2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa - Asia Qualification

March 25, 2008

The Asian section of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a predicatable start last month with Australia, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia all earning comfortable home victories in their bid to reach the finals in South Africa. However, the next round of fixtures has thrown up much more testing fixtures for the group favourites.

Asian Zone qualifying, third round, Matchday 2
Wednesday 26 March

Group 1
China-Australia; Qatar-Iraq

Group 2
Bahrain-Japan; Thailand-Oman

Group 3
Korea DPR-Korea Republic; Turkmenistan-Jordan

Group 4
Uzbekistan-Saudi Arabia; Singapore-Lebanon

Group 5
Kuwait-Iran; Syria-United Arab Emirates

Australia joined the Asian qualifying campaign to enhance their chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. Their qualification hopes got off to a great start with a 3-0 victory over Qatar last month, but Wednesday’s trip to China will be a much tougher prospect. Coach Pim Verbeek’s task has been made even harder with experienced trio Scott McDonald, Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill all ruled out through injury.

The largely A-League based squad boasts an impressive record against the Chinese, having won 5 of their 7 previous encounters. Never before, however, has a match between the two nations taken on such signifiance. “We have come here for three points and our goal is unlikely to change,” said Verbeek.

China on the other hand have won all 12 of their FIFA World Cup qualifying matches over the past 11 years and they will prove a difficult nut for the Socceroos to crack.

Both sides badly want a victory, because with only one qualification spot from what is a difficult group, each and every point is crucial. 2007 Asian Cup winners Iraq will be confident of reaching the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time, although last months 0-0 friendly draw with Kuwait suggests they still have plenty of work to do. Their opening day draw with China means three points against Qatar is essential.

In group 2, Bahrain appear prepared to mount a realistic threat to Japan’s qualification hopes. Coming of the back of an impressive 1-0 victory over Iran, they face the Japanese side in Manama, looking to build on their opening day 1-0 victory over Oman. However, Takeshi Okada’s Japan are also in good shape after defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0 in a warm-up, with Naohiro Takahara and Yoshito Okubo on target.

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