Asia seeking five Cup places

Asia seeking five Cup places

TOKYO: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), boosted by South Korea's surprise progress to the World Cup semifinals, has repeated its demand for the continent to be given five places in the 2006 finals in Germany.

AFC general secretary Peter Velappan, pointing to Korea's feat plus Japan's progress to the second round, said on Wednesday his organization would ask world governing body FIFA after Sunday's final to raise the number of guaranteed places for Asia.

In addition to co-host South Korea -- beaten 1-0 by Germany in Tuesday's first semi-final -- and Japan, both China and Saudia Arabia also qualified for this year's finals from Asia.

The continent also had the chance of a another spot through a playoff with a European team but Iran lost out to Ireland. --Reuters