Asian Football: AFC Asian Cup 2007

last SG · 2007-07-07T06:35:30+00:00

Iran 2-0 M'sia China 0-2 Uzbekistan

Jaeyoon SG

Short Ninja, I've checked for you.
In Japan, the official channels are NHK (satellite TV) and TV Asahi (terrestrial TV). You can check. I think when Japan plays tomorrow, you can watch through Asahi TV.

In Korea, we have games telecast live in channel KBS (Free Terrestrial TV), SBS Sports(Cable), TU Media (Digital Mobile Broadcasting), Daum Internet TV and Star Sports/ESPN which is the same as those in other Asian countries.

Smile Happy Sunday

Short Ninja SG

Everytime Japan plays we get two or three TV Channels but I want to see others play too Crying or Very sad Everybody is expecting Japan to win and as defending champions it would be nice to start off with 3pts & 3goals.
My prediction is Ozzies to also win by at least a 3 goal margin over Oman and the Industrious Vietnamese to give UAE a run for the money.Happy Sunday to you too.

Jaeyoon SG

News from Group C

Norizan ready for daunting challenge
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar feels the AFC Asian Cup co-hosts are more than ready to tackle the Group C challenge that lies in wait despite his sides indifferent build-up to the tournament.

Malaysia lost three matches to club sides in Australia, as well as friendlies against the United Arab Emirates and Jamaica during their preparations for Asias premier football competition but Norizan remains convinced that the South East Asia nation will stand up and be counted in a group that also includes China, Iran and Uzbekistan.

Football in Malaysia is not going well at the moment and its true that there are a lot of critics, but we are preparing well for the Asian Cup matches that are coming up.

I dont want to make excuses, but whilst we were playing these (friendly) matches the domestic season in Malaysia was going on, so we had players going in and out of the team all the time, said the one-time Perlis and Penang boss ahead of his sides opening match against the Chinese in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Now we have the full complement of players with us and everyone in the squad is aware of what is happening and they all know their responsibilities. They now need to rise to the occasion, he added.

Whilst preferring not to reveal any Asian Cup targets the Malaysians may have set, Bakar, who also confirmed that Pahang forward and long term national team absentee Indra Putra Mahayuddin had been named in his final 23-man squad, was adamant that Malaysia were looking forward to showing the rest of Asia just what they were capable of.

We need to perform very well, we need to be at our very best. I hope the Malaysian fans will back us no matter what happens on the pitch.

Now is the time for Malaysian football to show what level we are at. We are honoured to be one of the hosts and the spirit in the camp is okay. We now just want to do our best in this tournament.

Jaeyoon SG

News from Group B

Collective work key to Qatar success - Yaser
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI Qatar playmaker Hussein Yaser believes that his sides strong teamwork and their maturity will be the key to success in their AFC Asian Cup 2007 Group B opener against defending champions Japan at My Dinh National Stadium on Monday.

We have been preparing for a long time as a team and everybody is reaching his top performance now, said Yaser following his teams training session at match venue on Saturday.

Theres no easy game but anything can happen. Each game is played 11 versus 11 and each game is different.

Football is not an individual game. Its a collective work and that will be a key point. Working as a team means everybody works hard and they achieve more.

People talk about luck, but a team that works hard can earn their luck.

While Yaser, who had a six-month spell with English Premiership side Manchester City, has a great deal of respect for Japan , he is by no means daunted by the task of taking the defending champions in their opening game of the tournament.

Everybody knows Japan won the last tournament and the one before and their football has improved over the last 10 years. But we also have established a very good league in Qatar over the last five years, said the Al Rayyan player.

I hope we can make a big game against Japan. I think they want to win and we want to win.

The game will be decided in the field. We are a small country but we are very ambitious about this competition.

Yaser believes that the Qatari players have grown in confidence since winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in December.

We won the Asian Games in Doha and won big games like against Iran in the semi-finals, which is also a big team in Asia.

That helped the team in terms of confidence. We are a young team with an average age between 20 and 25 and we are merging together now with some experienced players.

Having struggled at the Gulf Cup in January, Yaser feels that he and his more senior Qatari team mates have much to prove at the Asian Cup.

The Asian Cup brings all the big teams in Asia and each player is happy to participate in this tournament, he said.

Everybody knows that football in Qatar is changing. In this tournament, we hope we can show that Qatar can compete at a higher level.

Jaeyoon SG

News from Group B

ACL experience works to Suzuki's benefit
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI Japan and Urawa Reds midfielder Keita Suzuki is hoping to take advantage of his experience of playing in the AFC Champions League when the defending champions take on Qatar on Monday in their AFC Asian Cup 2007 Group B opener in Hanoi.

Playing in the ACL has been a plus to me, said Suzuki, I had a tough game away in Sydney [against Sydney FC] and also played in Indonesia [against Persik Kediri]. Everything has being helping me.

Suzuki, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday, helped the J. League club to book their place in the quarter-finals of the annual club competition and is now hoping to make his mark in his first appearance in the Asian Cup, having narrowly missed out on Japans 2004 Olympic squad.

I have been looking forward to this tournament very much, said Suzuki, following Japans official training session at My Dinh Stadium on Saturday.

It was disappointing when I was not picked for the Olympics. But I set my target at the World Cup and have worked hard, telling myself that I would have another chance, which, I suppose, has helped me to get here.

The Reds midfielder has earned 10 senior caps so far and is the only player to have in all of Japans games since Ivica Osim took the helm a year ago, making his debut on August 9 in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in Tokyo.

Asked about the aspect of his game that has won him a place in the team, Suzuki replied with a smile, Hard working, and added that that it would be a factor that would helps his side to get good results in the tournament.

Hard work is important in any competition. The players who have a strong mentality can perform well even in tough conditions in the game, and that would apply to the players of Brazil, Italy or France, any team. I believe I can do that.

Qatar have a good counter attack and individual skills as well as collective play. We should use our brain to take the initiative of the game.

The game is not for individuals. We play as a unit and that I think is the strong point of Japan game. Id like to play well for our team and win the game, he added.

Jaeyoon SG

News from Group A

Arnold: First game may be toughest
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

BANGKOK - Coach Graham Arnold admits Austrlias first-ever game in the AFC Asian Cup could prove to be their most testing of the entire tournament.

The Socceroos mark their debut in the competition on Sunday when they meet Gulf side Oman, representing the first time in history the two sides have clashed.

After an impressive run in the 2006 World Cup, Arnolds side have unsurprisingly been installed as one of the favourites to win the trophy at the first attempt.

But the 43-year-old admits Omans unpredictability, coupled with the pressure of the opening game, will provide a tough test of Australias capabilities.

Asked what he thought Omans main strengths are, Arnold said: Their athleticism and their unpredictably.

They can do some crazy things and some great things and they are probably the hardest type of teams to play against.

The first game of any competition is always one of the hardest, there is a lot of adrenaline going through the players but we are confident in our own ability.

With a squad packed full of high-profile players from across the European leagues, many are expecting Australia to at the very least make it to the final of the Asian Cup.

A number of the players and Arnold himself have been quoted in the build up to the tournament as wanting to make it all the way to final in Jakarta on July 29.

But Arnold insisted that kind of confidence is necessary if Australia are to enjoy a successful run in the competition.

It is definitely not arrogance, it is confidence, he added.. If you come here and dont have a goal to be successful then you are probably coming here for the wrong reasons.

It is a huge step coming here and playing here. It is a massive competition, there is a lot of prestige which goes with the Asian Cup and it is watched by millions of people.

We have come off the back of a World Cup where we performed well and because we were ranked number one that is where the favouritism tag comes from.

I have a huge amount of belief in my players.

For Sundays game, Arnold has the luxury of a fully fit squad to pick from and hinted Liverpool star Harry Kewell could earn a place in the starting 11 after returning from a long spell out through injury.

Harry is up for contention, he is looking great, he said. He trained extremely well yesterday, but I wont reveal the starting 11 until I tell the players.

They deserve that respect but definitely all 23 players are up for selection.

Jaeyoon SG

Group B News

Japan down locals in warm-up
Jul 7, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI Japan warmed-up for Mondays AFC Asian Cup Group B opener against Qatar with a 3-0 victory over local first division club Vietnam Army Club on Friday.

In the first match following their arrival in Hanoi on Wednesday, defender Yuji Nakazawa headed home shortly before the break and midfielder Yasuhito Endo and striker Kisho Yano struck in the closing stages to seal the win in the game played next to the My Dinh Stadium where Mondays meeting with the Asian Games gold medalists will take place.

Japan coach Ivica Osim used the match to hand all 23 players playing time in the high temperatures and humidity of Hanoi, with many showing effects of the J.League campaign which finished only seven days ago.

I had 45 minutes to play and found it was tiring, said defender Yuichi Komano, a member of Japans 2004 Olympic and 2006 FIFA World Cup squads. But it was good to check what it would be like to play here in such conditions like this.

Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi added: The heat and humidity are more than what I expected. But we can get used to it and dont have to be nervous about the game conditions.

Many of us have experienced playing in worse conditions than this. We should adjust our physical fitness well first to get ready for our first match.

Osim earlier said that he will form a team around the players who are capable of playing in the heat and high humidity.

I just told our players to take this [training game] seriously so that they can see how much they can do under the circumstances in a different type of climate, he said. Some players ran well and some didnt. Well just have to take our games in the condition given to us.

Jaeyoon SG

Group A news

Super sub Cahill rescues subdued Socceroos
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

BANGKOK Oman were denied the first shock of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 when substitute Tim Cahill scored an injury-time equaliser as pre-tournament favourites Australia drew 1-1 with the Gulf Sultanate at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday.

The result mirrored Saturdays result between Group A hosts Thailand and Iraq, leaving all four teams level on points and goal difference after the first round of matches.

Badar Mubarak looked to be the hero for Oman when he opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and just as it was looking as though Australias competition debut would end in defeat, the Everton midfielder continued his knack of scoring vital goals for his country when he levelled the tie right at the death.

It was rough justice on the lively Omanis but the four minutes of injury time were always a possibility as their frustrating time-wasting tactics came back to haunt them.

The opening 10 minutes of the match was a scrappy affair with neither side creating any clear cut chances until Ismail Ali, Omans top scorer in qualifying with four goals, headed Yousuf Shabans corner over the bar.

Oman again came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later when Shaban dived into the six-yard box in a desperate attempt to get his head on the end of an Ahmed Hadid free-kick swung in from the left.

The Socceroos seemed to be labouring in the Bangkok humidity and shortly after Brett Emerton had become the first player to enter Seychellois referee Eddy Maillets book Australia mustered their clearest effort at goal.

Harry Kewell, who had earlier attempted to win a penalty by falling to the ground under minimal contact from defender Hassan Yousuf Madhafar, was perfectly placed in the apex of the six-yard-box to hammer home Luke Wilkshires 20th minute free-kick but the injury-prone Liverpool attacker took his eye off the ball and knocked it across goal instead of into the back of the net.

The Gulf side, playing in only their second Asian Cup finals, took the lead in the 32nd minute when Imad Ali picked up possession on the left side deep into Austrailian territory.

The Qatar Sports Club forward, who scored three times in Omans debut Asian Cup campaign, tried to set up Ismail Al Ajmi but while he failed to connect with pass the ball landed fortuitously into the path of Badar Mubarak whose low shot had too much purchase for Mark Schwarzer to keep out.

Australia had the chance to hit back immediately but recently-signed Newcastle United striker Mark Viduka swept a free-kick high and wide before Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was out sharply to deny Mark Bresciano, after the Torino midfielder had superbly controlled the ball to set up the 41st minute chance.

Three minutes after the restart Oman almost doubled their lead when Ahmed Mubarak cleverly created space for a low shot from just outside the area, but Schwarzer got down well to push the ball to safety.

The Middlesbrough keeper again came to his sides rescue in the 70th minute with a timely one-handed save from Imad Alis header following a move that started with Oman keeper Ali Al Habsi punching clear a Wilkshire corner.

With 13 minutes left to play Schwarzer was again the saviour for Australia with a smart block from Fawzi Basheer, although the midfield dynamo, who came on for goal scorer Badar Mubarak on the hour mark, should have put the game beyond any doubt.

Oman were punished for the profligacy and their numerous unnecessary injury stoppages when Cahill fired home the rebound after Al Habsi could only parry Brescianos shot back to the feet of the former Samoa youth international, who was only cleared to play for Australia in 2004.

Jaeyoon SG

Co-hosts Vietnam shock Gulf Cup holders
Jul 8, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI - Vietnam opened their AFC Asian Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates as second half goals from Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh ensured a surprise triumph over the Gulf Cup champions on Sunday.

The UAE had the better of the scoring opportunities in the first half with lively strike duo Faisal Khalil and Ismail Matar posing a constant threat to the co-hosts.

But after the UAE failed to take their chances, Alfred Riedls side took the lead just after the hour mark through Quang Thanh before 21-year-old Cong Vinh wrapped up the win to blow Group B, which also contains defending champions Japan and Qatar, wide open.

The UAE threatened in the closing stages, but failed to really trouble home goalkeeper Hong Son Duong as Vietnam claimed a historic victory.

The game began at a frantic pace in an electric atmosphere created by a near sell-out crowd at the My Dinh National Stadium, but neither side created a real opening with Khalils early shot, which was blocked on the edge of the area, the only real threat inside the opening 15 minutes.

Vietnam came within inches of opening the scoring with 16 minutes on the watch as Quang Thanhs teasing free-kick from the right was flicked the wrong side of the upright by Dong Thap striker Phan Thanh Binh, while at the other end Matar curled a free-kick from the edge of the area just wide of the post.

Song Lam Nghe An custodian Son Duong kept the scores level after 30 minutes with a full length diving save after Khalil had broke into the area and looked to find the bottom corner with a low shot.

The home side came out of the blocks firing at the start of the second half and it took a diving save from UAE goalkeeper Majed Naser to deny Nguyen Vu Phongs stinging low shot from the edge of the area before the custodian quickly regained his feat to comfortably save Binh Phans follow-up shot.

A flying Matar was felled on the edge of the area before the hour mark and after penalty appeals were waved away, the Al Wahda striker chipped the resulting free-kick over the bar.

Vietnam delighted the passionate home crowd four minutes after the hour mark as Quang Thanh pounced on Nguyen Minh Phuongs chipped pass into the area and gave a helpless Naser no chance from close range.

The home side almost doubled the lead a minute later as Naser did well to parry Thanh Binhs powerful close range strike and Vu Phuong scooped the rebound over the bar.

The crucial second goal came with 17 minutes remaining as Cong Vinh beat the UAE offside trap to lob Vu Phongs lofted pass over an advancing Naser from the edge of the area.

Jaeyoon SG

Yesterday July 8, 2007 Match day 2

Match #2
8/7/07
17:20 (BKK Time)
Australia 1-1 Oman
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand

Match #3
19:35 (Hanoi Time)
Vietnam 2-0 UAE
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam

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Today July 9, 2007 Match day 3

9/7/07 Match #4
17:20 (Hanoi Time)
Japan v Qatar
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam

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Tomorrow July 10, 2007 Match day 4

Match #5
10/7/07
17:20 (JKT Time)
Indonesia v Bahrain
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia

Match #6
20:35 (KL Time)
Malaysia v China
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Smile
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Short Ninja SG

As it turned out my predictions in the opening games were off.Probably because all the teams have prepared well for the competition.Today Japan take on Qatar and knows what the outcome would be? Have to watch out for the 1.86m Sebastian from Uruguay otherwise its Samurai blues all over again.

Short Ninja SG

The game ended in a disappointing draw with Qatar playing with10 men in dying minutes.Osim is still experimenting with the rest of his J-leaguers as Japan failed to capitalise .....again missing many open goal .Kannina they really played like Singapore tonight Mr. Green

Jaeyoon SG

Short Ninja, yesterday as what I predicted, Oman really nearly beat Australia. I guest it was a draw 0-0 and it really turned out a 1-1 draw.

I don't know why Australia is what the English language media love.
I don't fancy them winning the Asian Cup even months ago. They can go as far as the semi final, maybe but not winning the cup. I don't think so. They're over-rated just because they have some players in Europe, especially the English Premier League and Bresciano in the Italian Serie A. Even if they're in the EPL, it doesn't mean that they're stars. I don't think they're stars like what the newspaper portray them to be. I think they're just average players in average clubs like Blackburn Rovers and Everton. Yes Cahill scored the equalizer in injury time to level but overall it's just a bit of luck and to me, they're not super stars. They're beatable. Other teams just need more confidence. Iraq might be able to beat them. Thailand might also be able to do it. Who knows right?

If the Aussies have stars from those Everton, Blackburn teams, we have a star in Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur, Reading and Middlesborough. No big deal at all.

You're in Japan now, I don't think you can even find the articles talking so much about how good is Australia right? It's the same in Korea. We don't care how good or bad the Aussies are because we know on a good day, we can beat them. We don't think we're better but we think it's 50-50.

Simple over-rated. I bet and I won. Anyway, the media is biased, especially those English-language media. I really don't like those English media, to be frank.

Which team really worth respect is Vietnam. They really did well. Good start, good work. Well done. If Qatar and Japan are not careful, they can lose to Vietnam too.

Did the TV in Japan show the Qatar - Japan game live?

Tomorrow China - Malaysia. Some Malaysians said that Malaysia will beat China 1-0 or 2-0. I don't think so.

My guess is Malaysia 0-3 China. China can score at least 2 goals. Malaysia is no match for China. They're shorter and smaller. The Chinese are faster, taller and bigger.

Good luck!

Smile Cheers Ninja!

Jaeyoon SG

Japan should have been more agressive. They started like back in 2004 when they were under Zico. What frustrate people is the way they started. Wasted time, wasted chances. Not agressive enough. They need to run more. Like you said, you can't play like Singapore. Slow and soft....that's not good. Luck is not always there.

Well, it's a 1-1 draw. there is still chance. But they have better beware of Vietnam. I see Vietnam more dangerous than UAE. UAE is can be beaten if Japan can play more agressively.

Good luck Ninja! Smile

Short Ninja SG

Yes, it was live here and despite the draw Osim feels that his boys have the full potential to go all the way.I am not impressed with Qatar style of soccer but I was damn impressed with one of their supporters who used a loud speaker to sing,pray and cheer for his team ..he was the one man "Kallang Roar" Mr. Green
Maybe it was due to the weather but I feel some of the bigger teams need a bit more time to turn up their heat and this we will see in their second game on.It would be interesting also to see how Uzbekistan and Bahrain play.China is one Asian nation that is never lack of talent in any sports..already the future world champions of sepak takraw Mr. Green Tomorrow Malaysia boleh let in 3 goals just like you said.Vietnam got to a good start and knowing how nationalistic they can be I think they should go through to the next round.Thailand is in a precarious position now because they have to try to score more goals in their next game and the Aussies will hit them with full force.I dont have the slightest clue about Indonesia except that they did play with 12 men against Singapore in the Asian Cup when they were losing Very Happy so hopefully they be allowed to do so again tomorrow Laughing Ok good luck to team Korea and to you too.I better go catch some sleep now although this is not like the World Cup fever still I feel a little temperature already.Goodnight/Good Morning.

Jaeyoon SG

Group B News

Quintana foils Japan with late strike
Jul 9, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI Qatar earned a share of the spoils with defending champions Japan when Sebastian Quintana scored with just two minutes remaining to hand the Asian Games gold medallists a 1-1 draw at My Dinh Stadium on Monday evening

The Uruguay-born forward hit a free kick from the edge of the Japanese penalty area that was deflected past goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi by the defensive wall, cancelling out Naohiro Takaharas opener in the 61st minute.

Japan coach Ivica Osim will feel as if his team squandered two points after dominating for much of the game against a Qatar team that opted to take on a defensive stance throughout the match.

A cagey opening was compounded by Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovics decision to pack his back line, a tactic that frustrated the three-time winners, who dominated possession but were unable to break through.

Despite Japans position of strength, it was the Qataris who carved out the first chance of the game, forcing Kawaguchi into a save in the 17th minute when Mohammad Gholam struck a free kick and the Jubilo Iwata goalkeeper punched the ball clear.

Four minutes later, Shunsuke Nakamura went for goal only for his attempt to be blocked by a Qatari defender.

After the break, Musovic introduced Majdi Siddiq for Mesaad Al Hamad, and the Al Khor midfielder presented an initial threat, playing a one-two with Quintana only for the Japanese defence to snuff out any promise that the move may have held.

However, Japan eventually reclaimed control of the game and in the 57th minute they came close to opening the scoring when Satoru Yamagishi fired over the bar after Takaharas knock-down found him unmarked eight yards from goal.

Four minutes later, though, Japan were in front. Yasuyuki Konno latched on to a through ball from Kengo Nakamura on the left side of the box before sending a low cross with the outside of his right foot to Takahara at the far post, and the Eintracht Frankfurt man made no mistake.

In the 81st minute, Quintana, who operated alone up front for most of the game, threatened the Japanese goal with a free kick which was just over the bar.

But seven minutes later he had more luck after he was impeded by Yuki Abe and he picked himself up off the turf to fire through the wall and past Kawaguchi.

The game ended on a sour note for the Qataris, however, when Hussein Yasser was sent off for a lunge at Hideo Hashimoto and coach Musovic was also sent to the stands for protesting too loudly over the call.

Jaeyoon SG

Group B News

Draw leaves Musovic surprised
Jul 9, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI Jubilant Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic was as surprised as anyone after his team earned a late draw with defending Asian Cup champions Japan at My Dinh Stadium on Monday.

Sebastian Quintanas 88th minute free kick cancelled out Naohiro Takaharas opener from the 61st minute to give the Asian Games gold medallists a share of the points in the Group B encounter.

I didnt expect us to draw today, said the Bosnian coach. Japan have very good individual players and I also didnt know how my players would react after the training camps and friendly games.

But in friendly game, you cannot see the complete image of the team, you have to wait and see how they will react during the competition.

Musovic praised his players for their performance against Japan, a team who he had lauded in the build up to the game but said he was not going to overreact ahead of his sides second game, against surprise group leaders Vietnam.

I am satisfied with the result and with the way my team tried to play today in this game, he said. It is hard for players to adapt to playing in the first game.

I am taking one game at a time. We are in an excellent position now, but it is only one game. We must now play well against Vietnam and also in the last game against the UAE, because this will decide who will qualify, but we now have a lot of motivation.

However, despite the result, the evening was spoilt for Musovic in injury time when he was sent from the bench after complaining to Australian referee Matthew Breeze, who had just sent off Hussein Yasser for a lunge on Japan substitute Hideo Hashimoto.

I was near to the incident, said Musovic. I was in a better position than the referee. He [Yasser] tried to make contact with the ball, and it was not his intention to foul.

We will now lose a player for the next game. The referee must realise it is the last minute and also it was an attacking player who did not make many fouls during the game.

Jaeyoon SG

Group B News

Osim upbeat despite dropped points
Jul 9, 2007
PA Sport

HANOI - Japan coach Ivica Osim remained upbeat over the defending champions chances of landing a third straight AFC Asian Cup after Qatar grabbed a later equaliser to claim a 1-1 draw in Group B on Monday.

Naohiro Takahara had lifted a below-par Japan side with a 62nd minute opener after Yasuyuki Konno had latched on to a through ball from Kengo Nakamura to cross for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to make no mistake with a neat close range finish.

But Sebastian Quintana grabbed an equaliser for Dzemaludin Musovics Asian Games gold medallists with an 88th minute deflected free-kick after the Uruguay-born forward had been upended on the edge of the area.

Qatar were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time as Hussein Yasser was sent-off after lunging at substitute Hideo Hashimoto, but Japan were unable to take advantage to leave co-hosts Vietnam sitting alone at the top of Group B after their stunning 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

The late goal was a little bit of a shock, but that is part of football. I will have to decide at the end of the group how significant his result is, said Osim.

Japan must now re-group for Fridays meeting with the United Arab Emirates as Osims side look to follow-up their AFC Asian Cup victories in Lebanon in 2000 and China three years ago.

It would have been easier to lift the team if we had won, added Osim. Today we could not show our true potential, we did not play very well. I was surprised how my players played. They played good football; the problem is that Japan has not reached our true level of playing beautiful and efficient football.

We must learn how to take our chances when we create them in front of goal.

There is not just one reason for this, if we had just two reasons like mentality and performance, it would be a lot easier.

Winning is not easy, but each game is different. We must now concentrate on the next game.

Vietnam now have the best chance to qualify mathematically, they know what they want and they have a special motivation go through. We are still challengers, but Vietnam are top at the moment and they are a very dangerous team, we must be careful against them.

Osim also played down concerns over the fitness of Satoru Yamagishi, who was replaced with 17 minutes remaining by Naotake Hanyu, insisting the midfielder was just feeling the affects of the humid Hanoi conditions.

Jaeyoon SG

Group C News

Han not taking Malaysia lightly
Jul 9, 2007
PA Sport

KUALA LUMPUR - China striker Han Peng believes that his side will not be complacent going into their opening AFC Asian Cup match against rank outsiders Malaysia on Tuesday.

With Thailand and Vietnam, two of Malaysias fellow co-hosts, already bagging points from their opening games, the burly 23-year-old front man refused to accept that Norizan Bakars side will provide the Chinese with anything but a similar challenge to the one they are expecting from Group C powerhouses Iran and Uzbekistan.

If you play football, everyone has got a chance so it is very hard to say who is the best, said Han who has been in terrific recent form for reigning Chinese Super League champions Shandong Luneng.

Each team has got its own advantages, its own strengths and weaknesses. For us, we do have our own advantages and we will hopefully utilise them to qualify.

Despite Hans positive outlook, China head coach Zhu Guanghu has already come under intense pressure from the Chinese media during a less than convincing build-up to the 14th edition of Asias premier tournament, a spell that saw his side labour to wins over Singapore and Palestine.

With nothing but the best expected from a team who finished as runners-up to Japan when they hosted the Asian Cup three years ago, Han was nevertheless confident that China are fully focussed on the task ahead.

I think that our three opponents are exactly the same for us, they all represent important matches for us, he explained.

Following Mondays training session at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, a China team official announced that front man Qu Bo, a former Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers trainee, had been forced to leave the pitch after damaging a foot.

Team doctors are expected to assess his injury later on Monday, before making a decision on whether or not the Qingdao Zhongneng forward is fit enough to play against Malaysia.

Jaeyoon SG

Group C News

China hold no fears for Nanthakumar
Jul 9, 2007
PA Sport

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia defender K. Nanthakumar has revealed that the AFC Asian Cup co-hosts are in a confident mood ahead of their opening Group C clash with China on Tuesday.

Speaking after the Malaysians had enjoyed a brisk training session at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Sunday evening, Nanthakumar, a key figure throughout Peraks impressive domestic campaign, felt that the South East Asian side are more than capable of improving on the narrow 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of China in a qualifier for the 2006 World Cup three years ago.

Today went well and we will now see what happens on Tuesday, We are very confident going into the game against China, said the talented 29-year-old who is equally at home playing in midfield or at the heart of defence.

We lost (the World Cup qualifier) 1-0, but this year we are better prepared and our preparations are going very well. We have slowly improved.

Nanthakumar, whilst clearly relishing the challenges that come with playing at Asias premier tournament, was also keen to point out that Malaysia would have to be at the top of their game if they were to emerge successfully from a tough group which will also feature Uzbekistan and a much fancied Iran side.

We will be fighting very hard in order to win the (first) match with China, he said.

We must work hard in the game because China have a lot of experienced players, so we have to try very hard. For me, Iran are a strong team because they have already played in a World Cup. Whatever happens we will fight for a win.

Meanwhile Malaysia head coach Norizan Bakar told the assembled media that, with a fully fit squad to choose from, he was looking forward to his charges rising to the occasion.

This is the time for the team to do their best. People say Malaysian football is in decline but we are trying our best," declared the one-time Perlis and Penang boss.

The players are the performers and when they get to this stage they have to perform at their level best.

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