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Asian fans have a host of soccer to look forward to

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, center, powers through the Chelsea defense during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London on May 19. Photo: AFP

The soccer season might be all but over in Europe but Asian fans can look forward to a feast of soccer action over the coming weeks as the world's top players make a beeline for the region.

The Asian Cup finals get underway next month with a host of European-based stars on show as Japan, South Korea, China and Iran prepare to battle with Asian newcomer Australia for top honours.

Australia's participation for the first time has whetted appetites with their host of English Premier League players, including Mark Viduka, Liverpool's perennially injured Harry Kewell, Everton's Tim Cahill and West Ham defender Lucas Neill.

But it is the arrival of club sides, who are all under pressure to help develop the game in the region, that have fans excited.

The top draw is Manchester United who are expected to show off new signings Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves for the first time.

Add in Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, it's little wonder tickets have been selling well. In Seoul, 65,000 tickets were snapped up in a matter of hours, with that many again disappointed after the game on July 20 sold out.

The Red Devils, fresh from winning the Premier League, get their tour underway against J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama on July 17 before playing FC Seoul and then to Macau on July 23 for a showdown with Shenzhen.

Their match against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumper was called off after stinging criticism from the Asian Football Confederation which accused United of "disrespect" as the tour clashes with the Asian Cup finals.

The fear is that such a big club will divert attention from the flagship tournament.

But while United dumping the Malasyia match was a partial victory for the AFC, Asian soccer's powerbrokers could do nothing to prevent the rest of the tour going ahead.

Two other high-profile events also clash with the Asian Cup.

Liverpool, boosted by Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher signing new four-year contracts, headline the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong from July 24 to July 27.

Joining the Champions Leag.ue finallists are Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth and Fulham, with former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez at the helm.

Across the East China Sea in South Korea, Sammy Lee's Bolton, Steve Coppell's Reading, French champions Lyon and Argentina's River Plate will vie for the biennial Peace Cup from July 12-21.

Barcelona are also heading to Asia for matches in Japan, China and Hong Kong in August while German giants Bayern Munich make a one-off trip to Hong Kong on July 1.

One club that won't be coming is Real Madrid, a regular visitor to Asia, which has decided not to tour this year to give their players a well-earned breather.

It was Real Madrid that led the charge into the vast untapped marketplace of Asia with a tour of China in 2005 that was widely derided for their take-the-money-and-run attitude.

Other clubs have also been accused of milking the region.
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