Courtesy: Iran Sports Press


Iran coach predicts Iran-Thailand final

BANGKOK: Iran futsal coach Hossein Shams has predicted an Iran-Thailand final but warned that the eight-time champions face a tough group battle in the AFC Futsal Championship 2008.

Iran were drawn for the 10th edition of the Asian futsal showpiece with Tajikistan, China and Kuwait while hosts Thailand have been pooled with Kyrgyzstan, Iraq and Indonesia .

Speaking to www.the-afc.com from Tehran , Shams said: “This is a tough draw for Iran. China are a good team and Tajikistan are not so weak. Kuwait have been in the quarter-finals several times in the past.”

“We cannot take any of these teams lightly,” added the coach, under whose stewardship Iran clinched the title four times (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2007).

“I think we will face Japan in the semi-finals and Thailand will meet Uzbekistan in the other last four match. In the end, I see an Iran-Thailand final.”

Shams confirmed that Iran were preparing for the May 11-18 tournament with a raft of friendlies.

“We played two matches recently against Portugal , who are one of the top European futsal teams. We drew one match and lost the other narrowly and this shows our condition is peaking,” said Shams.





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