Asia’s standing as a reputable footballing continent will be on the line at the World Cup, and AFC president Mohammed bin Hammam on Wednesday rallied regional teams to stand up and be counted.
Five Asian Football Confederation teams will be in action — Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with plenty at stake.
”In the context of Asian footballs profile on the world stage, this is the reputation and credibility of Asia,” said bin Hammam.
”We say that ‘the future is Asia’, and in the past we have claimed that Asia has never been fairly represented in terms of the Fifa World Cup and other international football activities.
”Therefore, the 2006 Fifa World Cup is the time for us to show what we have in our hands.”
Japan and South Korea successfully joint-hosted the last World Cup in 2002 and both teams performed well in front of home fans, but whether they can repeat the feat in hostile territory remains to be seen.
If they flop, their 2002 efforts may go down as a fluke. Australia, meanwhile, are playing in their first World Cup in 32 years, while Iran has never progressed beyond the group stages.
Saudi Arabia’s best effort was in 1994 in the United States when it tore through the group stage to reach the round of 16, where it fell to Sweden.
Bin Hammam said how Asian teams fare will determine how the region as a whole is regarded by Fifa, world football’s governing body.
”Obviously there are two scenarios: based on a positive performance, new facts will need to be presented to Fifa to review AFC’s ranking on the world stage,” he said.
”Likewise, should we have a negative performance, this is contrary to what we are claiming and we will need to review ourselves. Hopefully this will not happen.
”All I can say at this stage is that I hope our Asian teams perform in a way to honour the fans in Asia, and to make us proud of our sporting achievements.”
Asian champions Japan start their World Cup campaign against Australia on June 12 in the tough Group F which also includes Brazil and Croatia.
South Korea, semifinalists at the last World Cup, open their Group G account against African debutants Togo in Frankfurt on June 13. They will also play 1998 champions France and Switzerland.
Iran are grouped with Mexico, Portugal and Angola while the Saudis take on Tunisia, Ukraine and Spain.
Bin Hammam said that whatever happened, the popularity of football in Asia would be boosted by the June 9-July 9 extravagenza.
”In terms of our fans, we already know that football is Asia’s number one sport,” he said.
”Saying that, I do think that the popularity and impact of the World Cup will have a positive commercial effect on AFC competitions and on domestic football in Asia in making football more attractive to the commercial sector.
”This is in terms of both interest and contribution from broadcasters and sponsors.”
Bin Hammam, a Qatari, would not be drawn on which Asian team he fancies to do well.
”I know that every team representing Asia has made a lot of effort to prepare and to perform to their best ability,” he said.
”I respect these efforts and am confident that everyone will perform well on behalf of their continent.” – AFP
