Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Muscat: Japan are on a revenge mission ahead of Monday’s AFC U-22 Championship quarter-final with Iraq according to coach Makoto Teguramori.
The Samurai Blue ensured their place in the last eight as Group C runners-up with an impressive 4-0 win over fellow quarter-finalists Australia on Thursday having made a slow start to the tournament with back-to-back draws against Iran and Kuwait.
And having missed out on a place at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 2-1 defeat by eventual finalists Iraq in the quarter-finals of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship, Japan are out to continue their progress at Seeb Sports Stadium.
“We wanted to play Iraq in the quarter-finals as this generation didn’t qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after losing to Iraq so we wanted to play them again and this is a dream come true. Our motivation is high and this will be a good test to show how we have improved after a bitter experience as a U-19 team,” said Japan coach Teguramori, who is boosted by the return of defender Ken Matsubara from suspension.
“We had two draws in the group stage and then scored four goals in our win over Australia so we now have momentum because we had a good win at the end. I wanted the players to improve game-by-game and they have done that.
“The quarter-final with Iraq will be difficult as they are a strong side as they reached the last four at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and have players who play for the full national team so this is a good opportunity to test ourselves.”
Shinya Yajima scored Japan’s goal in the defeat by Iraq at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship and he and fellow midfielder Shoya Nakajima have been the standout performers in Muscat.
The diminutive Nakajima scored twice against Australia and set-up Yajima to take his goal tally for the tournament to three having also netted in the 3-3 draw with Iran.
“After I was appointed at the start of the year I only had six days to prepare the team. I focused on the players and getting them to understand my tactics and strategy,” added former Vegalta Sendai coach Teguramori.
“In the first game it was a tough 3-3 draw, the next game was 0-0 and then the last match we beat Australia. We were lucky Australia had already qualified but we needed to win so the motivation for each team was different. There was no way out for us, we had to win.
“Now the players understand my tactics and the last win has given us confidence.”
Iraq went onto reach the semi-finals at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and Hakeem Shakir’s side have built on that success in Oman after winning Group D with a 100% record following wins over Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and China.
And Shakir is boosted by the return of midfielder Mahdi Kamil having missed the win over China due to suspension, with the likes of 2012 AFC Young Player of the Year Mohanad Abdulraheem and Dhurgham Dawood also set to return to face Japan having been rested for the final group stage fixture.
Striker Marwan Al Ajeeli is only one of four players to have started every game for Iraq, with the striker repaying Shakir with four goals following his late inclusion in the squad.
“This match will not be easy, but it will also not be difficult. We have to be realistic as Japan are a very strong team so it will be a difficult mission because we are playing against a team who are the best in Asia so we have to be prepared and try to get a good result,” said Iraq coach Shakir.
“This match is considered one of the best matches in the tournament, but the other matches are also at the top level. Japan are a strong team with a good reputation in Asia so we will both look to produce a good performance that reflects our high level.”