India the big unknown for the Socceroos

After yesterday's results where Jordan held Japan to a draw and Syria upset Saudi Arabia the tournament has its first surprises and the Australians will know that only a win would be aceeptable against India.

Australia start off their 2011 AFC Asian Cup campaign against an unknown India later today at the Al Sadd Stadium and the Socceroos will have to prove if they are the number one team in Asia as their ranking says.

Some will ask why are Australia in the Asian Football Confederation? It is surely a justified question and the reason is simply the fact that competition in Oceania wasn't tough enough for Australia and they joined Asian football in 2006.

The Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam had then said, "As well as being a developed football nation, Australia brings a developed economy and this is actually what we want in football. Besides Japan, Korea, China and Saudi Arabia if Australia joins the benefits are huge, this is what we're after."

And it has worked for both Asian and Australian football, but in the 2007 Asian Cup the much-hyped Australians failed and this time they will want to avoid such a situation with India a tricky opening opponent. Coach Holger Osieck said at the pre-match press conference that his team is fit and ready to do go, while they will not underestimate the Indians.

And the players surely respect India for being at the Asian Cup, former Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell said, "They have qualified for the tournament, so surely they have something in them. I know little about them, but look forward in playing them,"

And Fulham FC goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer would add, "Any team we face in the tournament we have to take seriously. And we take it game by game, so need to get past the Indians first and then see what happens in the coming matches."

But the statistics happen to speak a different language. Post Indian independence the two national sides have only met twice in 1956 with India winning 4-2 at the Melbourne Olympics and then 7-1 in a friendly a few days later. But such a result in India's favour is more then unlikely as the Australians look to start a successful campaign in Qatar.