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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 19 -- China is to compete with Iran, Uzbekistan and Malaysia in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 Finals.

Following the draw made in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here on Tuesday, China will meet Malaysia on July 10, 2007, Iran on July 15, and Uzbekistan on July 18.

Top seed Australia face the difficult task of overcoming Iraq, Oman and Thailand in Group A while powerhouse Japan have been slotted in a tricky Group B with Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

In Group D are Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Bahrain and Indonesia. were made Tuesday night here.

As the Asian Cup 2007 Finals will be co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, the four teams automatically qualify for the finals. The four seeds are Australia, Iran, Japan and South Korea.

The AFC's s biggest competition will kick off on July 7, 2007, in Bangkok with Thailand taking on Iraq in Group A. The top-two teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals which are scheduled for July 21 and 22. The semifinals will take place on July 25 while the final will be held in Jakarta on July 29.

Four former best players of Asia, Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan), Fan Zhiyi (China), Mohesin Al Jamaan (Saudi Arabia) and Kim Joo-sung (South Korea), were invited to the ceremony.

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