Sixteen games will get the Socceroos to the World Cup

Last time the Socceroos really just had two game against Uruguay, and a few penalties, and we were off to the World Cup. It was that easy.

I know, I know about Oceania, but who saw the games. And who attended? Not many.

Four years before that it was a couple of games against Uruguay and before that two games against Iran.

This time the Aussies will play SIXTEEN games to secure qualification. See games below.

The first group will probably include easy beats like Oman and Thailand.
Second group would include teams like Iraq, Japan and Korea Republic.

Anyone for Uruguay, anyone?

From SBS:

The Socceroos have been given the number one seeding for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Despite exiting the competition following defeat to Japan in the quarter-finals of the AFC 2007 Asian Cup, the Socceroos will enjoy a bye in to round three of qualifying alongside semi-finalists Korea Republic, Japan, quarter-finalists Iran and Saudi Arabia who was defeated by Iraq in the final.

The seedings were based on results at the 2006 World Cup not as expected on the recent Asian Cup.

From AFC:

Round 3:
Eleven qualifiers from round 1 and four qualifiers from round 2 are joined by five highest ranked countries. These 20 teams are split into 5 groups of 4. First and second in each group qualify to next round


Match Day 1: 6 Feb 2008
Match Day 2: 26 Mar 2008
Match Day 3: 7 Jun 2008
Match Day 4: 14 Jun 2008
Match Day 5: 6 Sep 2008
Match Day 6: 10 Sep 2008

Round 4:
10 remaining teams split into two groups of 5 teams
Teams finishing first and second in each group automatically qualify



Match Day 1: 15 Oct 2008
Match Day 2: 19 Nov 2008
Match Day 3: 11 Feb 2009
Match Day 4: 28 Mar 2009
Match Day 5: 1 Apr 2009
Match Day 6: 6 Jun 2009
Match Day 7: 10 Jun 2009
Match Day 8: 17 Jun 2009
Match Day 9: 5 Sep 2009
Match Day 10: 9 Sep 2009

Any thoughts.

Great for me. More football, more often. Win or lose, we no longer have to wait four years for a couple of games of decent football.

I love Asia!