AFC Asian Cup 2007 Final Draw: Stage set for intriguing ties

AFC - All eyes will be on the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre when the AFC Asian Cup 2007 Final Draw takes place tomorrow (December 19), marking the start of the final stretch to the continent’s premier national team event.

The Final Draw marks the culmination of 10 months of thrilling qualifying action involving 24 teams and spread over 22 countries.

Eagerly waiting for the draw, alongwith representatives and coaches of the 16 Finalists, are millions of fans across Asia. The event which kicks off at 2000 hours local time will be beamed live to an estimated 250 million households.

With the exception of the four co-hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam who qualified automatically, all the other teams, including the traditional continental superpowers, had to do it the hard way and negotiate their way forward from tricky groups.

The distinction of being the only debutants in next year’s Finals goes to Australia who topped the three-team Group D and were the first ones to qualify, leaving Bahrain and Kuwait way behind in a scrap for second place. Bahrain, a pale shadow of the team which finished fourth in China 2004, eventually squeezed past Kuwait in the all-West drama to book their place in the tournament proper.

Of the 12 qualifying teams, only Iran, who finished third in the last edition, managed to advance without losing a game though they had to endure a change of coaches as Branko Ivankovic bid farewell after the team’s disastrous showing in the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany and Amir Ghalenoiee was given charge of their flailing campaign.

Two-time defending champions Japan never looked in trouble after being slotted in an easy group with Saudi Arabia, who slammed a whopping 21 goals, for company and a one-two was always on the cards. Co-incidentally, the trophy has changed hands between Japan and Saudi Arabia since 1984 though none of them has been able to claim a hat-trick.

Last edition’s hosts and runners-up China started confidently but a loss of form midway coupled with a determined showing from Singapore and Palestine almost cost them their place in the Finals from a group which remained wide open until Match Day 5. Iraq played all their matches in neutral venues and won hearts and a spot in the Final Draw with their courageous showing.

For the UAE, qualification proved to be a breeze even as their ‘Arab derby’ games with Oman, who also made the grade, enthralled fans.

Qatar easily sewed up their place in yet another AFC Asian Cup Final Draw while Uzbekistan had to pull themselves back from the brink after a defeat and two draws greatly reduced their chances. Coach Valeri Nepomniatchi first lost his job with Pakhtakor and then quit on the final Match Day after the Uzbeks heaved themselves into the tournament proper.