JAKARTA, July 28: Australia is making a strong push to host the Asian Cup finals in 2015 having missed out on holding the event in 2011, Football Federation Australia Chairman Frank Lowy said on Saturday.

“2011 is out of the window but 2015, we will be pushing very strongly,” the billionaire confirmed here.Qatar is set to be announced as the 2011 host on Sunday but the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed bin Hammam has urged Australia to throw its hat in the ring for the next running.

“We would be very happy (if Australia bid for 2015),” bin Hammam said before the current Asian Cup began this month.

Australia would have until 2009 to prepare its bid, when expressions of interest will be called.

Lowy added that he was disappointed with Australia’s performance this month. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Japan on penalties.

“Of course, I’m disappointed; I expected to go a lot further. But this is a round ball and there are other teams there to stop you and they did,” he said. “Obviously, we have got to find out why we are not there (in the final) and we will.

“I could give you all kinds of speculative reasons but we are having an inquiry. We have got to be able to compete and to compete successfully in Asia and we have learned some lessons.”—AFP