Courtesy: The AFC.com

AFC Futsal Championship 2007: Japan, Iran in easy groups

9 April 2007

TOKYO: Defending champions and hosts Japan were drawn in an easy group today for the ninth edition of the AFC Futsal Championship which will take place from May 13-19 in the twin venues of Osaka and Hyogo.

Japan, who defeated Uzbekistan in the final last year in Tashkent, should face little difficulty in advancing to the last eight from Group A after being bracketed with ASEAN minnows and qualifiers Philippines, Hong Kong and Tajikistan.

Sixteen teams came out of the pots at the Japan Football Museum to be slotted into four groups of four teams each. While Groups A and B will play their matches in Osaka, Groups C and D will go into action at Hyogo. The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals. The final will be played in Osaka on May 19.

Seven-time champions Iran, who had their remarkable seven-year-long dominance of the competition ended by Japan in the semifinals last year, were drawn with China, Malaysia and Lebanon in Group D.

ASEAN powerhouse Thailand and Central Asian side Uzbekistan are favourites to occupy the top two spots and progress to the quarterfinals from Group B which also has difficult West Asian customers in Kuwait and Iraq.

Thailand recently defended their ASEAN futsal title after defeating Australia in the final while Uzbekistan have reached the final of the Asian futsal showpiece twice – in 2001 and last year in front of home fans.

Australia are in a tricky Group C with Central Asian teams Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, and Korea Republic. The Futsalroos will be wary of Kyrgyzstan who defeated them in their opening match last year in Tashkent, a blow from which Australia failed to recover and had to exit from the group stage.

Japan coach Sapo was pleased with the draw result. “We are in a good group but we cannot underestimate the other teams. Our first target is to get to the quarterfinals after winning the group stage,” said the Brazilian, who charted Japan’s success in Tashkent.

AFC General Secretary Dato Paul Mony Samuel, who attended the draw, had no doubt as to which was the most difficult group of the four. “Group B could be tough. The battle for the top two positions in this group will be closely fought,” said Dato Paul.


THE GROUPINGS

Group A (Osaka)

A1: Japan
A2: Tajikistan
A3: Hong Kong
A4: Philippines


Group B: (Osaka)

B1: Uzbekistan
B2: Thailand
B3: Kuwait
B4: Iraq


Group C: (Hyogo)

C1: Kyrgyzstan
C2: Australia
C3: Turkmenistan
C4: Korea Rep


Group D: (Hyogo)

D1: IR Iran
D2: China PR
D3: Malaysia
D4: Lebanon



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com