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AFC - Japan coach Sergio Sapo
insisted his side will not be overawed when they face Iran in the
semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships at Nimibutr Stadium on Friday.
An impressive 4-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan on Thursday booked their place in
the last four and with it a ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil
later on this year.
Iran have proved the tournament's dominant force in the tournament to date,
a 9-1 quarter-final rout of Lebanon the latest in a long line of beatings
handed out by the defending champions to a string of hapless opponents.
But Sapo believes his Japan side, the only team other than Iran to lift the
AFC Futsal trophy in nine editions of the competition, will not freeze on
the big occasion.
"It is going to be a difficult game against Iran, but we're not afraid of
them," he said.
"We've been training for a long time and we are here not only to go to the
World Cup but to be the champions."
Japan will be looking to avenge their defeat on home turf in last year's
final and while Sapo admitted that will prove a difficult task, he will
attempt to outfox opposite number Hossein Shams.
"I don't have any idea how to beat them," he said.
"We'll watch the video of their game and I will analyse and take time to do
that.
"Basically, we'll play the same way as today. The details will come out of
the analysis."
Sapo is also hopeful star striker Kenichiro Kogure can recapture the form
that saw him named the 2006 AFC Futsal Player of the Year.
"In the last two matches he did not play to his usual high standard," he
added.
"He started on the bench (against Kyrgyzstan) and it gives him motivation to
prove himself."
Shams, on the other hand, is confident Iran can repeat the dose of 12 months
ago but did hint at a possible tactical switch for the clash.
"We have beaten Japan before and hopefully we can do it again and go to the
final. Japan are a very good team but I think Iran are better," he said.
"We will change our tactics, and maybe also some corner and free-kicks. I
think Friday and in the final, if we get there, we will change some things."
Having also booked their passage to the Futsal World Cup, Shams also
believes Iran can make an impact on the world stage in Brazil.
"I think if we prepare well before the World Cup, we can reach the
semi-finals," he added.
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