Japan playmaker Keisuke Honda has warned his teammates they must be at their best to defeat the UAE when the two sides face each other in the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
Defending champions and tournament favourites Japan won Group D with a flawless record, while the UAE were pipped to top spot in Group C by Iran’s 91st minute winner.
It means Mahdi Ali’s men face arguably the toughest last-eight game in the competition, although the UAE’s impressive form and style of play has not gone unnoticed by onlookers, including Honda.
“UAE are playing very well,” warned the AC Milan midfielder. “I don’t think they will fear Japan at all. Hopefully we can continue creating as many chances as we have been.”
Honda revs up
While Honda is full of praise for the UAE, the same cannot be said of the Asian Cup organisers, who he has criticised for the schedule.
Japan’s final group game against Jordan - a 2-0 win - means they have a day less to prepare for the UAE game, and the 28-year-old is less than impressed.
“Two days is too short a recovery time,” said Honda, who has already been fined $5,000 for letting rip at the referee in Japan’s 4-0 win over Palestine earlier in the competition.
“I don’t agree with such a tough schedule. It’s too much and it’s a concern.”
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