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.