Preview - Group C: No easy matches for Japan
Tabriz: Japan will enter the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship IR Iran 2019 as clear favourites in Group C, but Vietnam and Tajikistan have vowed to challenge the East Asians.
Tajikistan will be Japan’s first opponents and head coach Eradzh Nasikhov said his side are prepared to take on the 2017 quarter-finalists.
“I think many people will assume that Japan is the better team, but we will be ready for tomorrow’s match, and we will do our best against them,” Nasikhov stated during the Pre-Match Press Conference in Tabriz on Thursday.
“We have our own goals in this tournament, and we hope to achieve them.”
AFC U-20 Futsal Championship 2019
Tajikistan made it through to the Finals despite losing to Afghanistan in the Central Zone Qualifiers play-off, but Japan head coach Ryuji Suzuki refused to take their rivals lightly, believing that any team that made it past the Qualifiers are worthy opponents.
“It will be a hard game because these teams passed the Qualifiers to reach here,” said Suzuki, who led the team to an impressive record of 22 goals in qualifying.
“Our training was limited, but we will do our best for this competition.”
Vietnam will be formidable opponents in Group C, coming in as the ASEAN Zone runners-up with an undefeated record. They will be looking to continue that trend when they face Tajikistan on Matchday Two.
Head coach Truong Quoc Tuan admitted it was a challenge bringing his players together, but is certain their groundwork is sufficient for his squad, saying: “We had the local league ongoing, so it was tough.
“Our team is very young, with one playing for the national team. The rest are inexperienced and have not played at the Continental level before. However, we have prepared our team and we aim to gain experience in this tournament.”
Source: the-afc.com
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