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| AFC Futsal Championship |
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| Sapo ponders Kyrgyz challenge |
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| Japan coach Sergio Sapo knows Kyrgyzstan will provide a tough test of his side's AFC Futsal Championship cerdentials. |
BANGKOK - Sergio Sapo anticipates yet another test of Japan's quality in Thursday's quarter-final with Kyrgyzstan at Nimibutr Stadium.
Japan qualified for the last eight after coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Australia 4-2.
The victory - Japan's third success from three games - secured top spot in Group B and Sapo's side are favourites to progress to the last four, a result which would secure qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later this year.
Sapo was delighted with the character shown by his players on Tuesday but is aware of the need to improve as Kyrgyzstan will present another formidable challenge.
"I expect it's going to be a difficult game but we have a lot of time to discuss what we have to fix," said Sapo.
Sapo has targeted two areas in need of particular attention.
He would like to improve Japan's defending on fast breaks and their finishing, especially when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
"We are a little late getting back when defending counter-attacks and we are a bit weak on one-on-ones," he said. "It's what we have to fix."
But he believes they have time to solve the problems.
"We don't know the exact reason for it but we'll think about it," he added.
"We have more time so we can think about it and fix it."
Japan are set to be at full strength for the encounter, despite worries over Kohei Harada, who was injured in the opening win over Chinese Taipei and Takuya Suzumura, who is ill.
"We are all okay except for two players - six (Harada) injured in the first match and number two (Suzumura) - but should be okay."
Kyrgyzstan finished runners-up to Thailand in Group A after a 3-1 defeat to the hosts on Tuesday but coach Murtazin Djetybaev is confident his side will learn quickly from the loss and bounce back against second seeds Japan.
"This match was a lesson for us," he said.
"We will learn something from this match and for the next game we will prepare well."
Djetybaev is optimistic Kyrgyzstan can progress.
"We are ready to play with Japan and I still hope that we will be in the final stages," he added.
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