MAKING A POINT: Nashat to prove his worth after failing to get a British work permit.

From an initial 41 teams, Asian sides have been whittled down to 20. Only the first and second in each of the five groups from third-round qualifying will make the fourth and final round.

With Australia, China and Asian champions Iraq all drawn together in a 'group of death', at least one will crash out.

The Socceroos begin their campaign under new coach Pim Verbeek in Melbourne against Asian Games winners Qatar.

They have plenty to prove after a disappointing Asian Cup last year.

For his first game in charge, Verbeek has included several overseas-based players, including 2006 World Cup stars Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer.

But, in a massive selection shock, he left out Liverpool star Harry Kewell, along with Bristol City midfielder Nick Carle and German-based Michael Beauchamp.

The other teams in Group A - Iraq and China - play each other on neutral territory in Dubai.

After years of striving for international success, Iraq are longing to emulate their old feats in the 1980s, when they qualified for Mexico 1986.

Norwegian Egil Olsen is now in charge, and skipper Younis Mahmoud is again teaming up with strike partner Emad Mohammed.

Nashat Akram will want to prove his worth after failing to get a British work permit even though he impressed Manchester City.

China aim to qualify for only their second World Cup finals. The China FA has dangled an eight million yuan (S$1.6 million) bonus if the team qualify.

Traditional Asian powerhouses Japan take on Thailand in Group B at Saitama.

Thai coach Chanvit Phalajivin is under no illusion that Japan will qualify for their fourth consecutive World Cup, but remains optimistic that his team can take second spot in the group.

Verbeek's former team, South Korea, Asia's most successful on the world stage, having qualified for the past six World Cups, host minnows Turkmenistan. Jordan and North Korea are the other teams in Group C.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE