Re-writing Socceroos History - 2007 AFC Asian Cup Matchday 3 - Iraq v Australia

After a historic run in Germany, that saw Mark Viduka lift the FIFA World Cup for Australia, the Socceroos continue their new journey in the Asian Football Confederation - with their first task in Asia successful as they secured qualification for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Despite success with Guus Hiddink, he has returned to his role as manager of PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, with the FFA appointing his assistant and former Socceroos striker Guus Hiddink as manager, at least until the end of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup campaign. Australia has been drawn in a group with co-hosts Hong Kong, Oman and Iraq. Ahead of Australia's friendly against Uruguay, Australian captain and leading goalscorer Mark Viduka sat down in front of the press and announced his international retirement at the end of the AFC Asian Cup. On the day Australia won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, the FIFA Executive Committee approved a move from the Oceanian Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation. FIFA noted that "as all of the parties involved ... had agreed to the move, the case did not need to be discussed by the FIFA Congress". The AFC voted on 10 September unanimously to ratify the decision in a few days. The move took effect on January 1 2006, with Australia to be entered into qualifying for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. They saw out the 2006 World Cup Qualifying cycle, and then will be entered into the AFC Qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. ---- Played on Professional difficulty with 6 minute halves. Twitch saw it live! Subscribe and notifications on at twitch.com/wiisardnic for surprise live matches, and VOD from the previous 7 days