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Aussies avoid Iran, S Korea and Saudi Arabia in Cup draw

Australia were grouped with Japan yesterday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup, but avoided fellow heavyweights South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The teams were split into two groups of five during the draw at AFC House, with Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar pitted alongside the Socceroos and Japan.

Joining South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia are North Korea and United Arab Emirates.

The top two in each group automatically make the finals in South Africa, while the two third-placed teams lock horns in a play-off with the winner battling the Oceania representative for a spot at the global showpiece.

Pim Verbeek’s Socceroos, seeded No. 1 because of their FIFA ranking, were always going to avoid the second-seeded South Korea, who have qualified for every World Cup finals since Mexico in 1986.

But three-time World Cup qualifiers Japan will be a tough obstacle for a team that made the knockout rounds at the last World Cup in Germany, before narrowly losing to eventual winners Italy.

Australia were in the same group as Japan at the 2006 finals and beat them 3-1, but the Japanese gained revenge at last year’s Asian Cup with a win on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Verbeek expects to have injured European aces Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka back for the final push to South Africa.

Goalscoring midfielder Cahill missed Australia’s earlier qualifiers after foot surgery, but is aiming to be back for Everton in August, while Newcastle United’s Viduka has struggled with an Achilles injury.

Dark horses Uzbekistan, who Rauf Inlieev has molded into an attacking side, will be Australia’s opening match away on Sept. 10. They finish at home to Japan.
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