U-16 Japan national team: Photo:AFC/STANLEY CHOU

KUALA LUMPUR: Hiroshi Yoshida, coach of defending champions Japan, has two targets for his girls at the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship – to win the title and to play attractive football.

However, after struggling through to the semi-finals against China, Yoshida is frustrated by his team’s inability to play their best football.

“We want to win the title and also show everybody the kind of skilful and entertaining football we can play,” said Yoshida, whose team play China on Wednesday at Shah Alam.

“But our performances have so far not been so good. We will continue to try to play good football.”

Indeed, the Japanese had a tough time against Thailand in their second Group B match, eventually winning 2-1 to finish second in the group behind DPR Korea.

The Koreans defeated Japan 1-0 in the opening match.

Despite his side failing to play to their potential, their players have showed plenty of skill and technical ability. And Yoshida is confident they can overcome the powerful Chinese, who they defeated in the 2005 final with a completely different team.

“Yes, we will win,” Yoshida said confidently. “None of these players played in 2005 but they have a good future and I hope they can show this by winning against China and then winning the title.”

Chinese coach Wang Hong is also confident of victory despite her team’s 0-0 draw against Australia that assured them of first place in Group A.

“We will play better against Japan,” she said. “The Japanese team is very skilful and we need to play better than we did against Australia.

“But I am confident we can do this and reach the final.”

China started the competition with a 3-1 victory over Korea Republic before their draw with the Aussies.

Wang said revenge against Japan for defeat in the 2005 final was not on her mind because it was a different team, but victory would nevertheless taste sweet.

“It would be good to win,” said Wang.

The teams have added incentive to win their semi-final because the two finalists earn automatic entry into the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup this year.

The losers still have a chance to qualify for the FIFA finals if they can win the third-fourth play-off.