AFC 2011 Nations Cup

[BrankoWasTheBEST]

AFC Asian Cup 2011 draw at the Dome
KUALA LUMPUR: Less than a week after the draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup fourth round Asian qualifiers (June 27) here in the Malaysian capital, all eyes will turn to the magnificent Aspire Dome in Doha for the official draw of the AFC Asian Cup 2011™ final qualification round.

Sharp at 12 noon local time on Thursday, July 3, 2008, the draw for AFC’s flagship football competition will commence in the Qatari capital at the world’s largest indoor sports facility, and by the end of the process 20 teams would have been slotted into five groups of four each (5x4) under the Dome’s distinctive sloping roof.

The top two teams from each of the five groups (2x5) will qualify for the Finals for which a direct bye has been reserved for AFC Asian Cup 2007™ winners Iraq (1), runners-up Saudi Arabia (1) and third-place team Korea Republic (1), in addition to hosts Qatar (1). The winners of the AFC Challenge Cups 2008 (1) and 2010 (1) also have two berths reserved for them in the final 16.

The final round of qualification was preceded by a two-legged solitary play-off which saw Lebanon defeat Maldives for a place in the draw.

The final qualification round seedings, based on the results of the AFC Asian Cup 2007™ and its qualifiers, are led by Japan, who finished fourth in the last instalment, followed by Australia, Iran and Uzbekistan, all of whom qualified for the final round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last week.

The dates for the final qualification round will be announced shortly by AFC.

AFC Asian Cup 2011 – Official Draw
Final Qualification Round
Thursday 3rd July 2008 at 12 noon – Aspire Dome, Doha, Qatar

DRAW MECHANICS

THE SEEDINGS AND POTS

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
1. Japan 6. China 11. Oman 16. Yemen
2. Australia 7. Thailand 12. Malaysia 17. Kuwait
3. Iran 8. Indonesia 13. Jordan 18. Singapore
4. Uzbekistan 9. UAE 14. Syria 19. India
5. Vietnam 10. Bahrain 15. Hong Kong 20. Lebanon

Procedure

a) Seeds to be separated as follows:
• POT 1 = Seeds 1 - 5
• POT 2 = Seeds 6 – 10
• POT 3 = Seeds 11 – 15
• POT 4 = Seeds 16 - 20

b) Pots to be drawn as follows:
1. First: POT 4
i. Draw 1 – Position: A4
ii. Draw 2 – Position: B4
iii. Draw 3 – Position: C4
iv. Draw 4 – Position: D4
v. Draw 5 – Position: E4

2. Second: POT 3
i. Draw 1 – Position: A3
ii. Draw 2 – Position: B3
iii. Draw 3 – Position: C3
iv. Draw 4 – Position: D3
v. Draw 5 – Position: E3

3. Third: POT 2
i. Draw 1 – Position: A2
ii. Draw 2 – Position: B2
iii. Draw 3 – Position: C2
iv. Draw 4 – Position: D2
v. Draw 5 – Position: E2

4. Fourth: POT 1
i. Draw 1 – Position: A1
ii. Draw 2 – Position: B1
iii. Draw 3 – Position: C1
iv. Draw 4 – Position: D1
v. Draw 5 – Position: E1
 

[BrankoWasTheBEST]

The draw took place. Here is the result

Group A
A1 - Japan
A2 - Bahrain
A3 - Hong Kong
A4 - Yemen
 
Group B
B1 - Australia
B2 - Indonesia
B3 - Oman
B4 - Kuwait


Group C
C1 - Uzbekistan
C2 - UAE
C3 - Malaysia
C4 - India

 
Group D
D1 - Vietnam
D2 - China
D3 - Syria
D4 - Lebanon
 
 
Group E
E1 - Iran
E2 - Thailand
E3 - Jordan
E4 - Singapore


I think we should be able to advance as top 2 teams go through to meet with the top seeds Saudi, Iraq, South Korea and hosts Qatar
   

[Afshin]

Tables in colour: http://www.persianfootballcenter.com/?p=106#more-106

[007]

Group C is easiest with India and Malaysia

Thailand and Jordan could give Iran problems

[BrankoWasTheBEST]

Jams Bond jaan, as a footballing nation we have to be able to defeat other teams. It is not a measure of strenght to beat the minnows. To be good, we have to compete with the best, so I am not too bothered about the draw.

Last year we saw how we progressed. We were totally useless with the likes of Malaysia and China who almost beat us. We were very very lucky against them and even the Uzbeks. All thanks to Kalleh Gohi (GN). We had the EASIEST route in our history to win the cup and blew it with weak teams. Now atleast it is a test of strength, so I am not bothered.

I believe in Daei

[Afshin]

I agree with BWTB, Asian Cup 2007 was there for the taking, we didn't win it thanks to our incompetent coach Ghalenoei and those who supported him, for the first time ever we did not have any Arab teams in our group and indeed we did not play against any Arab team in Asian Cup 2007 finals at all, so no PARTY BAZI and referee taking side etc, we had an easy first round group and then South Korea B side that beat us or should I say they beat Ghalenoei.

If we can't overcome Thailand and Jordan then we may as well not bother going to the finals.