China in group with Iraq, Singapore and Palestine
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-05 09:23

"I am satisfied with the draw. We will have no major difficulties to advance to the next round," said Song Ki-Ryong, a spokesman for the Korea Football Association.

Guus Hiddink's Australia, which will be competing in an Asian Cup for the first time after offically joining the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) this month, will have a tough time against Bahrain, Lebanon and Kuwait.

It means the Australians face three long journeys to the Middle East where they will have little support. Kuwait are always difficult to beat at home while Bahrain shocked everyone by making the semi-finals in China.

Lebanon, meanwhile, have a sizable expatriate population in Australia for support.

On the flip side, the shorter travelling distance from Europe could encourage Australia's European-based stars like Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill to made the trip.

AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam said there was no excuse for them not to play.

"It is easy for them to travel," he said. "Australia are lucky because all their games in the Middle East are only five hours or so from Europe."

But Gary Moretti, a Football Australia official, said it was not that easy, pointing out that February 22 was not a FIFA match day -- meaning clubs are not duty-bound to release players.

"The challenge for us will be to see what sort of squad we are able to assemble for these games because it won't be easy to get a full-strength team out every time," he said.

Bin Hammam said he expected all the top teams to progress, and was relieved that the possibility of three leading teams being drawn in the same group didn't happen.

"It could have been a worse scenario, where one of the top teams faced elimination, but now I think all the top teams will go through," he said.

"From our point of view, the commercial side of things is going well. The TV is fixed up and all we need now is for the fans to fill the stadiums," he said.

Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan will fight for honours in Group C while Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Qatar and Uzbekistan are pitted in Group F.

The Asian Cup was first played in 1956.