UZBEKISTAN PREVIEW
Tashkent: Coach Jose Maria Pazos insists Uzbekistan must “produce the perfect game” in Sunday’s final against Iran at Uzbekistan Stadium to claim a first-ever AFC Futsal Championship title.
Uzbekistan secured a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Thailand in Friday’s semi-final following a thrilling 2-2 draw as Pazos’ side maintained their record of having never failed to qualify for the final as hosts.
But if Uzbekistan are to avoid a fourth final defeat, they must overcome Iran, whose formidable form has seen the 10-time winners score an incredible 46 goals in five games including a 13-1 semi-final victory over Vietnam on Friday.
“The key point is to keep them quiet for the first five or 10 minutes; nobody has managed to do that yet and they have won every match easily,” said Pazos, whose side lost 8-3 to Iran in the 2010 final.
“If we can keep them quiet or even score an early goal, who knows, maybe they will begin to get doubts in their minds that they have not experienced so far.
“But we have not started games well yet, so we need to improve that way. For us to win, we must produce the perfect game and we also need them to not be at their best.
“Nobody has been able to come close to stopping them yet. Vietnam tried to press them but it was impossible, other teams have tried to sit deep and defend and have been punished. They will punish us if we have any lack of focus which is why we need 40 minutes of total concentration.”
Hosts Uzbekistan began the tournament with a 5-2 win over Saudi Arabia before going on to top Group A with maximum points after claiming wins over Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon.
And after seeing off Iraq 3-0 in the quarter-finals, Pazos’ team came through the tense semi-final with Thailand to raise hopes of a first continental crown following final defeats in 2001, 2006 and 2010.
“We must try to play in a similar way to the Thailand game, where we defended and attacked well. We also need to cut out our mistakes,” added Pazos.
“But I have told my players they must enjoy this occasion because playing in front of the home fans will be special. It will probably be the last time they play the tournament in their own country with such a great atmosphere, so they must make the most of it.
“Iran will not be affected by our support because they are used to playing in front of big crowds so, I repeat, the key for us to complete mission impossible is to keep them quiet at the beginning. If we can do that, maybe we will find their weak points.”
IRAN PREVIEW
Iran vs. Vietnam: Semi Final AFC Futsal Championship 2016 , Tashkent , Uzbekistan.
Tashkent: Coach Mohammad Nazemosharie has warned “anything can happen” ahead of Sunday’s AFC Futsal Championship final against hosts Uzbekistan as Iran chance an 11th continental title at Uzbekistan Stadium.
Iran have progressed to the final with a perfect record and underlined their title credentials with a 13-1 semi-final success over Vietnam on Friday.
Nazemosharie’s side, who have scored 46 goals and conceded just three in five games, also beat Uzbekistan 8-3 in the 2010 final in Tashkent which was the last time Iran won the AFC Futsal Championship title.
“We’ve prepared for six months for this one moment and we came to Uzbekistan only for one match, for this match, and to become champions,” said Nazemosharie.
“Sure, on paper we are the strongest team but the interesting and wonderful thing about futsal is that anything can happen in any match.
“If people say we are going to win for sure, for 99%, then I say we must focus on getting better and stopping the other 1%.
“No team that thinks they are champions can become champions; we have to come fully prepared, with good tactics, a good approach, mentality and strategy.”
Uzbekistan have also progressed to the final without losing a game, but the hosts did need penalties to edge out Thailand in their semi-final on Friday following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.
“We have to accept that we are playing in Uzbekistan’s home and that they have a huge advantage with the crowd on their side,” added Nazemosharie.
“Every match you see, and I’m sure it will be the same on Sunday, their fans arrive hours before kick-off and they sing and play music and we know just how difficult it will be.”
Iran, though, following the 2010 final success, have won 22 of the 24 meetings with Uzbekistan.
“We are constantly thinking how to improve, so that’s why we practised the power-play, just to be ready,” said Nazemosharie.
“It’s also why we’ll practice penalties because you never know what can happen in this beautiful game of futsal.”
Photo: AFC
HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS
| Iran vs Uzbekistan | |
| Competition: | – All Competitions |
| National Teams: | – A Team (Men) |
| Period: | – All |
| HOME | AWAY | NEUTRAL | TOTAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | GM | GF | P | W | D | L | GM | GF | P | W | D | L | GM | GF | P | W | D | L | GM | GF |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 128 | 34 |
| Team 1 | vs | Team 2 | Result | Penalty | |
| 08/05/2014 – Ho Chi Minh City (VIE) – AFC Asian Futsal Championship – Vietnam 2014 (FT) |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 10 – 0 | – | |
| 20/04/2014 – Tashkent (UZB) – Friendly Match |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 2 – 6 | – | |
| 19/04/2014 – Tashkent (UZB) – Friendly Match |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 1 – 6 | – | |
| 09/06/2013 – Tehran (IRI) – Friendly Match |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 9 – 3 | – | |
| 08/06/2013 – Tehran (IRI) – Friendly Match |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 6 – 1 | – | |
| 29/05/2012 – Dubai (UAE) – AFC Asian Futsal Championship – UAE 2012 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 6 – 3 | – | |
| 17/04/2012 – Bandar-Abbas (IRI) – Friendly Match |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 4 – 1 | – | |
| 15/04/2012 – Bandar-Abbas (IRI) – Friendly Match |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 2 – 2 | – | |
| 12/10/2010 – Tashkent (UZB) – Friendly Match |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 4 – 0 | – | |
| 30/05/2010 – Tashkent (UZB) – AFC Asian Futsal Championship – Uzbekistan 2010 (FT) |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 3 – 8 | – | |
| 08/04/2010 – Udon Thani (THA) – Udon Thani – Thailand 5’s 2010 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 2 – 1 | – | |
| 06/10/2009 – Tashkent (UZB) – Tashkent 2009 |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 1 – 3 | – | |
| 24/04/2008 – Tashkent (UZB) – Friendly Match |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 0 – 3 | – | |
| 22/04/2008 – Tashkent (UZB) – Friendly Match |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 0 – 1 | – | |
| 21/10/2007 – Joinville (BRA) – Grand Prix 2007 |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 0 – 2 | – | |
| 18/05/2007 – RootDamages FasT here (JPN) – Osaka – Japan 2007 |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 3 – 7 | – | |
| 27/01/2007 – RootDamages FasT here (IRI) – 1st B Five Cup 2007 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 7 – 0 | – | |
| 02/06/2005 – Ho Chi Minh City (VIE) – Ho Chi Min City – Vietnam 2005 |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 1 – 4 | – | |
| 21/04/2004 – Macau (MCO) – Macau – Macau 2004 |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 1 – 8 | – | |
| 03/08/2003 – Tehran (IRI) – Tehran – Iran 2003 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 7 – 2 | – | |
| 03/06/2003 – Kuala Lumpur (MLY) – KL 5’s – Kuala Lumpur 2003 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 7 – 1 | – | |
| 22/10/2002 – Djakarta (INS) – Djakarta – Indonesia 2002 |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 5 – 0 | – | |
| 20/07/2001 – Tehran (IRI) – AFC Asian Futsal Ch. – Iran 2001 (3rd) |
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| Iran | vs | Uzbekistan | 9 – 0 | – | |
| 08/05/2000 – Bangkok (THA) – AFC Asian Futsal Ch. – Thailand 2000 (2nd) |
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| Uzbekistan | vs | Iran | 4 – 6 | – | |
