Australia draws Japan in World Cup qualifiers
Australia has drawn its 2006 World Cup rival Japan in Group A of the fourth qualifying stage of the AFC 2010 World Cup qualifiers. They are joined in the group by Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar.
Australia has drawn its 2006 World Cup rival Japan in Group A of the fourth qualifying stage of the AFC 2010 World Cup qualifiers. They are joined in the group by Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar.
The Socceroos have a bye in the first round (September 6) and will play Uzbekistan, who loom at the darkhorse in the group, in Tashkent in its first match on September 10.
Our first home game is on October 13 against Qatar, followed by successive away games against Bahrain on November 19 and then Japan next February 11.
Group B appears, on paper at least, to be a somewhat tougher group with Korea Republic, Iran and Saudi Arabia, all participants at the 2006 World Cup, joined by DPR Korea and UAE.
The top two teams from each group will go through to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, while the two third-placed teams from each group will then play-off to see who will play the Oceania qualifier to decide one of the last qualifying places for the finals.
Qatar
DPR Korea
AUSTRALIA'S MATCH SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE) TWO GROUPS OF FIVE: HOME AND AWAY
MD 1: September 6, 2008 - Bye MD 2: September 10, 2008 - Uzbekistan (away) MD 3: October 15, 2008 - Qatar (home) MD 4: November 19, 2008 - Bahrain (away) MD 5: February 11, 2009 - Japan (away) MD 6: March 28, 2009 - Bye MD 7: April 1, 2009 - Uzbekistan (home) MD 8: June 6, 2009 - Qatar (away) MD 9: June 10, 2009 - Bahrain (home) MD 10: June 17, 2009 - Japan (home)