Asian Cup 2007 Starts this weekend..

[Aussie Bee]

Asia's "World Cup" or "Euro 2008" starts this weekend.

They hold it every 4 years - Australia have been given permission to play in it this year after moving into the Asian Groups rather than Oceania.

Japan have won it 3 out of the last 4 times but the Aussies are favorites to win it this time.

Is it getting much press coverage in England / Europe?

I'm looking forward to it - Be interesting to see if the Aussies can handle the hot humid conditions

[Aussie Bee]

Australia are playing at the moment and trailing OMAN 0-1 lol

So much for being favorites lol

[Aussie Bee]

The Aussie got lucky to draw in the end by the sound of it...

Substitute Tim Cahill spared Australia's blushes by securing a point against Oman with a last-gasp equaliser in the Socceroos' 2007 AFC Asian Cup opener on Sunday.

Gabriel Calderon's side looked on course for a superb victory after Badar Mubarak's first-half strike.

Oman could have wrapped up the points on a number of occasions in the second period but for the heroics of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Australia plugged away as the game entered the final stages and their persistency paid off when Mark Bresciano's effort was spilled into the path of Everton midfielder Cahill, who struck the Socceroos' first-ever goal in the competition.

The game had started slowly as both teams tested each other out, but it was Oman who had the first real attempt on target in the eighth minute when Ismail Al Ajmi sent a header over the bar from a corner.

Australia had a similar chance three minutes later when some good work down the left flank saw Luke Wilkshire's cross force a corner, from which Patrick Kisnorbo headed wide.

Oman looked dangerous on the counter and after one such break they won a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. Ahmed Hadid swung the ball in and Yousuf Sha'ban just failed to connect when in clear sight of goal.

Soon after, Australia had appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee after Harry Kewell appeared to be pushed over in the box.

The Liverpool player was then guilty of failing to capitalise on a golden opportunity when he was unable to convert a Wilkshire free-kick.

But it was Oman who shocked the Australian following when they took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Imad Ali broke down the left and made his way to the by-line before hitting a low pass that found Badar Mubarak unmarked in the box. The Al Siliya forward picked his spot and fired beyond Schwarzer.

Just before half-time Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi snubbed out a threat of an Australian equaliser. Vince Grella latched onto a Mile Sterjovski ball and scampered past the defence but Al Habsi was quick out of goal to deny the Torino man.

Australia coach Graham Arnold brought on John Aloisi at the start of the second half in a bid to bring the Socceroos back into the game, but they continued to struggle to create chances of note.

Calderon introduced Fawzi Bashir for Badar Mubrak on the hour mark to add fresh legs to the Oman attack.

In the 69th minute, Schwarzer kept Australia in the match as he pulled off a superb one-handed save to deny Imad Ali when the striker rose to send a powerful header towards goal.

Oman again had a chance to seal victory minutes later when Bashir deftly wrong-footed an Australia defender to put himself clear on goal but Schwarzer came to the rescue.

Australia drew on all their remaining strength as the game entered the closing minutes and pressured the Omani back-line.

It finally paid off when substitute Cahill, returning to action following a long-term injury problem, smashed home after Al Habsi spilled Bresciano's effort.

[Beefy]

There's been no or very little coverage over here Aussie, i didn't realise it was on until you posted. Australia must be one of the favourites are they mate

[Aussie Bee]

They are very strong favorites Beefy - Australia 2/1, Japan 3/1, Iran 9/2, Korean Rep 7/1

Not surprised its not getting any coverage over there - it usually doesn't make it to our tv sets here but this year Australia are in it for the first time so its getting major coverage now.

Australia used to be in the Oceania group - every world cup they got shafted by having to play the 5th placed South American team to qualify - Argentina one year! Uruguay a couple of times.

Anyway after lots of lobbying the Aussies got accepted into the Asian Groups for world cup qualifying and the Asian Cup - which is now on !

go here to keep up with it all if you are interested!

www.theworldgame.com.au

[Aussie Bee]

After a 3-1 loss last friday the aussies had to do it tough tonight in bangkok against thailand and 40000 screaming rabid fans - we won 0-4.

That means we are in the quarter finals - v Japan in vietnam - not easy but possible - this was supposed to be the final but we blew coming first in the group

[Aussie Bee]

1-1 after extra time

Aussies lost 4-3 on penalties after kewell and neill missed the first two!

[Beefy]

I thought you'd win the competition Aussie, you must be gutted

[Aussie Bee]

Nah not really Beefy - had a good night in the pub last night watching it but the Aussies were terrible - crap defending - Japan should have won in normal time. Grella got sent off in the second half (harshly) and that spoilt the game a bit.

They reckon now that Viduka will retire from international footy and the coach Graham Arnold will get the chop for some dutch bloke who coached rangers a few years back.

I suppose one of the good things about losing is they won't take the asians too lightly in the world cup qualifiers - saying that losing last night means we aren't going to be seeded now so the task of getting to sa in 2010 will be a little harder!

[Aussie Bee]

Here are a few links if anyone is interested.....

http://blogs.smh.com.au/sport/archiv...lia_v_jap.html

http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/matthe...n_who_fel.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/asian-cup...560116882.html