Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Most of the Asian countries, having their 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers final stages matches in September, have arranged international friendlies in FIFA’s international match-day calendar of August to fine-tune their team.
Korea Republic, Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Lebanon from Group A and Japan, Iraq, Australia, Oman and Jordan from Group B are vying for the top two spots from each group to seal tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2014 finals to be played in Brazil.
Two third-place teams take part in a home-and-away play-off with the victorious side taking on a representative from South America (CONMEBOL) in a two-leg fixture with a ticket to the finals at stake.
Jordan and Uzbekistan will play two friendly internationals within two days in August 13 and 15 as part of their preparations for the September’s official match day. Jordan will take on Australia at home while Uzbekistan have a tough trip to Korea Republic on September 11.
Second from bottom in Group B, Oman will host reigning African champions Egypt at home on 15th August. Oman played three matches so far with their only defeat coming against away at Group B leaders Japan who will take on Venezuela on the same day at home. Having bagged seven points from three matches, Japan will try to continue its impressive start of the final round qualifications when they meet Iraq at home on September 11.
Australia, who drew against Japan and Oman in their first two matches, are desperate to secure all three points when they travel to Jordan on September 11. They have scheduled friendly match against Scotland on August 15 in Scotland.
Group A second position holders Iran are not involved in August but they have arranged a friendly international against Syria in Iran a week before their away tie against Lebanon on September 11. However, leaders Korea Republic who are hosting Uzbekistan on the same day, have fixed friendly match against Zambia on August 15.