Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: After a decade waiting in the wings, Shuichi Gonda is Japan's number one goalkeeper as they chase a fifth AFC Asian Cup title, and it's an opportunity he is taking with both hands.
For a decade, Gonda has been Japan's goalkeeping nearly man.
He was part of the AFC Asian Cup-winning squad of 2011, and earned a call up to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil three years later, but didn't appear in either tournament as Eji Kawashima held down the position.
Having made his international debut way back in 2010, the 29-year-old had just five caps to his name coming into UAE 2019, but he has made the position his own, making five appearances and producing four successive clean sheets.
His efforts have helped Japan secure a place in the final against Qatar, and Gonda says he has a duty to perform.
www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_beach_soccer_asian_cup/video/semi-final_highlights.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/shuichi_gonda-japan-action.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Friday’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final will not only pit Qatar against Japan but also two highly motivated and experienced coaches who have successfully guided their respective teams through to the title showdown.
In Felix Sanchez, Qatar have a head coach who has overseen the steady progress of several of Al Annabi’s leading lights – notably Akram Afif and Almoez Ali – thanks to his spells with a host of the West Asian nation’s age-group teams.
The 43-year-old Barcelona native joined the Doha-based Aspire Academy in 2006 before, seven years later, taking charge of the Qatari side which would go on to beat DPR Korea and claim the AFC U-19 Championship in 2014.
Sanchez subsequently replaced Jorge Fossati in the Qatar hotseat in 2017, a role he now combines with the country’s U-23 side who he guided to a third-place finish at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Japan captain Maya Yoshida prepared for Monday's AFC Asian Cup semi-final against Islamic Republic of Iran like a de facto final, and is now focused on producing a similar performance in the real decider, to be held in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Two goals to Yuya Osako, and a third from Genki Haraguchi, powered the four-time champions to an emphatic 3-0 win over a previously unbeaten Team Melli, securing Japan's passage to a meeting with either Qatar or United Arab Emirates in the Continental finale.
Yoshida, an English Premier League star with Southampton, revealed the importance of the result, and his delight at having helped his side achieve it.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Hajime Moriyasu hailed his team’s fighting spirit as Japan advanced to a fifth AFC Asian Cup final since 1992 on Monday with a 3-0 win over Islamic Republic of Iran at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
A brace from Yuya Osako and a late strike from Genki Haraguchi took the Japanese into the tournament decider, where they will face either the United Arab Emirates or Qatar at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Friday.
“Iran have had great results in the past and we knew they were going to be a very tough opponent, but the players had prepared well and they showed great fighting spirit,” said Moriyasu, who also led Japan to the final of the Asian Games in Indonesia last summer."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: After making history by equalling Ali Daei's longstanding record for most goals in an AFC Asian Cup, Qatar striker Almoez Ali immediately turned his attention to Friday's final against Japan.
Ali, who was born four months before Daei set the record in the 1996 edition of the tournament, drew level with the Islamic Republic of Iran legend eight minutes before half time, scoring superbly from the edge of the penalty area to put his side 2-0 up against the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking to the-AFC.com after his side's eventual 4-0 win, the in-form Al Duhail front man expressed his joy, before turning his attention to the tournament decider.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Felix Sanchez praised his team’s cool-headed approach after Qatar handed AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 hosts the United Arab Emirates a 4-0 defeat to secure their place in the final of the Continental championship for the first time in the country’s history on Tuesday.
Boualem Khoukhi and Almoez Ali gave Sanchez’s side a two-goal lead at half time before further strikes from Hassan Al Haydos and Hamid Ismaeil completed the win in the second half to set up a meeting in Friday’s final with four-time champions Japan.
Qatar overcame a vociferous home crowd to advance to the decider and Sanchez hailed the maturity shown by his young team as they completed a sixth straight game at the Finals without conceding a goal.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: After 50 matches between teams from all over the continent, the combatants in Asia's biggest football fixture have been decided, with Japan to meet Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final.
Who, when, where? JAPAN v QATAR Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 18:00, February 1
Japan's 3-0 win against Islamic Republic of Iran in Al Ain on Monday and Qatar's victory over hosts United Arab Emirates 24 hours later in Abu Dhabi, sets up a mouth-watering clash between the sides, who will meet in the decider for the first time in the competition's 63-year history.