Asian nations dealt tough hand in South Africa

Australia will play three-time champions Germany while North Korea face favourites Brazil at the World Cup in South Africa, as Asian nations were dealt a tough draw on Friday.

Four Asian teams were in the hat at the glittering ceremony with Japan grouped alongside the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark and South Korea pitted against Argentina, Nigeria and Greece.

Australia were Asia’s standout performer at the last World Cup in Germany, reaching the round of 16 when coached by Guus Hiddink before being knocked out in stoppage time by eventual champions Italy.

As well as Germany, they will face Ghana and Serbia with Pim Verbeek’s team realistically targeting second place to progress out of the group stages.

“We know how difficult it will be against Germany, but it is an exciting challenge that the Australian players will thrive on,” said Verbeek.

“We were always going to get a tough team but it could have been worse. We respect all the teams in our group.”

North Korea, playing at their first World Cup since 1966, have a formidable task ahead of them with not just just Brazil in their group but Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast and Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates.

Despite this, they could surprise, with coach Kim Jong-Hun moulding a hard-working and disciplined outfit.

Regardless of how they fare, the team is certain to generate attention because of where they come from — one of the most reclusive countries in the world.

Oceania qualifiers New Zealand, who risk becoming the tournament’s whipping boys, have a mountain to climb against defending champions Italy, dangerous South American opponents Paraguay and Slovakia.

They have played one World Cup before in 1982 when they drew Brazil, the old Soviet Union and Scotland and lost all their games comprehensively.

Australia, the region’s highest ranked team at 21 in the world, kick off their campaign in Durban against Germany on June 13, while North Korea’s opener is a blockbuster against five-time champions Brazil in Johannesburg on June 15.

Japan, who have never made it past the round of 16 in three previous attempts, open their campaign in Bloemfontein against Cameroon on June 14.

Coach Takeshi Okaka has consistently said he wants to make the semi-finals, and has not changed his mind.

“We will never change our goal of reaching the semi-finals,” he said.

“We might have difficulties to score but I know my players will be extra motivated, they play for the pride of the country.”

South Korea are Asia’s most experienced campaigners, playing in their seventh consecutive World Cup, and kick off in Port Elizabeth against Greece on June 12.

Coach Huh Jung-Moo is confident of steering his team into the round of 16 at least.

“We were drawn in the so-called Group of Death in Asian qualifying and we made it through,” he said.

“We believe we can do the job again in South Africa. I will go back to South Korea and start working on our strategy.”

The New Zealand All Whites play their first match in Rustenburg against Slovakia on June 15.

The long-awaited draw at the Cape Town Convention Centre got was got underway by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African president Jacob Zuma in a ceremony attended by some of the world’s footballing greats.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke presided over the drawing of the balls, with the help of South African Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron in a ceremony beamed around the world to an estimated 250 million people.

The tournament, the first World Cup in Africa, starts on June 11 and finishes a month later.