Last 4 fightin for qualification

[IRAN_TILL_I_DIE]

JAKARTA - The four remaining teams in AFC Asian Cup 2007, Iraq, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia, are also competing for automatic qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, as well as the prize of being champions of Asia.

As announced following the AFC Executive Committee held on 17th July 2006, the teams which finish first (1st), second (2nd) and third (3rd) in 2007, and the host nation for the 2011 competition, shall receive automatic byes to Finals.

The winners of the AFC Challenge Cup competitions in 2008 and 2010 shall also qualify automatically to the 2011 Finals. Should the champions of 2008 and 2010 be the same team, then the runners-up from AFC Challenge Cup 2010 shall qualify along with the champion.

Therefore, the 3rd/4th place match at this edition of the AFC Asian Cup takes on more significance, as the winner will join the Champion and Runner-up of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 in 2011.

The host of 2011 shall be announced at the post-AFC Executive Committee media conference on 29th July 2007. The time and location shall be announced on the AFC Media Channel within the next two days.

[Kaveh Ahangar]

Automatic qualification is of no benefit to anyone. They would have far fewer competitive games and the team could well rot away under lack of match practice.

[saeed_noro]

Automatic qualification is of no benefit to anyone. They would have far fewer competitive games and the team could well rot away under lack of match practice.

[D P P]

WOW so we could qualify for 2011 asian cup next year in 2008? by winning the challenge cup????

and what exactly is this challenge cup? never heard of it before!

[D P P]

this is ridiculous!

i just googled afc challenge cup and the final of afc challenge cup 2006 was with taiwan and tajikistan!!!!!!


so afc is going to allow these joke teams to easily qualify????

and then real teams like iran and australia have to fight each other in qualifiers and risk missing out?????


HOW DOES THIS MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL?

[Kaveh Ahangar]

HOW DOES THIS MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL?

Did you honestly expect anything more from the most godforsaken football federation, with a RETARD as AFC president???

I'm still seething with anger that they gave these games to countries that don't give a damn about football and barely managed to get 2,000 attendence for some matches.

[Tooyedarbazeh]

Did you honestly expect anything more from the most godforsaken football federation, with a RETARD as AFC president???

I'm still seething with anger that they gave these games to countries that don't give a damn about football and barely managed to get 2,000 attendence for some matches.

Really no surprise considering that the president is arab...
Im sure you've noticed that in arab club matches barely 1 000 people show up......
If they didnt have the oil they would not be able to pay the players..
I mean what kind of a joke are their leagues and look what repeat effect they have had to the Asian Cup