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The AFC.comIran gunning for revenge as Japan aim to retain title13 May 2007OSAKA: At 1pm tomorrow, top quality futsal will be unveiled to Japanese audiences for the first time, with the matches on offer throughout the group stages promising to satisfy thousands of spectators from Osaka to Amagazaki.
Hosts Japan, arguably the tournament favourites, are the headline act of Group A, which also features Tajikistan, Hong Kong and qualifiers the Philippines.
Boosted by the inclusion of dynamic attacker Kenichiro Kogure, the star performer in Uzbekistan a year ago, Japan’s biggest test is likely to come from Central Asian nation Tajikistan, who suffered an 11-6 defeat to Japan at last year’s Championship.
Another of Japan and Tajikistan’s opponents in 2006, Hong Kong , will be hoping to improve upon their previous best effort – an appearance in the secondary Plate final in Ho Chi Minh in 2005.
One year previously, Hong Kong were thrashed 12-0 by Japan in Tashkent, with Kogure and strike partner Goshi Koyama claiming a hat-trick apiece.
The Philippines are making their first AFC Futsal Championship appearance since 2005 – where they exited the tournament at the group stage following losses to Uzbekistan and Palestine and a draw against Macau.
Coached by Iranian Esmaeil Singh, the Philippines were the lowest ranked team to qualify for the Championships, and are still reeling from their most recent competitive showing – a second last place finish at the ASEAN Futsal Championships in Bangkok.
Group B features the runners-up from the last AFC Futsal Championship, Uzbekistan, alongside Iraq , Kuwait and Thailand .
The Uzbeks still loom as one of the tournament heavyweights, with coach Shavkat Abduraimov assembling a side hell bent on claiming Asian futsal’s top prize for the first time – following two defeats at the final hurdle in 2001 and 2006.
Both Kuwait and Thailand would fancy their chances of not only progressing to the final eight, but also upsetting the highly fancied Uzbeks.
Kuwait were disappointing in Tashkent last year, finishing third in their group behind semi finalists Kyrgyzstan and AFC newcomers Australia .
Mindful of their fourth place finish in 2003, Kuwait are capable of returning to the top echelon of teams in Osaka , with their tournament opener against Thailand looming as the defining match of the group.
Thailand, who have underachieved to an extent in AFC tournaments of late, will be hoping to secure their first semifinal appearance since 2004.
The Thais are not short on confidence, having thrashed Australia 7-1 in the final of the ASEAN Futsal Championship on home soil two months ago to claim their fifth consecutive sub-regional crown.
Rounding out Group B are qualifiers Iraq , who were arguably the most impressive nation to emerge from March’s eight-team qualifying tournament.
Comprehensive wins over Guam (19-0), Korea Republic (6-3) and Indonesia (9-4) secured Iraq’s appearance in Japan, where they will be hoping to improve upon their showing in 2006, which although devoid of any points, did include a surprisingly narrow 2-0 defeat against the eventual champions – Japan’s most slender victory of the tournament.
Group C will see Kyrgyzstan look to extend upon their solid showings in recent tournaments, while Australia, Korea Republic and Turkmenistan will each be looking to deliver on their undoubted potential.
Kyrgyzstan qualified for the final four at the 2005 and 2006 AFC Futsal Championships, adding further credence to their reputation as one of Asia’s finest futsal nations.
Significantly, Kyrgyzstan sealed their passage through to the 2006 semifinals in Tashkent with a 5-1 win over their Group C opponents Australia .
Australia are perhaps the most likely side to join group favourites Kyrgyzstan in the final eight, particularly in light of their sound display two months ago at the ASEAN Futsal Championship in Thailand, where they defeated two of their AFC Futsal Championship 2007 rivals en route to an appearance in the final.
Supporting Australia in their bid to dethrone the Kyrgyz are the Korea Republic and Turkmenistan, with the former somewhat of any unknown quantity having missed qualification for the previous tournament in Uzbekistan .
Turkmenistan has established a reasonable futsal pedigree since first appearing at the AFC Futsal Championship in 2005.
The Central Asians were dealt a cruel hand in 2006 – drawing powerhouse nations Iran and Thailand in Group D, but will no doubt be optimistic of causing an upset in Amagasaki.
Seven-time champion Iran are favourites to progress from Group D, which also includes China PR, Lebanon and Malaysia .
Iran are determined to make amends for their showing in 2006, where they failed to qualify for the showpiece match for the first time in their history.
Team Melli have boosted their chances immeasurably following a thorough line up of friendly fixtures that returned impressive wins over key rivals Uzbekistan and Thailand, and a landmark 3-3 draw with world champions Spain last December.
The upcoming tournament will be the first major meeting attended by iconic Iranian striker Vahid Shamsaee, who earlier this month became the most prolific goal scorer in international futsal history (305 goals).
China PR have surprisingly failed in their bid to establish their futsal value in recent times, having missed the final four of every Championships they have entered – despite qualifying for the 1992 and 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championships.
China PR’s opening match against Malaysia will be crucial to their chances, and also those of Malaysia, who suffered a 4-1 defeat to China PR in the corresponding fixture in Tashkent in 2005.
The popularity of futsal in Malaysia demands that coach Balakrishnan’s side make their first progression past the group stage of an AFC Futsal Championship, and there is little doubt that this is Malaysia’s best chance yet.
Qualifiers Lebanon are the least fancied in Group D, but will still prove to be a difficult opponent.
The form of strike duo Hayssam Atwi and Khaled Takaji, who accounted for nine of Lebanon’s 23 goals scoring in qualifying, will be decisive in Lebanon’s chances of progression past the initial stage.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comProgress of Asian futsal hailed 12 May 2007OSAKA: IR Iran head of delegation Abbas Torabian has hailed the progress of futsal in Asia ahead of tomorrow’s opening round of AFC Futsal Championship matches in Osaka and Amagasaki.
The Iranian’s have been grouped with Lebanon, China PR and Malaysia in Group D, and are set to kick off their campaign against the former at Amagasaki’s Park Gymnasium at 5pm.
By their own incomparable standards, IR Iran were below par in Uzbekistan last year, failing to reach the final for the first time in eight editions of the AFC Futsal Championship.
With some impressive recent form to boast and, the world’s most prolific futsal striker of all time, Vahid Shamsaee, hungry to improve upon his unparalleled goal scoring record, few would bet against the central Asian heavyweights recapturing the domination they so enjoyed between 1999 and 2005.
With each of the 16 teams on show over the coming day’s genuine possibilities to succeed, or, at the very least, force an upset result, Torabian was vocal in his praise for the standard of the five-a-side game in FIFA’s third largest confederation.
“I remember nine years ago when we started this tournament, we were beating teams by 20 and 30 goals, and now, you won’t see any team beat another by more than four or six goals,” said Torabian.
“The standard of the competition has risen and now, every team that is here is a very competitive team that will give you a very hard game.”
The top-ranked Asian nation in the world at present, IR Iran have only recently completed a two-match friendly series in Tehran, where they recorded impressive victories over Thailand and leading European futsal nation Ukraine, who finished sixth at the most recent FIFA Futsal World Championships.
Combined with a 7-0 drubbing of 2006 finalists Uzbekistan in January of this year, and a very credible 3-3 draw with reigning world champions Spain last December, IR Iran have truly flagged their intention to be recognised as the team to beat this month.
“Of course we want to win this tournament, but the purpose of this meeting is also to make friends,” said Torabian.
“I’ve caught up with a lot of old friends already since we arrived in Japan and I look forward to catching up with them more in the coming weeks – each of us have a responsibility to do all we can to progress futsal in Asia.”
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
