Bangkok, Thailand (AHN) - The 2007 edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asia Cup kicks-off on Saturday July 7 with a match between Thailand and Iraq in the Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok.
First disputed in 1956, the Asian Cup has developed into the continent's premier soccer tournament, bringing together the top national teams from the length and breadth of the Asian continent.
The AFC Asian Cup 2007, co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, marks the first time that the final rounds of a major international soccer competition will be staged by four countries and for the first time ever, Australia -- who last year joined the AFC from Oceania in search of more meaningful competition -- will challenge traditional Asian powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Sixteen teams qualified for the final rounds: the six winners and runners-up of the qualifying round groups, and the host associations Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The tournament, held from July 7 to 29, will be split into two stages with a mini-league group stage preceding a knockout stage.
The winners of each of the four groups will meet a runner-up from another group in the quarterfinals. All four quarterfinals will take place over one match with the winner progressing to the semifinals.
The final will be played in Jakarta on July 29.
The AFC hoped the co-hosting arrangement would help spread the tournament's appeal, but have now conceded the logistical problems have made their job harder and have decided never to repeat the exercise.
SOCCEROOS START FAVORITES
Australia, the tournament favorites, boast a host of players from the EPL, La Liga, Serie A and the German Bundesliga -- and the presence of the Socceroo stars at the 14th edition of the tournament boosts the image of a championship, which previously mainly consisted of world soccer's also-rans.
But for a sports-obsessed country, Australia's trophy haul in soccer, is somewhat embarrassing.
The Socceroos have never in their history won a major international soccer tournament.
Australia coach Graham Arnold told reporters at a pre-tournament training camp: "I walk past the trophy cabinet in the Football Australia offices every day and it's empty.
"It would be nice to put something in it."
But the Socceroos did reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup -- before losing out to the eventual champions Italy -- and the players say the experience in Germany has made them believe they can win in Asia.
At a public reception on Thursday, Blackburn Rovers defensive midfielder, Brett Emerton said: "We'll try and play some sexy football.
"It's a new experience for us going into this tournament as the favorites.
"There's a lot of expectation from the Australian public -- which is a first for us.
"It's really exciting to be part of this coming from Australia where soccer is not the number one sport. We're not used to this."
The Socceroos, featuring Mark Viduka (Newcastle United), Tim Cahill (Everton), Lucas Neill (West Ham) Harry Kewell (Liverpool) Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Vince Grella (Torino), Mark Bresciano (Parma) and John Aloisi (Deportivo Alaves), who all played at the 2006 World Cup, open their maiden Asia Cup campaign with a game against Oman in Bangkok on Sunday.
Japan, winners of three of the last four Asia Cups, are the team most likely to challenge Australia, but despite being unbeaten this year, the team is far from being the exciting, attacking force they were when they hosted World Cup 2002. Japan's opening match is against Qatar in Hanoi.
Group A
Australia, Iraq, Oman, Thailand
Group B
Japan, Qatar, UAE, Vietnam
Group C
China, Iran, Malaysia, Uzbekistan
Group D
Bahrain, Indonesia, Korea Republic. Saudi Arabia
AFCASIA CUP - LAST FIVE WINNERS
2004: Japan
2000: Japan
1996: Saudi Arabia
1992: Japan
1998: Saudi Arabia
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