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China in group with Iraq, Singapore and Palestine
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-05 09:23
SINGAPORE (AFP) - China were pitted with Palestine, Iraq and Singapore in the
qualifying draw of 2007 Asian Cup.
The Asia's top tournament will be co-hosted by four Southeast Asian
countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, while China should have
no problem progressing against minnows Palestine but Iraq and fast-improving
Singapore could cause them a headache.
 Defending champions Japan avoided South Korea and arch-rivals China on
Wednesday, whom Japan beat 3-1 in a bad-tempered final in Beijing in 2004.
Also in Japan's group are India and Yemen, with the top two going through to
the finals from July 9-27, 2007, which will be co-hosted by Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia and Vietnam.
The co-hosting is a decision the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) now
regrets.
"It is proving very difficult for us. We have to have four organising
committees, four media centres and there are also financial considerations," AFC
president Mohammed Bin Hammam told AFP.
"It was my mistake. If we had a choice we definitely wouldn't do it again."
Japan and Saudi Arabia have both won the Asian Cup three times. The two met
in the final in 2000, with Japan emerging victorious 1-0.
"We will field our first team for all the matches," said Kohzo Tashima,
technical director of the Japan national team. "The group is not that easy and
we have to make our qualification doubly sure."
Twenty-four Asian teams went into the hat for the draw with the qualifying
games to be played on February 22, March 1, August 16, September 6, October 11
and November 15.
South Korea, led by Dick Advocaat, will take on Asia's number two team Iran
in Group B. Both sides will also be in Germany at the World Cup this year.
Taiwan and Syria round out their group.
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