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Blatter backs Socceroos to lift Asia

Blatter backs Socceroos to lift Asia FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes Australian soccers move into Asia could spur the region out of its World Cup slump. Australia qualified for the finals from its old Oceania Confederation but played in Germany as a member of the more competitive Asian Confederation. The Socceroos were the only Asian side to move beyond the first round of the finals, with Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australias group F rival and Asian champion Japan all eliminated. Blatter said the performance of the Asian nations was a concern.The other four Asian teams all kicked out in the first round,

Turkey signs to join planned Asia-Pacific space group

Turkey signs to join planned Asia-Pacific space group Turkey signed on a charter for a planned international space club on Thursday in Beijing, making it the ninth member of the organization with headquarters. Oktay Ozuye, Turkish ambassador to China, signed the Convention on the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), which is designed to promote the peaceful use of space and space applications in the Asia-Pacific region. Among those witnessing the ceremony were diplomats from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand, the eight countries that signed the document last October in Beijing. Sun Laiyan, director of the China

Ice hockey: Kokudo wins 2nd straight Asia League title+

Ice hockey: Kokudo wins 2nd straight Asia League title+ Takahito Suzuki scored the go-ahead goal with less than five minutes left in the final period Sunday as Kokudo beat the Nippon Paper Cranes 4-3 in decisive Game 5 of the playoff final to retain its Asia League title. Two goals from former NHL player Joel Prpic and one from Suzuki helped Kokudo overcome a two-goal deficit before Joel Dyck leveled the score at 3-3 midway through the third period to set the stage for Suzuki's winner at Higashi Fushimi Ice Arena. Kokudo won its second Asia League crown after finishing third in the

Australian football now part of Asia

Australian football now part of Asia Australia has officially become a member of the Asian Football Confederation. After a year in which Football Federation Australia successfully launched the A-League and the Socceroos claimed their first berth in the World Cup in 32 years, the FFA completed the third of its three main objectives when it left Oceania and was officially welcomed into the AFC at midnight. Australia's first involvement with Asia will be on Wednesday at the 2007 Asian Cup draw in Kuala Lumpur. The Socceroos, whose newcomer status relegates them to the lowest possible pot for the draw of six, four-team groups, will

Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing

Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing Australia have vowed to go on the attack in their opening Asian Cup qualifier in Bahrain next week. The Australians will be without most of their top European-based players, including forwards Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, because of their Champions League and UEFA Cup commitments. But assistant coach Johan Neeskens said the absence of leading players would not change Australia's approach to their first Asian Cup qualifier since ditching the Oceania Football Confederation. "A lot of people overseas don't expect much from this team because all the big stars cannot come because of other