Korea and Japan set for new World Cup battle
Korea and Japan set for new World Cup battle
ZURICH (AFP): Japan and South Korea, which had to settle for a draw when they fought over the right to hold the 2002 World Cup soccer finals, clash again for the right to go to the 1998 finals in France.
The two countries were drawn in the same group for the final round of the Asian Zone on Tuesday.
South Korea and Asian champion Saudi Arabia, which both played in the 1994 USA finals, were seeded and kept apart.
Korea and Japan must finish ahead of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates to get to France.
Saudi Arabia's group comprises Kuwait, China, Iran and Qatar.
Matches will be played on a home and away basis between Sept. 12 and Nov. 9. The final Asian Zone round is usually played on a tournament basis in a neutral country.
The two group winners qualify directly for France. The runners-up play off for third place in the 1998 finals. This match will not be on a home and away basis but no decision had been taken as to whether it would be played in a neutral country.
The losers of this play-off tackle Oceania Zone winner Australia on a home and away basis for a place in France.
The dates for those matches are Nov. 22 in Asia and Nov. 29 in Australia.
Japanese Football Association general secretary Junji Ogura said he was pleased to be in the same group as Korea.
But the decision to abandon the tournament format, which had been penciled in for October, surprised him and most Asian officials.
"We will have to re-arrange our league schedules to fit in these games," Ogura said.
"It's a big change," Chinese Football Association general secretary Wang Junsheng said. "The timing for the second round had been decided last year and our league has been arranged according to that schedule. It will take at least eight to 10 weeks for our league to finish.
"We will have to re-arrange everything, including the league and the preparation for the national team.
Saudi Arabia's Portuguese coach Eduardo Vingada said "we had prepared our training camp to start in the middle of August and we would have been ready to play in October. This decision is not good for the team. It will cause problems."
FIFA secretary-general Sepp Blatter said the decision to abandon a tournament format was a compromise after months of bickering over where the competition should be held.
"It was easier to agree on a home and away basis. If we had taken one of the three proposals there would have been some resentment," he said.
Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain had bid to stage the qualifying tournament.
He was pleased to see Japan and Korea drawn together.
"To have Japan and Korea together is fantastic. They will fight together for the World Cup place in 1998 and work together for 2002," he said.
Saudi Arabia will renew acquaintance with Iran and China -- which caused them problems in last year's Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
"I think it will be the most difficult group with all the teams having a good chance," Vingada said.
Iran beat the Saudis 3-0 in a group game in last December's Asian Nations Cup before losing on penalties in the semifinals. Saudi Arabia only beat China 4-3 after trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes.
"It's another game and another story," Vingada said.
Iran coach Mohhamed Kohan said "I always thought that the team that goes to the World Cup would have to be strong so we will have to be strong when we come up against these teams.
"Saudi Arabia are just another team so it's not a problem for us and we're not looking for revenge," he said.
Final round draw
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Iran, Qatar
Group B: South Korea, Kazakhstan, Japan, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates
Matches to be played between Sept. 12. and Nov. 9.
The two group winners qualify directly for France. Runners-up play off for third place in 1998 finals. The loser of this play- off plays Oceania Zone winners Australia on a home and away basis for a place in France.
The dates for those matches are: Nov. 22 in Asia, Nov. 29 in Australia.