Qantas Futsalroos ready for 2007 AFC Championships

The Qantas Futsalroos will tomorrow commence their tilt at becoming the first Australian team to be crowned Asian Champions when the 2007 AFC Futsal Championship commences in Japan.

The Qantas Futsalroos will tomorrow commence their tilt at becoming the first Australian team to be crowned Asian Champions when the 2007 AFC Futsal Championship commences in Japan.

Australia are in Group C of the 16-nation tournament alongside South Korea, Turkmenistan and semi finalists from the last two tournaments Kyrgyzstan.

The Qantas Futsalroos prepared for the Asian title with a second-place finish behind hosts Thailand at the ASEAN Futsal Championship in March.

The team this week recorded a win and a loss against local opposition in their final outings before their opening championship match against Turkmenistan tomorrow in Amagasaki. They will then meet South Korea on Monday at the same venue before their final group match against Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday in Osaka.

The top two from each group will progress to the quarter finals with the final to be played at Osaka on May 19.

The 14-man Qantas Futsalroos squad for the 2007 AFC Futsal Championship is:

Gavin O'Brien - (GK) (NSW) Luke Haydon (QLD) Adrian Vizzari (NSW) Scott Manson (ACT) Simon Keith (NSW) Trent Flanigan (ACT) Tobias Seeto (SPAIN) Andrew Nolan (NSW) Tuan Cao (NSW) Lachlan Wright (NSW) Goran Josifovski (ACT) Peter Spathis - (GK) (NSW) Matthew Whyte (ACT) Nino Fragassi (NSW)

The AFC Futsal Championship is held annually with the next FIFA Futsal World Championship to be held in 2008.

For match results and details:- www.footballaustralia.com.au