Hopefully our first match is at home so we can start off with a bang, maybe against Qatar or Oman. Whoever plays Uzbekistan on the first matchday will be confident as they'll have 5 starters suspended.
No they won't, they'll serve their suspensions on Wednesday against Japan so they'll start the final round card free.
Uzbekistan players will get an ADDITONAL match suspension of one match courtesy of FIFA determining they got their second yellow cards deliberately so they could start the final round card free. http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/bodies/news/newsid=1585615/index.html if it is like last time we'll start with a BYE in the first round (we must have already negotiated this with the AFC as we've organised a friendly with Denmark on 2nd June). But there's been nothing official yet as to exactly how the draw mechanics will be done this time - and probably wont be released until after they know the 10 teams in a few days.
Australia probably wont have any real problems earning a spot in brazil. but these lesser teams like china, saudi, iran, bahrain are still furious that in order for them to qualify, they have korea, japan and now aussies to beat.
Yeah I get that sense from some of those teams supporters and I can sympathise. However, there's not much point going to a world cup if you can't get some results against the better teams. I think this 4th round will be a lot tougher than last time.
This isn't definitely true. Because Japan are playing the Confed cup, they will be "team 5" in the group, even though they are a Pot 2 team - this ensures they have a bye in the last round. So, if we are in their group (50/50 change), they will be our first home opponent (2nd game after the away game against team 4). On the other hand, our last game would then be against a weak team (rather than against Iran, which would be the case if we are in their group). Well, we might get neither now that Japan have fallen behind Korea in the rankings. J
I'm admittedly pretty happy to see Japan lose to Uzbekistan. Firstly there were enough excuses to the game for me to believe it was an anomaly (posession/chances etc, conceding on their first attempt). So I don't feel the team is in massive danger of not qualifying (like any team ofcourse they have things they can work on). But the best part is that now there's a chance to get to play Australia in the 4th round. Now I wouldn't normally care either way, but living in Tassie I will DEFINITELY make the trip to where-ever they play should they get drawn together. And tbh Australia at home or Iran in Tehran (who are in some nice form themselves) are tough enough propositions. Fingers crossed Japan and Australia are in the same group.
Group B: Australia, Japan, Iraq, Jordan, Oman Australia v Japan will be on June 12. I will definitely be going to watch it!! Group B was a very very kind draw.
2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Fourth Round fixtures Sunday, 3 June 2012 Australia - Bye Friday, 8 June 2012 Oman v Australia Tuesday, 12 June 2012 Australia v Japan Tuesday, 11 Sept 2012 Jordan v Australia Tuesday, 16 Oct 2012 Iraq v Australia Wednesday, 14 Nov 2012 Australia - Bye Tuesday, 26 March 2013 Australia v Oman Tuesday, 4 June 2013 Japan v Australia Tuesday, 11 June 2013 Australia v Jordan Tuesday, 18 June 2013 Australia v Iraq http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...n-and-Iraq-in-FIFA-World-Cup-qualifying/46059
If we can start well, with 3 out of 4 away games, then we're really be in a good position with a lot of home games to finish.
Not really sure how you can say that. Group B is the tougher of the two groups. Australia should still come out of the group 1 or 2 but Iraq is waiting to pounce.
Some thoughts on the draw: http://sandalsforgoalposts.com/2012/03/09/afc-2014-wcq-round-4-preview/ Hope you guys enjoy
I think every one wanted Lebanon didn't they? Would have been nice to have scored either Qatar or Uzbeks, we seem to consistently have their number lately. Jordan will be an interesting game as it's the only team we have not regularly meet since being in Asia. No easy games in this group.
Uzbekistan is better than Iraq. It is only us that seem to prefer the Uzbeks due to our recent records against each of them. Otherwise yes Japan>Iran, Jordan>Qatar and Oman>Lebanon. Australia and Korea are pretty much even. That being said though both groups are pretty even and neither will be a cakewalk. The only way you could say ours is easier to qualify from is that it is more likely that Iraq/ Jodan/ Oman take points off of each other so that a bad game from us or Japan wont matter as much, whereas in the other group Lebanon, whilst they could pull off the occasional suprise even over the big 2, aren't going to take many points overall (IMO) meaning that the Uzbeks and Qatar will be closer to knocking off Iran and Korea if they can pull off a win.
