2015 Asian Cup

Australia were handed an unwanted assignment against ­fellow heavyweights South ­Korea at next year's Asian Cup as the hosts got a difficult draw at a lavish ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Socceroos, who have never won the Asian Cup and are hosting it for the first time, will open the tournament against Kuwait in Melbourne on January 9, 2015. They also face Oman in Group A.

While both Australia and South Korea will be confident of reaching the knockout ­stages, neither team can afford any slip-ups.

Defending champions Japan were placed in Group D with Jordan, 2007 winners Iraq and the as-yet-unknown winners of this year's AFC Challenge Cup.

Uzbekistan were the top seeds in Group B along with three-time winners Saudi ­Arabia, China and North Korea.

"I think in this group every­one can lose points against anyone, so it's open," China's French coach Alain Perrin said. "It's important to have a good start and to create a good spirit and maybe the spirit of the team can make the difference."

Triple Asian champions Iran head a Group C which also ­includes the United Arab ­Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

Australia, who joined the Asian confederation in 2006, will hope to use home advantage to win their maiden Asian Cup after missing out 1-0 in extra time to Japan in the 2011 final.

AFP - Global Times