Ange urges ‘Roos to create a legacy

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ANGE Postecoglou has called on the Socceroos to "create their own legacy" and win the Asian Cup next January on home soil, after seeing his team drawn against Kuwait, Oman and regional heavyweights South Korea.

Insistent that his team should embrace the expectation that they will be among the tournament favourites, Postecoglou said a "challenging group" could be countered by the support of partisan home crowds.

The Socceroos will open their campaign against Kuwait in Melbourne on January 9, before moving to Sydney to meet Oman at ANZ Stadium on January 13.

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Postecoglou's side then faces the toughest test of the group when they host South Korea at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on January 17.

Winning the group becomes essential to avoid meeting holders Japan until the final - assuming Australia do come top they will face the runners-up from Group B, including Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, China and North Korea.

AFC General Secretary Dato' Alex Soosay holds up the name Australia during the draw. Source: AP

Coming second in their group would mean them facing the winner of Group B, but Postecoglou said his eyes were locked on the ultimate prize - embracing the favouritism that being host involves.

"It may be added pressure but it's my expectation and I'm sure it's the players expectations," Postecoglou said. " How often do we get to play in a major tournament in our own country? We have to make the most of it and try to create our own legacy by winning it.

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"You look at the footage of past Asian Cups and our history's not that deep in this region. We want to create our own special moments and see us up there with silverware at some point.

"The way you do that with these tournaments is competing as hard as you can and creating these rivalries and feeling part of it. This will be our third go at it, we just missed out last time and as this tournament grows I want us to take our rightful place in it."

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The group pits Australia against two coaches who have caused Australia angst in recent years. Jorvan Vieira, now in charge of Kuwait, was coach of the Iraq side that beat the Socceroos on the way to winning the 2007 Asian Cup, while Paul Le Guen has beaten Australia once and drawn twice in four matches since taking over as coach of Oman in 2011.

"It's a challenging group - obviously the standout is Korea, but Jorvan Vieira is a very experienced manager, and Oman gave us a tough time here on home soil last year," Postecoglou said.

"In this group the first game against Kuwait becomes critical in order to get off to a good start. We have some advantages - we're playing in our own country, and a packed AAMI Park in that first game should help us."

Retired Socceroo Brett Emerton raises the trophy before the Asian Cup draw. Source: AP

The draw took place at the Sydney Opera House, with Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, China and North Korea placed into Group C while defending Asian Cup champions Japan are in Group D with Jordan, Iraq and the winner of this year's AFC Challenge Cup, being held in May in the Maldives.

The 2015 Asian Cup will be held in five Australian cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle and Canberra – from January 9 to 31. It will be Australia's third attempt at winning it after losing to Japan in both 2007 - at the quarterfinal stage - and in the final in 2011.

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