Courtesy: The AFC.com


Japan, Australia get tough draw

Friday, 24 August 2012

Bangkok: Asian champions Japan has been drawn in one of the toughest groups of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 as the draws were conducted at the St. Regis Hotel in Bangkok on Friday.

Japan are paired with reigning champions Brazil, the third-placed side in 2000 edition of the tournament Portugal and African representative Libya in Group C. The November 1-18 tournament will take place in four different venues around Bangkok.

A total of five Asian representatives Japan, Thailand, Kuwait, Iran and Australia were featured in Friday’s draw.

Hosts Thailand have seemingly easy task as they are pitted in Group A also consisting Costa Rica, Ukraine and Paraguay. This is the first time in the history of the tournament 24 countries across the globe are participating as only 20 teams had featured in the 2008 Futsal World Cup in Brazil.

Debutant Kuwait will also feel satisfied as they avoided favorites in Group E which also include Egypt, Czech Republic and fellow debutant Serbia. Thailand are the third Asian country to host the event after Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei hosted the editions of 1992 and 2004 respectively.

Asian futsal powerhouse Iran also had a favorable draw as Group C features two debutants Panama and Morocco alongside with Saipan. Australia, the fourth-ranked Asian nation in recently concluded AFC Futsal Championship in Dubai, will have to see off the challenges of Argentina, Mexico and Italy in Group D to progress into the knockout stages.


The Groups

Group A: Thailand, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Paraguay
Group B: Spain, Iran, Panama, Morocco
Group C: Brazil, Japan, Libya, Portugal
Group D: Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Australia
Group E: Egypt, Serbia, Czech Republic, Kuwait
Group F: Russia, Solomon Islands, Guatemala, Colombia




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com