Socceroos drawn with South Korea
Updated
The Socceroos face a group of South Korea, Bahrain and India. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Asia's top-ranked team Australia has been pitted against fellow World Cup finalists South Korea at the 2011 Asian Cup draw while three-times champions Japan will face Saudi Arabia.
The Socceroos, who struggled in their tournament debut at the last Asian Cup in 2007, have their work cut out in a tough Group C that also includes Bahrain and minnows India.
At a glitzy draw at the Aspire Dome that culminated 21 months of qualifying, Japan was drawn alongside all-Gulf opposition, with Syria and Jordan making up Group B.
Defending champions Iraq will take on Iran, North Korea and UAE while hosts Qatar are in Group A with China, Kuwait and Uzbekistan.
"It is not an easy group, but then none of them are," said the Australian team's Dutch technical director Han Berger.
"No game in this type of tournament is going to be easy."
He expressed fears that some of his European-based players, like Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell, may face opposition from their clubs to play with domestic seasons in full flight.
"Maybe it will be a problem. I'm Dutch so I know European clubs don't like to lose their players for tournaments like this. We will try to have our strongest team possible."
Australia will also have a new coach, with Pim Verbeek already announcing he will step down after the World Cup.
Japan won the tournament in 1992, 2000 and 2004 and plan to add to the tally in January.
"We aspire to be in the final," said their technical director Hiromi Hara.
"It's amazing that we have all Gulf nations, but I am glad we avoided South Korea and Australia," he added.
"Who is the toughest team in our group? Well, all Asian teams are strong nowadays so I can't single one out."
The tournament opens at the 50,000 capacity Khalifa Stadium and will be played in January rather than July to avoid the searing summer heat in the Qatari capital.
- AFP
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