Blatter hopeful of good Asian showing at World Cup

DHAKA, Apr 1 (Reuters) FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes this year's World Cup finals can give Asian teams another chance to show how far they have progressed.

''The 2006 World Cup will show us just what has happened here in Asia,'' Blatter told a news conference in the Bangladesh capital today, at the start of a visit to countries affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster which killed around 250,000 people.

''I'm sure at this World Cup there will be no teams flying easily through to the final.'' Blatter, accompanied by Asian Football Confederation president Mohammad Bin Hammam, will open the 16-team AFC Challenge Cup later today when hosts Bangladesh take on Cambodia.

Blatter will also hand over a cheque worth 250,000 dollar to Bangladesh authorities from FIFA's .6 million Tsunami Solidarity Fund.

At the 2002 World Cup co-hosts South Korea reached the semi-finals, although Blatter suggested that Asian teams may find it tougher in Germany because European leagues are finishing early to allow their national teams more time to prepare.

''Don't forget, the visiting teams, especially those from Europe, came (to South Korea and Japan) tired because the leagues were delayed and they played 10 days before the start of the World Cup,'' Blatter said.

''This time we stop leagues on May 15 and now they have time to relax and prepare.'' Asia's representatives at the World Cup will be Iran, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Blatter will leave Dhaka for the Maldives tomorrow and will end his tour with a visit to Thailand on April 5.

REUTERS PDS BST1658