Japan edged a nail-biting 5-3 victory on penalties over hosts Sweden in blazing sunshine at the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Football World Championships on Wednesday (15 August).

The win means Japanw will advance to the fifth-place play-off, when they will play Russia after their 9-0 rout over Germany.

In normal time Japan achieved a 39^th minute breakthrough from a Hiroto Adachi with a close range finish into the Swedish net.

Kazuma Kimura made a searching run into the box and the Swedish defence failed to clear the ball. It rolled across the five-yard box and Adachi slotted the ball home to give Japan the lead at half-time.

As the sun continued to shine, many local fans brought deck chairs and settled down for the second half.

Their loyalty was nearly rewarded early on when Sweden just missed a shot on goal. The hosts then equalised with an 84^th minute goal with centre back Houssein Soumare heading in a quality cross.

Neither team could produce a goal in extra time and with the weather players were tiring. The game was destined for penalties.

Both teams delivered some quality kicks. However it was Sweden who made the first mistake, when Hidemitsu Uchibori saved their third penalty.

Japan’s Takuya Taniguchi stepped up to win the match 5-3. The Japanese were delighted and immediately celebrated with their coaching staff.

Yuki Urakawa netted Japan’s third penalty: “I am happy with the win. We have a strong heart that got us the goals,” he said. “We believed in our goalkeeper.”

Russia produce thriller against Germany

Russia will face Japan for fifth place after they produced a stunning 9-0 victory over Germany in Wednesday’s second game.

The Russians started the first half with lots of chances and the Germans could not cope with their attacking play, finding themselves 5-0 down at half-time.

A goal from Beglar Galustian in 27^th minute gave Russia the lead. That was quickly followed by another from Ivan Romanov less than 60 seconds later.

Alexey Shcherbakov and Dmitry Bugaev scored in the 32^nd and 44^th minute respectively before Romanov doubled his goal count right before the first whistle.

Despite their comfortable lead Russia did not hold back in the second half.

Germany gave away a penalty in the 74^th minute, calmly slotted in by Bugaev.

That gave Russia a boost and when Andrey Alexeev came on as a substitute he scored twice to bring their lead to 8-0. In the final minutes of the game, Dmitry Kazakov scored the ninth and final goal.

Afterwards an overwhelmed Bugaev said: “It was a good game. We will enjoy this wonderful victory today and then we will work on the next game against Japan.”

Germany will now play Sweden for seventh place on Friday (17 August) alongside the Japan v Russia fixture.

The semi-finals between Argentina and Poland and Saudi Arabia v France will take place on Thursday (16 August).

About the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships

The 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships have seen eight countries play for the title – Sweden, France, Germany and Argentina. Saudi Arabia, Poland, Japan and Russia.

Games are being shown live at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport YouTube channel. Information about groups, the schedule and results are available at https://iwfc.se/.

Photographs are available on request from lucy.dominy@inas.org.

Swedish football legends Stefan Schwarz and Sven Göran Eriksson will hand out medals the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Football World Championships on Saturday (18 August).

Teams from France, Sweden Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Poland, Russia, Japan and Germany have been playing in two groups in four Swedish cities over the last week for a place in the semi-finals.

Saudi Arabia and Poland have advanced to the next stage from group B. In group A France and Sweden will battle for the final play-off spot on Monday (13 August) to join Argentina.

The semi-finals will take place on Thursday (16 August). The final will follow on Saturday at 2.30pm (CEST) at the Tingvalla IP Stadium in Karlstad when Schwarz and Göran Eriksson will award medals.

Games are beng streamed lived at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport YouTube channel.

Schwarz said:

”It has been such a privilege to follow the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships via the livestream. I have seen all the games played and there has been some great and positive football played throughout the tournament. I must give the Swedish organisers and World Intellectual Impairment Sport a big applaud for a tremendous effort.

”Me and Sven Goran have known each other for quite some time now. It was Sven Goran who took me under his wing when I went to Benfica and Portugal. I have always loved the leadership he brings to the table. It is always about the team; not the individual. Sven Goran has also been exceptionally well in the way he has handled the media and press over the years.

”We have kept our relation close during all these years and speak from time to time on the phone and now we can join forces to attend World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships 2018 and it’s prize ceremony this coming Saturday: I cherish that.

”I am also looking forward to enjoying the final. May the two best teams make it.”

Andreas Slatt, the Head of Marketing and Communications for the Local Organising Committee of Sweden 2018, said:

”It is truly awesome to finally release this information. Mr Schwarz and Mr Eriksson are two of our greatest footballers in their profession; as a player and as a coach.

”Stefan Schwarz is the World Cup ambassador for the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships and it is extra fun that he brings his close friend, Mr Sven Goran Eriksson to the final ceremonies and also to attend the prize ceremony.”

Russia came back from 1-0 down against Japan at half-time to secure their first three points of the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Football World Championships on Friday (10 August).

Kai Sato scored the opener for Japan just eight minutes in but after the first whistle Russia found some form.

Andrey Alexeev equalised with just under 30 minutes left on the clock. A tense period followed with chances from both sides. But it was Russia who managed to find the back of the net in the dying stages of the game. Beglar Galustian was the hero in the 88^th minute to give his team a 2-1 win.

Despite their performance Russia will not advance to the semi-finals. Alongside Japan in group B they will play for honours whilst Saudi Arabia and Poland make it through.

A clash between the group leaders was the second game of the day.

Saudi Arabia were the team with most chances throughout the 90 minutes of high energy play. Saudi Arabia top the group on goal difference.

However neither team found the back of the net and it ended 0-0.

About the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships

Teams will play in two groups of four ahead of the semi-finals on 16 August and final on 18 August.

Group A features Sweden, France, Germany and Argentina. Saudi Arabia, Poland, Japan and Russia are in group B. All teams in group A will be awarded a 3-0 scoreline for fixtures against South Africa after their late withdrawal.

Games are being shown live at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport YouTube channel. Information about groups, the schedule and results are available at https://iwfc.se/.

Photographs will be available on request from lucy.dominy@inas.org.

 

Poland and Saudi Arabia both strengthened their chances of advancing past the group stages of the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Football World Championships with wins on Wednesday (8 August).

Playing at the Sannersrudsvallen in Kil, Sweden, Poland took on Russia followed by defending champions Saudi Arabia against Japan.

Poland emerged the victors from a tense tie against Russia, winning 4-2.

An incredible long-range free-kick into the area from Poland’s Adam Frackzek was bundled into the goal by Rafal Szkatula in the seventh minute.

Two more goals followed in quick succession later in the half. Piotr Krawczyk and Pawel Michalski scored within two minutes of each other to bring the score to 3-0 at the first whistle.

Russia tried to stage a comeback in the second half. A complacent Polish defence allowed Ivan Romanov through on goal to strike in the 50^th minute. Super-substitution Alexey Andrei then scored within three minutes of being on the pitch to bring Russia within touching distance of their opponents.

But Poland successfully took the edge off the Russian charge thanks to another goal – Poland’s fourth and last – from Szkatula.

“I feel very great. I am very proud [of scoring two goals],” Szkatula said. “We are still fighting going into the last game and of course, we hope the final.”

Saudi Arabia continued their unbeaten run in their game against Japan – but only just.

After a goalless first half that saw chances come and go for both sides, Saudi Arabia grabbed the lead in the 73rd minute.

Captain Abdallah Al Dosari buried a cross from Faraj Qausam Jayzani.

“We did everything that we could to win this match but it was difficult,” Al Dosari said.

About the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships

Teams will play in two groups of four ahead of the semi-finals on 16 August and final on 18 August.

Group A features Sweden, France, Germany and Argentina. Saudi Arabia, Poland, Japan and Russia are in group B. All teams in group A will be awarded a 3-0 scoreline for fixtures against South Africa after their late withdrawal.

Games are being shown live at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport YouTube channel. Information about groups, the schedule and results are available at https://iwfc.se/.

Photographs will be available on request from lucy.dominy@inas.org.

Defending title holders Saudi Arabia showed why they will be the team to beat at the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Football World Championships with a 5-1 win over Russia.

Playing at the Solviksvallen stadium in Arvia, Sweden, Saudia Arabia looked completely in control in the first group B game.

Ahmed Bu Hela starred in the impressive attack, scoring two goals on his international debut.

He was also instrumental in Saudi Arabia’s first goal. The team were handed the lead in the opening two minutes when a shot from Bu Hela deflected off the Russian defence for an own goal.

Two more came for Saudi Arabia in the first half, including Helal’s first.

Once again it took just a few minutes after the whistle in the second half for Saudi Arabia to find the net. Abdullah Adam this time powered the ball home after he snuck in behind the Russian defence to make it 4-0.

Helal made it 5-0 in the 59^th minute but their attacking play did not go unanswered. Russia’s Stanislav Sedov claimed a consolation goal with just under 30 minutes to play.

Poland v Japan

European Champions Poland came out on top of a close tie with Japan in the second match of the day, 2-1.

Japan were the first to score after a mistake by Russian goalkeeper Michal Wierzbicki. A strike from Japan’s Yusuke Kobayashi looked to have been saved but it just slid under Wierzbicki and over the line to give Japan the lead.

However Pawel Michalski equalised for Poland with just five minutes to go in the first half. A stunning header from Piotr Stawniack in the 54^th minute then gave Poland the edge – and proved to be the winning goal.

About the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships

Teams will play in two groups of four ahead of the semi-finals on 16 August and final on 18 August.

Group A features Sweden, France, Germany and Argentina. Saudi Arabia, Poland, Japan and Russia are in group B. All teams in group A will be awarded a 3-0 scoreline for fixtures against South Africa after their late withdrawal.

Games are being shown live at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport YouTube channel. Information about groups, the schedule and results are available at https://iwfc.se/.

Photographs will be available on request from lucy.dominy@inas.org.