Australia, Japan on cusp of World Cup
Friday, 5 June 2009
SINGAPORE, Jun 4 (AFP): Australia and Japan are poised to be among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup finals Saturday, and they are determined to grab the opportunity.
The Socceroos are unbeaten in their five Asian Group A games and can book their place in South Africa by either beating or drawing with Qatar in the searing heat of Doha.
Japan will join them if they take all three points against Uzbekistan in Tashkent, leaving Qatar, Bahrain and the Uzbeks to battle for the third place play-off slot.
In Group B, South Korea are in the driving seat with 11 points from five games, one ahead of North Korea and Saudi Arabia who have played a game more. Iran have five points from five matches.
South Korea, spearheaded by Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung, travel to Dubai where the UAE, who are out of the running, have only pride to play for, while Iran need to beat North Korea in Pyongyang to stay in the race.
Australian coach Pim Verbeek has selected virtually all of the country's high-profile players for their matches against Qatar then Bahrain on June 10 and Japan on June 17.
But Newcastle targetman Mark Viduka is missing after saying he needed to rest while Everton linchpin Tim Cahill is a doubt for Saturday.
Cahill pulled up clutching his left leg after blocking a clearance from Chelsea defender Alex in last weekend's FA Cup final, and Verbeek will not want to risk aggravating the injury.
The 29-year-old, though, is determined to play and help Australia qualify.
The Socceroos are unbeaten in their five Asian Group A games and can book their place in South Africa by either beating or drawing with Qatar in the searing heat of Doha.
Japan will join them if they take all three points against Uzbekistan in Tashkent, leaving Qatar, Bahrain and the Uzbeks to battle for the third place play-off slot.
In Group B, South Korea are in the driving seat with 11 points from five games, one ahead of North Korea and Saudi Arabia who have played a game more. Iran have five points from five matches.
South Korea, spearheaded by Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung, travel to Dubai where the UAE, who are out of the running, have only pride to play for, while Iran need to beat North Korea in Pyongyang to stay in the race.
Australian coach Pim Verbeek has selected virtually all of the country's high-profile players for their matches against Qatar then Bahrain on June 10 and Japan on June 17.
But Newcastle targetman Mark Viduka is missing after saying he needed to rest while Everton linchpin Tim Cahill is a doubt for Saturday.
Cahill pulled up clutching his left leg after blocking a clearance from Chelsea defender Alex in last weekend's FA Cup final, and Verbeek will not want to risk aggravating the injury.
The 29-year-old, though, is determined to play and help Australia qualify.