2005-10-16 - 2007 Asian Cup Qualifying - Seeding
Following a tip-off, I just found what the seeding for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers is:
1st seeds: Iran, Japan, China, Bahrain, Jordan and Uzbekistan
2nd seeds: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait
3rd seeds: United Arab Emirates, Australia, Syria, Yemen, Singapore and Lebanon
4th Seeds: India, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Taiwan, Hong Kong and either
Bangladesh or Pakistan (depending on who wins the pre-qualifier
scheduled for November between the two nations)
Not sure how these were determined but it looks like it's a combination of the FIFA rankings for June 2005 and performances in the last Asian Cup.
There will be six groups of four teams with the top two in each group
qualifying for the finals. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam
qualify automatically as hosts.
Japan will need to qualify even though they are the current champions.
Australia, having switched confederations from Oceania to Asia, have
been seeded in the third group even though they are outranked by only
four Asian nations. It's understandable though as they of course
haven't participated in any Asian tournaments to date. It does throw up
the possibility of Japan, South Korea and Australia being drawn in one
group, with only two qualifying for the finals.
Yemen is currently suspended by FIFA, but I expect they'll be let back
in sometime soon. If not, the loser of the pre-qualifier between
Bangladesh and Pakistan will likely take their place, although they'd
have to promote one of the fourth seeds to third seeds as both
pre-qualifiers would be seeded in the fourth group.
The draw for the qualifiers will take place on 4 January 2006.
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Post A Comment!
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2005-10-16 - Australia |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Interesting that Australia is allowed to switch confederations. I can understand it makes it "easier" for them to qualify for the World Cup 2010, as Asia has more places and Oceania a tough play-off. But doesn't it raise questions about how many places each confederation gets and how qualifying in general is done?
I suppose Israel also switched confederations, but that was more for political reasons than footballing ones. What would happen if a European or South American country decided to try and make such a switch? |
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2005-10-16 - Re: Australia |
| Posted by rdasilva |
There's actually quite a few nations that are not playing in the confederations that perhaps they should be. Geographically speaking, the following nations are all either in different continents from the one they play their qualifiers in, or are spread across two continents:
South America (all three play in CONCACAF):
- Surinam
- French Guiana
- Guyana
Asia/Europe (all play in Europe):
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Cyprus
- Georgia
- Israel
- Kazakhstan (partly European/majority in Asia)
- Turkey (partly European/majority in Asia)
Oceania:
- Australia
Perhaps there's more. So Australia is one of at least 11 such nations, although to my knowledge only three have switched (Australia, Kazakstan and Israel). In fact in World Cup qualifying history there have been many occasions where countries have played in different continental groups for either political or organisational reasons.
What does it really matter though? Apart from New Zealand, Australia hardly ever drop points in their own continent. If FIFA continue to award no automatic places to Oceania, I wouldn't be surprise if New Zealand follow them for future World Cups. I don't think a European or South American nation would ever switch to another continent but I can imagine one of the 'Asian' European nations above trying their luck in Asia. |
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2005-10-17 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Anonymous |
I was thinking about this, "Asian" European countries moving to the Asian confederation. I think the money to be generated, even as a European "minnow", is more than that on offer as a slightly bigger fish in the Asian pool.
As for Australia, should they not qualify for the World Cup tey don't really get any regular competative matches, which may have been one of the main arguments for moving to the Asian confederation.
TS |
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2005-10-24 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Petrograd |
I think they should make merge Asia and Oceania.
Could have a sub group to get rid of most of the minor countries there, and let say 2-3 nations join the pre-rounds in Asia. |
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2005-11-10 - Asian qualifiers |
| Posted by Anonymous |
| Why are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in the qualifiers if they qualify automatically as co-hosts? |
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2005-11-10 - Re: Asian Qualifiers |
| Posted by rdasilva |
I'm not sure where you saw that Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are in the qualifiers because they're not. Here's my page on the subject. They definately qualify automatically for the finals!
http://www.rdasilva.demon.co.uk/football/asc/ascq2007.html |
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