Makoto Teguramori is hoping his Japan side can finally overcome Iraq on Tuesday and advance to the final of the AFC U23 Championship having lost twice to the West Asian nation over the last two years in continental competition.

Iraq defeated Teguramori’s team 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the AFC U22 Championship in Oman two years ago before handing them a 3-1 loss in the group stages of the Asian Games in Incheon later the same year.

But with qualification for the Olympic Games as well as a place in the final of the AFC U23 Championship at stake, the former Vegalta Sendai coach thinks his team can overcome doubts about the quality of the current crop of young players.

“Tomorrow’s match will be the crucial game for going to the final and as well as qualifying for the final stage for the Olympic Games, so it will be exciting and challenging,” said Teguramori (pictured, left).

“So far we have played against Iraq twice and we were defeated twice, so at this very important stage we have to face a very strong opponent and this is fate for us.

“We must overcome Iraq in order to show ourselves on the world stage, so we will try our best to qualify for the final.

“This team and this generation is now in the middle of their growth and they haven’t participated in the FIFA U20 World Cup and we were defeated by Iraq in Oman and at the Asian Games, so all the players know what they have experienced.

“But this experience will lead to their growth and this is what I believe, so if they can qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this can show the high level of Japanese football.”....

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