Bin Hammam warns Europe

Asian football’s blue riband event will take place in Qatar from January 7 to 29 at a time when several leagues in Europe are in full swing.

Australia is one of a number of Asian teams that relies heavily on its Europe-based players.

But AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said the 16 teams to take part in the tournament had every right to avail themselves of their best talent.

“The AFC Asian Cup is the continent’s flagship national team competition,” he said from Doha where the draw for the finals will take place on Saturday morning (AEST).

“The AFC expects Asia’s best players to take part in it.

“This is what the players and the fans also want.

“We will do what is best for Asian football.”

Bin Hammam said the 16-team event in his homeland should reflect the general progress made by Asian football in the last few years.

“I expect a highly exciting tournament in which 16 of the best teams in Asia will battle for a truly international title,” he said.

“I expect the level of the competition to be very high and intense.”

Australia will be one of the biggest attractions in the tournament and it will be keen to erase the disappointment of 2007 when the Socceroos played generally poorly before going out in a penalty shootout to Japan in the quarter-finals.

“I hope Australia will do justice to the immense talent and potential they have in their ranks,” he said.

The 2007 event was won by unfancied Iraq, who beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in an absorbing all-west Asian final in Jakarta.

But the west Asian world has been struggling lately and for the first time in many years there will be no team from the region in a FIFA World Cup when this year’s tournament kicks off in South Africa in June.

Bin Hammam said however that he hoped the west Asians would bounce back in the Asian Cup.

“They do have the chance to make amends,” he said.

“But it should not be forgotten that west Asian teams have been strong in the AFC Asian Cup and other AFC competitions over the years.”

Bin Hammam refuted suggestions that the Asian Cup might become an anti-climax after the World Cup.

“The AFC Asian Cup in January is nearly six months after the FIFA World Cup,” he explained.

“But in any case, the Asian Cup has its own distinct identity.

“I have absolutely no such fears and expect this edition to be a big success.

“Our level of football will be under scrutiny.

“After the heights of 2007, this will be yet another opportunity to prove to the world that Asian football has come of age.

“That Asian players can play very attractive football. That Asia’s football standards are rising and catching up with the rest of the world. That Asia is fulfilling its vast potential in football.”

So will there be another Iraq-type fairytale in Qatar?

“Your guess is as good as mine. Iraq’s win in 2007 proved that the established powers cannot take their dominance for granted,” he said.