Team Japan (Photo courtesy of FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Facebook)
Top-ranked Brazil battles reigning Asian champion Japan in a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday.
The fancied Brazilians, who swept their way to the No. 1 seeding in Group D, seek to continue their rampage in the 8:30 p.m. match against the Group C runner-up Japanese.
Ranked fifth in the world, the Nadeshiko Five are out to carry the fight for Asians in the 16-nation meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation after the Philippines, Thailand and Iran bombed out of the group stage.
Meanwhile, it’s an all-Euro feature in the other quarterfinal draw as Portugal and Italy clash.
The Portuguese go into the 6 p.m. encounter with an unbeaten three-match run in Group C while the Italians needed a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Iranians in the final match of the eliminations to advance as Group D No. 2.
Winner of Tuesday’s fixtures will progress to the semifinals slated Friday.
They will join the victors of the Monday night’s opening quarterfinal matches pitting B1 Spain against A2 Morocco and A1 Argentina versus B2 Colombia.