Courtesy: The AFC.com


Easy for Iran, tough for Japan

11 April 2008

BANGKOK: Asian futsal kingpins Iran were drawn in an easy group for the 10th edition of the AFC Futsal Championship here in the Thai capital on Friday.

Iran, who will be gunning for their ninth title, were the last to be pulled out of the pot for the 16-team event and placed alongside Central Asian side Tajikistan, China and qualifiers Kuwait in Group D.

Unlike Iran, 2006 champions and last edition’s runners-up Japan will have to negotiate a tricky path to the quarter-finals after being pooled in Group B with Australia, who reached the last eight in Osaka last year, Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei, who came through after a successful qualification campaign.

Hosts Thailand were slotted in Group A with 2007 semi-finalists Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and, in a match-up reminiscent of the AFC Asian Cup last year, Iraq.

Uzbekistan, one of the strongest teams in Asia who have figured in the semi-finals of all the editions since 2005, will face vastly improved Lebanon, Korea Republic and qualifiers Malaysia in Group C.

The top-two teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals of the May 11-18 competition and the semi-finalists get an invite to the FIFA Futsal World Cup later in the year.

AFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 - FULL GROUPINGS

GROUP A
1. Kyrgyzstan
2. Thailand
3. Iraq
4. Indonesia

GROUP B
1. Japan
2. Australia
3. Turkmenistan
4. Chinese Taipei

GROUP C
1. Uzbekistan
2. Lebanon
3. Korea Republic
4. Malaysia

GROUP D
1. Iran
2. Tajikistan
3. China
4. Kuwait




Courtesy: The AFC.com


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.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Kyrgyz relieved on avoiding Iran

BANGKOK: Kyrgyzstan’s huge relief on avoiding perennial champions Iran in the draw for the AFC Futsal Championship 2008 was articulated by Kyrgyz Deputy Sports Minister Almazbek Kadyrkulov on Friday at the Radisson Hotel.

Kyrgyzstan, who made the semi-finals in 2005, 2006 and 2007, were drawn with hosts Thailand, Iraq and Indonesia for the May 11-18 tournament.

“We are greatly relieved after avoiding Iran in the quarter-finals,” said Kadyrkulov, who was representing the Central Asian side at the draw.

“It is very difficult to play against Iran no matter at what stage but it is good for us that we will not face them in the beginning.”

Kyrgyzstan lost to Japan 0-1 in the semi-finals of the last edition.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


‘Bangkok edition will be most successful ever’

12 April 2008

BANGKOK: Chairman of the AFC Futsal Championship 2008 Local Organising Committee Adisak Benjasiriwan has expressed confidence that the 10th edition which will be held from May 11-18 in the Thai capital would be the most successful yet.

Talking to www.the-afc.com, Adisak said: “Futsal is a very popular sport in Thailand, thanks to the performance of our national team and also regular hosting of top-class tournaments.”

“We organise under-17, youth and university-level matches apart from the Thailand Futsal League. The ASEAN futsal teams compete here almost on a yearly basis,” he said explaining the game’s popularity.

“I am confident that the AFC Futsal Championship will be of great interest for fans as it is also a qualifier for the FIFA Futsal World Cup,” he added.

“All the matches in this championship will be thrilling and to attract fans we will carry out promotional activities before the start of the event.”

He said the Thai team would play friendly matches to prepare for the event.

The hosts have been slotted in Group B alongside last year’s semi-finalists Kyrgyzstan, Iraq and Indonesia.

“All the teams are improving and it is difficult to make any predictions at this stage. Kyrgyzstan proved last year they are better than us while Iraq are very skillful and have better individual ability. We played against Indonesia a number of times but I think this is a tough group and I hope we can make it to the quarter-finals.”



Courtesy: The AFC.com


Japan aim to top group

12 April 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan futsal coach Brazilian Sapo has warned that the 2006 champions need to be at their best to come through the group stage of the AFC Futsal Championship 2008 unscathed.

Japan, who lost to Iran in the 2007 final, were slotted in the Friday draw with Australia, Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei.

“I think we have been drawn in the most competitive group in the championship,” said the Brazilian who led the East Asians to Asian futsal glory in 2006 by ending the seven-year-long reign of Iran.

“Although all the group matches will be tough for us, we will try to finish on top of the group to qualify for the quarter-finals. Since hosts Thailand will be aiming to go through the last eight finishing on top of their group, we need to top our group to avoid a clash with them in the quarter-finals.”

“We need support from our fans as this is going to be one particularly tough competition. I would like to request all supporters to come and boost our morale in the upcoming friendlies against Ukraine to prepare better for the AFC Futsal Championship.”

Sapo’s charges have two friendlies against European giants Ukraine scheduled for May 1 (Hyogo) and three days later (Tokyo) before their departure for Bangkok where they open their Asian campaign against Chinese Taipei on May 11.





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