NEW DELHI: India will open their 2011 Asian Cup final round campaign with a match against formidable Australia on January 10 in Doha, Qatar.
Bob Houghton's men will then take on Bahrain on January 14 in their second Group C match before facing South Korea on January 18 in their last group match.
The opening match of the tournament will be played between hosts Qatar and Uzbekistan in a Group A game on January 7.
The quarter-finals will take place on January 21 and 22, while the semifinals will be played on January 25.
Third place play-off will be held on January 28 and the grand finale will take place on January 29.
Two top sides from each of the four-team group will qualify for the quarterfinals, an AIFF release said today.
India had been clubbed in a tough group featuring Australia and South Korea -- two sides who have qualified for 2010 World Cup from Asia -- and Bahrain, who just missed out the showpiece event in South Africa via a play-off against New Zealand.
Australia are Asia's highest FIFA-ranked side at 19th while South Korea are third highest at 49th besides finishing third in the earlier edition of Asian Cup in 2007.
Bahrain, who lost to New Zealand in a World Cup play-off, are ranked 67th in the world.
India, who qualified for the Asian Cup after 26 years by winning AFC Challenge Cup at home in 2008, are the lowest FIFA ranked side among the 16 participating teams at 132nd.
Bob Houghton's men will then take on Bahrain on January 14 in their second Group C match before facing South Korea on January 18 in their last group match.
The opening match of the tournament will be played between hosts Qatar and Uzbekistan in a Group A game on January 7.
The quarter-finals will take place on January 21 and 22, while the semifinals will be played on January 25.
Third place play-off will be held on January 28 and the grand finale will take place on January 29.
Two top sides from each of the four-team group will qualify for the quarterfinals, an AIFF release said today.
India had been clubbed in a tough group featuring Australia and South Korea -- two sides who have qualified for 2010 World Cup from Asia -- and Bahrain, who just missed out the showpiece event in South Africa via a play-off against New Zealand.
Australia are Asia's highest FIFA-ranked side at 19th while South Korea are third highest at 49th besides finishing third in the earlier edition of Asian Cup in 2007.
Bahrain, who lost to New Zealand in a World Cup play-off, are ranked 67th in the world.
India, who qualified for the Asian Cup after 26 years by winning AFC Challenge Cup at home in 2008, are the lowest FIFA ranked side among the 16 participating teams at 132nd.
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