AFC U23 Asian Cup
Antonio Puche’s China PR’s run to a final was based on defensive solidity while Japan have been impressive in all departments, with Go Oiwa’s side aiming to defend their title and lift the trophy for a record-extending third time.
Puche, who has seen his side grow from strength to strength, said China PR are ready to take on the challenge.
“We are very excited. This is a historic match and a very big dream. We want to win the title even though we know it will be difficult. Reaching the final itself is already special for us but now we want to go one step further,” said Puche.
“Our mentality is fantastic and I don’t even have words to describe the players’ mental state. We are in a good place, very confident and self-belief is one of the key elements in football.”
“We are very excited. This is a historic match and a very big dream. We want to win the title even though we know it will be difficult. Reaching the final itself is already special for us but now we want to go one step further,” said Puche.
“Our mentality is fantastic and I don’t even have words to describe the players’ mental state. We are in a good place, very confident and self-belief is one of the key elements in football.”
Japan will be familiar foes, with the sides having met in the 2024 edition, while several of the China PR players were in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023 squad - with China PR losing both.
Puche was also in charge of the U20 squad, who took the lead only to fall 3-1 in the group stage meeting but the Spaniard said it doesn’t matter when his side score on Saturday.
“The most important thing is the result. Who scores first is not important – what matters is the final outcome. We have been working non stop for the past 24 hours. There is no easy way.
“Tomorrow, you will see the distance between Japanese and China PR football is still quite big and we need to be realistic and adapt to our opponents but we have 23 players and we will fight, for sure. We understand the situation but sometimes extraordinary things can happen.”
Puche was also in charge of the U20 squad, who took the lead only to fall 3-1 in the group stage meeting but the Spaniard said it doesn’t matter when his side score on Saturday.
“The most important thing is the result. Who scores first is not important – what matters is the final outcome. We have been working non stop for the past 24 hours. There is no easy way.
“Tomorrow, you will see the distance between Japanese and China PR football is still quite big and we need to be realistic and adapt to our opponents but we have 23 players and we will fight, for sure. We understand the situation but sometimes extraordinary things can happen.”
#AFCU23 Saudi Arabia 2026 | Preview: Final
They will face a supremely confident Japan who have impressed enroute to the final, netting 12 goals and conceding only one with Oiwa optimistic that his side will finish the job.
“We came to this tournament with a very young team and that itself was already a challenge but we have done well. The players are ready and they will perform to the best of their abilities,” said Oiwa, who steered Japan to the title in 2024.
“China PR are a well-organised defensive team. Through this tournament they have shown great resilience and I have great respect for them. Their players all have different qualities but we are fully prepared to compete and win this tournament.”
“We came to this tournament with a very young team and that itself was already a challenge but we have done well. The players are ready and they will perform to the best of their abilities,” said Oiwa, who steered Japan to the title in 2024.
“China PR are a well-organised defensive team. Through this tournament they have shown great resilience and I have great respect for them. Their players all have different qualities but we are fully prepared to compete and win this tournament.”
Winning the title will go a long way in boosting the squad’s growth, with the 2028 Olympics their long term target and Oiwa expects his players to show the progress they have made in their development.
“We won the previous tournament but we are here with a different group of players who have shown development and I want to see this progress to be shown on the pitch.
“We know how strong the China PR defence is. Compared to the other teams, they are a very unique team. We will analyse them carefully and will be focused on our goal.”
“We won the previous tournament but we are here with a different group of players who have shown development and I want to see this progress to be shown on the pitch.
“We know how strong the China PR defence is. Compared to the other teams, they are a very unique team. We will analyse them carefully and will be focused on our goal.”
#AFCU23 - The Trophy
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Trivia
● This will be the second meeting between China PR and Japan at the AFC U23 Asian Cup with Japan winning the lone encounter in the group stage of the 2024 1-0. While this is China PR’s maiden appearance in the final, it will be Japan’s third after winning in 2016 (3-2 v Korea Republic) and 2024 (1-0 v Uzbekistan in 2024).
● China PR have won two games in the ongoing edition - as many as they won in their five previous participations combined; however, they have never won consecutive games.
● Japan have scored 12 goals in the ongoing edition, having netted more in a single edition only once before (15 in 2016); in fact, this is the fourth time Japan have scored 10+ goals in a single edition, the outright most often by any team.
● China have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five matches, only Saudi Arabia in the 2022 edition went through an entire campaign without conceding a goal; they have scored four goals so far in this edition, their joint most in a single edition in the competition (also in 2016 & 2018).
● China PR goalkeeper Li Hao has recorded a save percentage of 100; over the last four editions of the competition, no other keeper has managed to record a 100% save percentage (min. 10 shots on target faced in a single edition).
● Japan’s Ryunosuke Sato has made five goal contributions (3 goals, 2 assists) in the ongoing edition - the most by any player. The last player to register more in a single campaign over the last four editions was Ali Jasim (6 for Iraq in 2024).
China PR v Japan
Venue: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
Kick-off: Saturday, 18:00 (UTC+3)
Venue: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
Kick-off: Saturday, 18:00 (UTC+3)
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