Tough draw for Qantas Futsalroos
The Qantas Futsalroos have been dealt a tough draw for the upcoming AFC Futsal Championships being held in Osaka and Hyogo, Japan in May (13-19).
The Qantas Futsalroos have been dealt a tough draw for the upcoming AFC Futsal Championships being held in Osaka and Hyogo, Japan in May (13-19).
Australia was drawn in Group C with its nemesis from last years tournament Kyrgyzstan, while it will also face Turkmenistan, and Korea Republic.
Unlike last years tournament in which Australia finished second in its group behind Kyrgyzstan but did not progress to the semi finals, this year-s tournament will see the top two go through the quarter finals.
The draw took place at the Japan Football Museum, with Group C looking the most open of the four groups. While Kyrgyzstan will go in as favourites to win the group, all the remaining teams in the group are capable of winning the group or at least a realistic chance of second spot.
Defending champions Japan, who broke Iran-s dominance of the Championships last year, have a fairly easy group, as does Iran, while Group B is likely to be dominated by Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Australia-s first round of matches will be played in Hyogo, with the final set down for May 19 in Osaka.
Australia-s preparations for the tournament were boosted by its second place finishing at the recent AFF (ASEAN) Futsal Championships in Thailand.
Qantas Futsalroos coach Scott Gilligan was generally pleased with the draw, although he acknowledged that it will be tough.
“Happy but it will be tricky,” was Gilligan-s reaction to the draw.
“It will be tough, as we only beat Korea 3-2 last year, we-ve never met Turkmenistan before, but we know they are not too bad and Kyrgyzstan beat us at last year-s Championships, so they will be difficult.
“I just looked up Turkmenistan-s last result and they beat Indonesia very comfortably at last years Championships, while we just recently beat Indonesia 5-1, so it will not be easy to progress.”
Gilligan though is confident his team can progress from the stage and the recent AFF Futsal Championships was a good preparation for the team.
“If we play to our potential, we have a good chance of topping the group and if that happens, well a semi final place is very getable.
“The recent AFF Futsal Championships has provided us with where we are at, at the moment and the players understand what improvements are needed to be competitive at this level.”
The groupings are:
Group A (Osaka) Japan, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Philippines
Group B: (Osaka) Uzbekistan, Thailand, Kuwait, Iraq
Group C: (Hyogo) Kyrgyzstan, Australia, Turkmenistan, Korea Republic
Group D: (Hyogo) IR Iran, China PR, Malaysia, Lebanon