Australia prepare for final WC hurdle

Australia are only eight games away from a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and commence what is hopefully the final qualification stage when they meet Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The Socceroos will play home and away matches against the Uzbeks, Bahrain, Japan and Qatar, with the top two teams from each Asian qualification group gaining direct qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The third placed team from each group will then match up against each other for the right to play off against the winner from the Oceania Confederation.

Uzbekistan had been tipped as dark horses in the group, however they opened their fourth round qualifying campaign on Saturday in Doha suffering a shock 3-0 loss to Qatar, a team Australia defeated twice during the third round of qualifiers.

After a confidence boosting victory for the Socceroos over the Netherlands at the weekend, Australia coach Pim Verbeek was quick to remind his players that they will need to focus.

“Different opponents, different circumstances,” Verbeek said.

“It will be different, but I think I have a good impression of the team now and what I’m going to do for Wednesday.”

UZBEKISTAN v AUSTRALIA
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Kick Off 8.30pm UZT (1:30am AEST, Thursday, September 11, 2008)
2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier – Round 4
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Current FIFA rankings: Uzbekistan 55, Australia 39.

Published on September 9, 2008