Socceroos handed difficult draw for Asian Cup

[BAGGIO 15]

AUSTRALIA face a tough route to the 2011 Asian Cup after they were drawn in a qualification group with Oman and Kuwait.

The Socceroos, who only reached the quarter-finals in their first time in the competition last year, also play Indonesia in Group B.

Three-times champions Japan must again face Bahrain who they have been grouped with and struggled against in two successive World Cup qualifying campaigns. Hong Kong and Yemen complete Group A.

Group C features Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and India while Group D consists of Vietnam, China, Syria and Lebanon. Iran, who won three consecutive titles from 1968 to 1976, drew Thailand, Jordan and Singapore in Group E.

The top two teams from the five groups will join defending Asian Cup champions Iraq, runners-up Saudi Arabia, third-place finishers South Korea and hosts Qatar in the finals along with the winners of 2008 and 2010 editions of Asian Challenge Cup.

North Korea, despite reaching the final round of World Cup qualifiers, must qualify via the Challenge Cup since their ranking was too low to make the Asian Cup draw.

Qualification takes place from January 14 next year to March 3, 2010.

Reuters

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[BADA BING]

Hey Baggio15 i am struggling to work out who actually qualifies, Obviously the top two place getters in the 5 groups, + asian Cup champions Iraq, runners-up Saudi Arabia, third-place finishers South Korea and hosts Qatar, but I don’t get the part of the winners of 2008 and 2010 editions of Asian Challenge Cup? whom may they be?

[Missing Post Count]

The AFC Challenge Cup is a national Football competition for emerging countries (those in the lowest (of three) categories as designed by the AFC president) that are members of the AFC. The first tournament was held in 2006 in Bangladesh. The 2008 and 2010 editions of the AFC Challenge Cup will serve as qualifiers for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Basically the countries who haven't qualified for the groups Baggio mentioned above (ie. Tajikistan and the like). You'll probably find all the details on the AFC website.

[Missing Post Count]

2008 Tournament Final round:

Group A: AFGHANISTAN, INDIA, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN
Group B: DPR KOREA, MYANMAR, NEPAL, SRI LANKA

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Those that failed to make the final round were:

PAKISTAN
TAIWAN
GUAM
PHILIPPINES
BHUTAN
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
KYRGYZSTAN
BANGLADESH
CAMBODIA
MACAU

[BADA BING]

excuse my ignorance here but if Sri Lanka win the 2008 Challenge Cup then they automatically qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup?

[Missing Post Count]

excuse my ignorance here but if Sri Lanka win the 2008 Challenge Cup then they automatically qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup?

Yes

[BADA BING]

thanks Bodo, personally i think thats stoopid, why dont they have the challenge cup first and then the winners can go into one of the 5 qualification groups

[Missing Post Count]

thanks Bodo, personally i think thats stoopid, why dont they have the challenge cup first and then the winners can go into one of the 5 qualification groups

That makes more sense. This gives the minnow nations two chances to qualify. If they fail this year they can try again in two year's time. The down side for them is they have to win over another seven nations, where as those in the main groups only need to finish second.