The Hindu : Sport / Football : All set for the quarterfinals

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Monday, Nov 06, 2006
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All set for the quarterfinals

Principal Correspondent

BANGALORE: Rest and recovery were points of discussion ahead of strategy and game plan as the quarterfinalists got ready on the eve of the Asian Football Confederation youth championship's knock-out phase here on Sunday. The quarterfinals will be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

The four — Japan and DPR Korea from Group C and Iraq and Saudi Arabia from Group D have all looked vulnerable and inconsistent. And that was one area that prompted discussion. And the reason mooted has been the hectic scheduling. "Three matches in five days is tough on these young players," claimed Gilson Nunes, the Brazilian coach of Saudi Arabia.

Unperturbed

"The young players need at least three days to recover and perform at the highest level," was the clamour from all concerned although Japanese manager Keita Yamashita seemed least perturbed. "We have trained keeping all these factors in mind and are ready for the big battle," said the genial Yamashita, ahead of the quarterfinal clash against Saudi Arabia.

Nunes meanwhile hoped that the Saudis would display better cohesion rather than rely on individual brilliance. The Saudi coach also suffered a setback as the tournament committee turned down his plea for a revision of the two-match suspension handed over to key player Ahmed Alfraidi.

DPR Korea, mesmerised and won the hearts of everyone with its performance against Iran when it won 5-0 in the league. And this is exactly what captain and gifted Kim Kum Il and the talented Kwang Min Jong would like to repeat against the Iraqis.

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