Soccer: Australia look forward to Asian move

Eliminated from the Confederations Cup after losing all three matches and conceding 10 goals, Australia are soon to be consoled by a change in their status that should have a hugely beneficial impact on the development of soccer in the country.

In September, Australia's move from the Oceania confederation (OFC) to become the 46th member of the Asian confederation (AFC) is expected to be rubber-stamped at the Fifa congress in Morocco.

The move will change the dynamics of soccer in Asia and around the Pacific, where Australia have been the dominant soccer force for more than 30 years.

It will end a series of mismatches which have included Australia crushing Pacific island nations American Samoa 31-0 and Tonga 22-0 in the last few years, and at the same time give Australia a far more realistic chance of reaching the World Cup finals -- something they have not done since 1974 in West Germany.

It should also exploit untapped commercial resources in both Asia and Australia, and boost New Zealand's chances of making more impact at international level.

With Australia no longer blocking their path to the qualifying playoff stages of the World Cup, or the finals of Fifa's age group world championships, New Zealand will have an incentive to develop their game.

One indication of how far New Zealand have fallen since their only World Cup appearance in 1982 is that they finished behind the Solomon Islands in the final Oceania group stage.

The Solomon Islands will now play Australia at home and away in the final Oceania playoff in September.

The winners of that tie then play the fifth-placed South American team over two legs in November to decide who advance to the finals in Germany next year.

It is that playoff system that has stymied Australia's progress and the Australians are delighted that things are about to change.

Australian coach Frank Farina said during the Confederations Cup that when Australia move to Asia they would be competing in a tougher but fairer competition.

"In a word, it's fairer. For the past 30 years, it has come down to two games in seven days every four years.

"We usually win the Oceania zone easily and then face two do-or-die matches against an opponent who has been playing far tougher opposition.

"By being in Asia we will be in a situation where we play maybe eight or 16 matches during the qualifying competition and if you're good enough you go through.

"Like every other country you can even lose the odd game and still qualify."

" Australia will not appear in Fifa competitions as often as it did as the representative of Oceania, but ultimately our teams and our players will be better for the experience."

Although Australia lost to Germany 3-4, Argentina 2-4 and Tunisia 0-2 in the Confederations Cup, Farina is not too disappointed and knows that returning to Germany for the World Cup next year is still a realistic target.

"I'm not happy we let in 10 goals and I'm not happy we lost all three games, but we played two of the best teams in the world and the matches have been great preparation for the World Cup qualifiers," he said.

"I'm confident we can come back for the World Cup next year and delighted that in the future we are going to have a far fairer chance of a place in the finals too."

- REUTERS