Courtesy: The AFC.com


Tough draw for Asian teams

11 July 2008

BRASILIA: Asian futsal kingpins Iran were handed a tough draw for the FIFA Futsal World Cup when they were paired with defending champions Spain and Czech Republic on Thursday.

Hossein Shams’ side, who won nine out of ten AFC Futsal Championship crowns, will also have to tackle Uruguay and Libya in Group D.

The sixth edition of the championship will be played in the Brazilian cities of Brasilia and Rio De Janeiro from September 30 to October 19 and the Asian champions, who finished fourth in the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Hong Kong, will begin their campaign against Spain on October 1 in Rio De Janeiro.

Japan, who won the continental title in 2006, were placed in Group A along side three-time champions Brazil, Russia, Cuba and Solomon Islands. Sergio Sapo’s charges, who lost in the semi-finals to Iran in this year’s AFC Futsal Championship, will face third-placed Brazil in the opener on September 30 in Brasilia.

Asian runners-up Thailand were drawn with last edition’s runners-up Italy, Portugal, Paraguay and USA in Group B and will face Italy in the first match on September 30 in Rio.

Surprise Asian semi-finalists China were placed in Group C along with Argentina, Ukraine, Guatemala and Egypt. They will begin their campaign against Argentina on October 1 in Brasilia.

GROUPINGS
Group A: Brazil, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Solomon Islands
Group B: Italy, Portugal, Thailand, Paraguay, USA
Group C: Argentina, Ukraine, China PR, Guatemala, Egypt
Group D: Spain, Czech Republic, Iran, Uruguay, Libya






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