With only two groups left to preview, group D is up next in Asia. This group may be the most clear-cut group of the five in Asia with a drop in quality between all teams. Group D features Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The top two finishers advance to the final round of Asian qualifying.
Australia
FIFA rank: 22
2010 qualifying result: Qualified for World Cup, failed to advance out of group D with four points
How they got here: Received bye to this round
Australia is the heavy favorite in this group and with good reason. One of the three best teams in Asia, the Socceroos are trying to qualify for its third consecutive World Cup and fourth overall.
Before the 2006 World Cup, Australia officially moved to the Asian Confederation from the Oceania Confederation. This was done to avoid having to participate in a playoff for a spot in the World Cup as a member of the OFC. For four straight World Cups, the Aussies had to playoff against another confederation in a home and away series for a World Cup place.
In 1994 qualifying, Australia first had to face Canada, who they defeated on penalty kicks, and then Argentina, who they lost to on aggregate and were eliminated from qualifying. 1998 qualifying saw more heartbreak, in the playoff Australia faced off against Iran. A 1-1 away draw had the Aussies in good shape, and they took a 2-0 lead in the home leg. However, Iran fought back and tied the game at two, and advanced on away goals. 2002 qualifying brought more of the same, Australia ran through Oceania qualifying and faced Uruguay in the playoff. They won 1-0 in Melbourne, but fell 3-0 in Montevideo and failed to qualify.
Finally in 2006 Australia was able to push through the playoff, just after it was announced that the side was moving to the AFC. Again paired with Uruguay, Australia lost the away leg 1-0. In the home leg, Australia won 1-0 which forced a penalty shootout, which the Socceroos triumphed 4-2 to qualify. The side had a great performance in the 2006 World Cup, making the knockout round where they fell to eventual champion Italy on a controversial late penalty.
In its first qualifying cycle as a member of the AFC, Australia easily navigated its way to the World Cup. They cruised to the top spot in the first group round despite losing two games, mostly with experimental squads. The final round saw Australia demonstrate its dominance as one of the premier teams in Asia. The side went undefeated with six wins and two draws and finished top of the group that featured Japan, Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan. while only conceding one goal. However, Australia failed to advance out of its group at the World Cup. An opening 4-0 loss to Germany was the difference, as a 1-1 draw with Ghana and 2-1 defeat of Serbia was not enough to improve its goal difference.
Following the 2010 World Cup, Holger Osieck was named the head coach of Australia. A distinguished manager, Osieck was the assistant on West Germany's 1990 World Cup champions team. He also managed Canada to its biggest achievement, winning the 2000 Gold Cup. His first tournament in charge was the 2011 Asian Cup, where Australia was in a group with South Korea, Bahrain and India.
Australia topped the group with seven points and faced Iraq in the quarterfinals. In a hard fought game, Australia advanced to the semis thanks to a 118th goal from Harry Kewell in extra time. There the side crushed underdogs Uzbekistan 6-0 to make the final where they faced off with Japan. Once again, the game went into extra time, but Australia conceded in the 109th minute and fell 1-0.
Here is the squad Osieck has called in for the first two qualifying matches.
Tim CAHILL - Everton FC, ENGLAND
Nathan COE - Sønderjysk Elitesport, DENMARK
Luke DeVERE - Gyeongnam FC, KOREA REPUBLIC -
Brett EMERTON - Blackburn Rovers, ENGLAND
Adam FEDERICI - Reading FC, ENGLAND
Brett HOLMAN - AZ Alkmaar, NETHERLANDS
Mile JEDINAK - Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND
Josh KENNEDY - Nagoya Grampus, JAPAN
Neil KILKENNY - Bristol City FC, ENGLAND
Robbie KRUSE - Fortuna Dusseldorf, GERMANY
Scott McDONALD - Middlesbrough FC, ENGLAND
Matthew McKAY - Brisbane Roar, AUSTRALIA
Mark MILLIGAN - JEF United, JAPAN
Lucas NEILL - Al-Jazira Club, UAE
Sasa OGNENOVSKI - Seongham Ilwha Chunma, KOREA REPUBLIC
Adam SAROTA - FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
Mark SCHWARZER - Fulham FC, ENGLAND
Matthew SPIRANOVIC - Urawa Red Diamonds, JAPAN
James TROISI - Kayserispor Kulubu, TURKEY
Carl VALERI - U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, ITALY
Luke WILKSHIRE - FK Dinamo Moscow, RUSSIA
Rhys WILLIAMS - Middlesbrough FC, ENGLAND
Michael ZULLO - FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
Once again, Australia count on the comfortable presence of Mark Schwarzer in goal as he approaches 100 international caps. There is experience all around this squad, in defense with Lucas Neil and Luke Wilkshire. The midfield is also extremely experienced and the strong point for the Aussies. Tim Cahill leads the midfield and looks to add to his 24 international goals. Brett Emerton and Brett Holman are also familiar faces to fans everywhere while on the younger side of things James Troisi and Adam Sarota look to impress. Up front there is a little more inexperience, but plenty of talent. Joshua Kennedy will look to reach double digits in international goals and young Robbie Kruse at 22 may be the next Australian star forward.
Australia is the overwhelming favorite in this group and should easily top it. Ideally for them, they clinch qualification early and can experiment with some new players in the later games.
Oman
FIFA rank: 103
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in first group stage with eight points from six games
How they got here: Defeated Myanmar 4-0 on aggregate in round two
Oman has never reached a World Cup and has only qualified for the Asian Cup twice, in 2004 and 2007. Both times they failed to advance from the group stage. The side has always been a tier or two below the elite and above-average teams in Asia the past decade.
Oman just missed out on reaching the final qualifying round in 2010 qualifying. They finished third in a group that was topped by Japan with Bahrain placing second, Oman third and Thailand bottom. Losing to Bahrain at home was Oman's undoing, and they finished three points back of Bahrain at the conclusion of group play.
The side was involved in a controversial incident in round two against Myanmar. After winning the first leg 2-0, Oman also held a 2-0 lead in the second leg right on the stroke of halftime. Then, the referee brought the match to a halt after supporters of Myanmar began throwing objects on to the field. The match was not restarted and Oman was awarded the 2-0 win and moved onward.
While the country may not have ever reached a World Cup, the coach of Oman has. Paul Le Guen, a former defender for PSG and France, was named Oman coach in June 2011. Le Guen led Cameroon to the 2010 World Cup, where the side was the first eliminated and lost all three of its group games. Le Guen has also coached Rennes, Lyon, Rangers and PSG during his coaching career and won three Ligue 1 titles.
Since Le Guen's appointment as manager, Oman has experienced some great results and is unbeaten. His opening match in charge was a 1-1 draw with Kuwait, which was followed by a 1-0 win over Lebanon and 1-1 draw with Syria.
In August, Oman has played two friendlies to prepare for the opening of group play in round three. They tied Bahrain 1-1 and then defeated Kuwait a few days ago 1-0. These are encouraging signs for a side that is not expected to advance out of this group. Here is the squad called in for the first two qualifying games.
Ali al Habsi, Mohammed Huwaidi, Ismail al Ajmi, Hassan Mudhaffar, Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, Fauzi Basheer, Imaad al Hosni, Ahmed Hadeed, Faiz Rushaidi, Hassan Rabee’a, Qasim Masoud, Abdulrahman Saleh, Mohammed Saleh, Eid al Farsi, Ahmed Saleem, Saad Suhail, Nasser al Ali, Hamoud al Saadi, Rashid al Farsi, Hashim Saleh, Abdullah al Handasi, Mohammed She’eba.
Oman will rely heavily on Ali al Habsi, the Wigan goalkeeper, to keep them in matches. HAssan Mudhaffer, Ahmed Hadeed and Ahmed Mubarj are key components to the side in defense and midfield. Up front, Imad al Hosni is counted on to put the ball in the back of the net. He scored a goal in each game versus Myanmar.
While they may be dismissed by many, Oman has shown improvement under its new coach and has a shot to pull a shocker and beat Saudi Arabia out for the second spot. The two face each other in the opening match of group play in Oman, and the home side needs a win.
Saudi Arabia
FIFA rank: 87
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 2-2 on aggregate due to the away goals rule to Bahrain in the AFC playoff
How they got here: Defeated Hong Kong 8-0 on aggregate in round two
Saudi Arabia qualified for its first World Cup and 1994 and made it to the round of the 16. This began a streak of four consecutive World Cup appearances for the Middle Eastern nation as they became one of the powerhouses of Asian football. This streak ended in 2010 qualifying in one of the most dramatic games in World Cup qualifying.
Saudi Arabia qualified for the Asian playoff by finishing in third place in group B in the final round of qualifying. The side finished level with second place North Korea, but because of an inferior goal difference, lost out on automatic qualification. Therefore, they matched up against Bahrain, who finished third in group A. The first leg in Bahrain ended up 0-0, so a win in the second leg was all Saudi Arabia needed.
The Saudis scored in the 13th minute to take the lead, but Bahrain equalized just before halftime. With time running out on Saudi Arabia's World Cup chances as the second half entered injury time, the Saudi's scored in 91st minute to send the home fans into raptures. The side looked to have done enough and just needed to hold on for a couple minutes. However, in the 93rd minute Bahrain scored to tie the match at two and go through to the intercontinental playoff on away goals, crushing the dreams of the home fans and players.
Saudi Arabia has won three Asian Cups and also have finished second three times. The side's most recent win was in 1996 while they lost the 2007 final to Iraq 1-0. However, in 2011 they had a disappointing campaign, failing to advance out of the group stage.
In a group with Japan, Jordan and Syria, the Saudis were expected to move on, but they had a horrible tournament. It started with a shock 2-1 defeat to Syria. Another shock 2-1 defeat to Jordan was followed by a 5-0 thrashing by Japan, a real low-point for Saudi football.
After the Syria defeat, coach José Peseiro was fired. Interim coach Nasser Al-Johar saw out the rest of the tournament as the search began for a new manager. Under-20 coach Rogério Lourenço took charge of the second round qualifying games against Hong Kong, which Saudi Arabia was able to cruise through without any trouble. Then in early August, the Saudis found their man.
Frank Rijkaard was one of the Netherlands' greatest players, receiving 73 caps for his country. He then coached his homeland at Euro 2000, where he guided the side to the semifinals where they lost on penalties to Italy. Rijkaard eventually moved on to Barcelona, winning the UEFA Champions League and two La Liga titles during his tenure. After a brief coaching stop in Turkey with Galatasaray, he was given the Saudi Arabia job. Here is his first ever squad that was called in for the opening qualifiers.
Hasan A Otaibi, Yasser Al Musailim, Waleed Abdallah, Husein Shiaan, Abdallah Shohail, HAsan Muath, Ahmad Otaif, Nasser Al Shamrani, Osama Hosawi, Majed Al Mershidi, Abdallah Al Zouri, Mohammad Al Shalhoub, Nawaf Al Abed, Hamad Al Montashiri, Mohamed Eid Al Bishi, Rashed Al Raheb, Nayef Hazzazi, Taysir Al Jasem, Mutaz Al Musa, Ibrahim Ghaleb, Mishal Saeed, Yousef Al Salem, Yahya Al Shahri, Mohammad Al Sahlawi, Ahmad Al Faridi, Saoud Kariri, Abdulazizi Al Dosari, Yasser Al Qahtani.
Captain Yasser Al Qahtani has 72 caps and 28 goals for the national side, and is the only player who does not play his domestic football in Saudi Arabia. He plays for U.A.E. club Al-Ain. Midfielder Ahmed Al Fraidi is an emerging player for the side and should see an increase in responsibility. Naif Hazazi and Mohammad Al-Sahlawi are young strikers who may have bright futures. Mohammad Al-Shalhoub and Saud Kariri are the experienced players in the side that will be counted on in midfield.
Saudi Arabia is favored to advance out of the group, but if its performance in the Asian Cup is anything to go by, they could be ripe to upset. Rijkaard's first game in charge will be away to Oman and he needs a positive result.
Thailand
FIFA rank: 120
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in first group stage with one point from six games
How they got here: Defeated Palestine 3-2 on aggregate in round two
Thailand has never qualified for the World Cup although they have made six Asian Cups. The side's best result was third in the 1972 edition. Thailand had made five consecutive Asian Cups, failing to advance out of the group stage every time, until the 2011 version when they failed to qualify.
Thailand had a tough time in round two against upstart Palestine. In the first leg, they won 1-0 at home, giving them a very slim advantage to hold on to. In Palestine, Thailand fell behind early when Palestine took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. The away side fought back and equaled the score in the 33rd, which meant Palestine needed to score two goals to advance. Palestine got one in the 90th, but could not get the second and Thailand got a goal of its own just before the final whistle to solidify its aggregate win.
The East Asian nation hopes to better its performance in this round compared to last cycle. In 2010 qualifying, Thailand destroyed Macau 13-2 in round one before squeaking by Yemen 2-1 to make the first group stage. The side was placed with Japan, Bahrain and Oman. Thailand had one of the worst performances of all the teams still left in the competition, only gaining one point in the round, a draw to Bahrain.
Winfried Schäfer was named coach of Thailand in June. He formerly managed the Cameroon national team in the early 2000s. Here is the squad he called in for the opening two qualifying matches.
GK:
1. Siwarak Tetsungnoen (Buriram PEA)
2. Sintaweechai Hatairatanagun (Chonburi)
3. Chatchai Butpornhom (Osotspa)
Defenders:
4. Sutinan Pukhom (Chonburi)
5. Chonlatit Jantakam (Chonburi)
6. Niwet Siriwong (Pattaya)
7. Pratum Chootong (Osotspa)
8. Paitoon Tiemba (Muang Thong)
9. Supachai Komsilp (Bangkok Glass)
10. Teerathon Bunmatan (Buriram PEA)
Midfield:
11. Adul Lasoh (Chonburi)
12. Pokklao Anan (Police)
13. Surat Sukha (Chonburi)
14. Rangsan Wiwatchaichok (Buriram PEA)
15. Suchao Nutnum (Buriram PEA)
16. Datsakorn Thonglao (Muang Thong)
17. Jakrapan Kaewprom (Buriram PEA)
18. Athit Suntornpit (Chonburi)
19. Piyapon Bantao (Muang Thong)
Forwards:
20. Teerasil Dangda (Muang Thong)
21. Chatree Chimtale (Bangkok Glass)
22. Sompong Soleb (Buriram FC)
23. Sarayoot Chaikamdee (Bangkok Glass)
Thailand is missing a couple of important players that are out because of injury. Starting goalie Kawin Thammasatchanan is out as well as defender and captain Nataporn Phanrit. Striker Teerasil Dangda at 23 has 17 goals already in his young international career in only 38 caps. Also up top, Sarayuth Chaikamdee has 30 international goals in his experienced career. Midfielder Datsakorn Thonglao scored both of Thailand's goals in the second leg at Palestine and should receive his 80th cap for his country in the second match. Defensively, the side will have to count on the experience of Niweat Siriwong, who has over 90 caps.
The Thai's chances of finishing in the top two are slim, and need to do a lot just to stay off the bottom of the table. They may be the worst team left in Asia, and may not win any points during this round.
Prediction
At first glance it seems like Australia and Saudi Arabia should advance easily. That's probably true for Australia, but not so much for Saudi Arabia. The team has not had great performances at all this year, while Oman has produced some impressive results lately. In the end I think Saudi Arabia just has enough to move on, but would not be surprised if Oman knocks them off.
1. Australia
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Oman
4. Thailand
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