Japan treating Qatar like Brazil or Italy
Monday, 9 July 2007
HANOI, Jul 8 (AFP): Japan are treating their Asian Cup opener against fast-rising Qatar today (Monday) in the same way they would if it was Brazil or Italy -- deadly seriously.
"Qatar is for me the same as Italy or Brazil. The next game is always the most important in football," Japan coach Ivica Osim said on the eve of the Group B match, the only tournament game being played on Monday.
"I know the Qatar side knows about our team. Both sides have huge information but it will be decided in 90 minutes, not before or not after," added the 66-year-old tactician.
Qatar coach and fellow Bosnian Dzemaludin Musovic, Osim's assistant when they guided the former Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, admitted Japan were "excellent in the quality of players."
"Qatar is for me the same as Italy or Brazil. The next game is always the most important in football," Japan coach Ivica Osim said on the eve of the Group B match, the only tournament game being played on Monday.
"I know the Qatar side knows about our team. Both sides have huge information but it will be decided in 90 minutes, not before or not after," added the 66-year-old tactician.
Qatar coach and fellow Bosnian Dzemaludin Musovic, Osim's assistant when they guided the former Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, admitted Japan were "excellent in the quality of players."