Courtesy: The AFC.com


Thais set sights on semis berth

10 May 2008

BANGKOK – Coach Jose Maria Pazos Mendez admits he does not know how far Thailand can go in the 2008 AFC Futsal Championships but has set his sights on a semi-final berth.

The hosts open their Group A account against Iraq at Nimibutr Stadium on Sunday with Mendez having spent relatively little time at the helm of his new side.

As a result, the Spaniard was reluctant to make any rash predictions about the seventh seeds' chances in Bangkok but with a place in this year's FIFA Futsal World Cup on offer for the tournament's semi-finalists, Mendez is keen to at least make the last four.

The potential of the team is difficult to say," he said.

"We have had two months of hard work. It's been difficult for the players and for me.

"Half the teams are better than the rest of the teams. Iran are the best and then there is Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, ourselves and Lebanon so we must fight for the World Cup places.

"After that we can try to win the tournament."

Mendez also revealed he expects Thailand to be somewhat of a surprise package after instilling a change in tactics.

"In the last few months we have tried to change the Thai style," he added. "I don't know if it is better than before. I think we will surprise people with our style in this championship. But I want my team to play like a team."

Iraq never find preparing for Asian competition at any level easy given the security situation in the country but have the potential to cause an upset having shocked Uzbekistan last year.

And the 10th seeds will be looking to get their campaign off to a winning start and silence what is expected to be a partisan crowd.

Kyrgyzstan, by contrast, have fallen at the semi-final stage in the last three editions of the AFC Futsal Championship.

And team official Maksat Ishenbaev is keen to go one better this year, particularly as they will not meet Iran until the final if, as expected, the favourites top their group.

"I hope so," he said when asked if his side could make the final. I cannot say but I hope so. I think everyone has prepared better than last year as it's an important competition because you can get a place in the World Cup.

"I hope that we will be in the last four teams. It's a tough group. We never expected to be in a group with Thailand.

"When we saw Thailand, we were not so happy, but then when we realised we wouldn't meet Iran in the semi-finals, it was okay for us."

The fourth seeds are expected to get their Group A campaign off to a winning start against Indonesia, who have traditionally struggled when they have qualified for the competition.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Sapo confident of regaining crown

10 May 2008

BANGKOK - Japan coach Sergio Sapo is confident his side can regain their AFC Futsal Championship crown when the 2008 tournament gets under way in Bangkok on Sunday.

The 2006 champions relinquished the title on home turf to perennial futsal heavyweights Iran last year and begin their assault on this year's tournament against underdogs Chinese Taipei in their opening Group B game at Nimibutr Stadium.

The second seeds will also have Australia and Turkmenistan to contend with as they strive for a quarter-final spot but Sapo believes Japan have enough quality to go all the way and threaten holders Iran's reign.

"The Japanese team have a good chance, we're very confident," the Brazilian said.

"We have been preparing for a long time. We had five international matches against Spain and Ukraine. We all have to do what we can do and give 100%."

Sapo also insisted it would be a group effort that drives Japan to glory rather than relying on established stars such as Kenichiro Kogure.

"I'm not one to single out any particular player," he added.

"The Japanese style is that we go as a group, as a team, and we want to show this Japanese futsal style."

Japan should have little trouble seeing off Chinese Taipei on Sunday. The 13th seeds did not feature in Osaka last year and came through qualification matches against Maldives and Vietnam to book their place in Bangkok.

Australia face Turkmenistan in the group's other game with manager Joel Freeme admitting their main aim is to make the last four and thus secure a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup later in the year.

"It's step-by-step," he said. "We'll take the group matches as they come and then a quarter-final and whatever happens after that is a bonus.

"Obviously we'd love to make the final because it's good experience for the boys but winning that quarter-final is the important one for us.

"Japan are a strong side and it's a tough group but we're confident against the other teams and looking towards the quarter-finals to qualify for the World Cup. That's our main focus. Everything's running well, we have no injuries, no sickness and preparations are going well."

The eighth seeds will be looking to avenge last year's surprise 1-0 defeat to Turkmenistan when they square off again on Sunday.

The number 12 seeds are not expected to pose much of a threat having finished bottom of their group 12 months ago and boast little previous pedigree in the competition.





Courtesy: The AFC.com


Lebanon ready to face Uzbeks

10 May 2008

BANGKOK – Lebanon endured a dramatic and tiring journey to Bangkok but are determined to leave their mark on the 10th edition of the AFC Futsal Championship.

Lebanon arrived on the eve of the tournament after an arduous two-day journey from conflict-ravaged Beirut.
The capital's airport was closed so the team reverted to a bus to Syria.

However, after a detour due to a road closure, one of the Lebanon players was detained by the Syrian authorities.

He re-joined his team-mates in Bahrain the following day from where the team travelled to Bangkok.

Simon Douaihy, the chairman of the Lebanon Futsal Committee, was relieved to have arrived safely.
“I'm happy for futsal, but happy for Lebanon especially,” he said.

“We want to show the good Lebanon, not the bad one.”

Despite the setbacks, Douaihy believes his side, who open against Korea Republic in Group C, can make a positive impression on the tournament and earn a semi-final berth which would secure qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year.

“The players are very tired, but if we can manage ourselves in tomorrow's game, we can reach the last four,” said Douaihy.

“If the players can recuperate, it will be easy for us. It will be between us and Uzbekistan and the winner of the group will go to the semi-finals.”

Uzbekistan will duel with Lebanon for top spot in the group and coach Aleksandr Petrov insists nothing but a semi-final place will do for the perennial challengers.

The Uzbeks, who play Malaysia in their opening fixture, have twice reached the final, losing to Iran in 2001 and Japan in 2006.

“We expect to be in the last four – it is our main target,” said Petrov. “Nothing less would be acceptable.”
But Petrov is not underestimating the opposition in Group C.

“We think there is no difference – they are all difficult teams,” he said.

Malaysia have failed to advance beyond the group stages since first featuring in the championship in 2001.
Futsal is a leading sport in the south-east Asian nation and P Balakrishnan has players at his disposal capable of moments of brilliance.

He will be hoping to end the unwanted underachiever's tag in Thailand.

Korea finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the opening three championships, but their performances have dwindled of late.

Victory over Turkmenistan in the final group game in Osaka meant they did not have to qualify for this year's event but they face a difficult task to advance from a challenging group.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Iran eye another title

10 May 2008

BANGKOK – Hossein Shams insists Iran will settle for nothing less than a successful defence of their AFC Futsal Championship title.

Iran have won eight out of nine championships – a run only broken by Japan's victory in 2006 – and Shams is intent on extending their dominance after reclaiming the title in Osaka last year.

The Team Melli coach, who has overseen four victories (in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2007), predicted that competition for a semi-final place and qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year will be fierce but he expects victory.

“Japan, Thailand, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan and Australia have a chance to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
“But our team are participating in this tournament with the sole focus of becoming champions.”

The holders line up in Group D alongside Tajikistan, China and qualifiers Kuwait, who Iran face in their opening game at Hua Mark Stadium.

“Our group is the death group and all the teams are very strong,” said Shams.

Iran have prepared rigorously with a three-month training camp and a raft of friendly matches.

Team Melli suffered a surprise defeat to Thailand in January but Shams expects to exact revenge on the hosts in the final this week.

“Thailand and Iran will meet in the final and we will show that that game was a one off and there will be no repeat,” he added.

Prolific goalscorer Vahid Shamsaee and captain Mohamed Hashemzadeh will be at the forefront of Iran's efforts, but Shams will unleash two new stars in the tournament.

Shams says the duo “have a very good chance to be the best player in Asia this year” but he remained tight-lipped on their identities.

“When we are champions, I will tell you,” he said.

Kuwait have incurred the full force of Iran on three occasions - including an 18-2 loss in 2001 - and will be desperate to put up a sterner challenge.

China, who play Tajikistan in their opening contest, suffered an 8-0 reverse to Iran in Japan last year and have failed to reach the knockout stages in the last two tournaments.

But they have showed a steady improvement in the last 12 months and could spring a surprise.

China coach Farinha said: “It's going to be a very tough tournament, but if we go well tomorrow, we can be second in the group.

“We have a chance to qualify for the World Cup as we have had very good preparation. We are in good shape but it will be very, very difficult.”

Tajikistan will bid to improve on a quarter-final appearance in 2007 and will be reliant on Sherzod Jumaev to deliver the goals






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