Cuba head coach Antonio Perdomo: The World Grand Prix is a very important competition in the build-up to the World Cup. We would like to win every match but we don't know how they will turn out. Our team is getting better and better, as we showed at the Pan American Games in Brazil. It was a surprise for us, too, that we won the gold medal. I believe we have prepared well for this tournament and we would like to maintain our good form right through to the World Cup. I think Cuba and Dominica are at the same level, and victory will go to the team that plays better on the day.

Dominican Republic head coach Beato Cruz: 2006 showed that our team is gradually getting better and better. In 2005 we were 11th and in 2006 we were eighth. We have put in some young players and want to get into a higher position. There will be some hard matches in this tournament with so many competitive teams from around the world. We have had five players injured from the beginning of the year, and the young players who have come in are now in their third major tournament, so I believe they are ready. Cuba is a very strong team with very strong skills. We have won several matches against Cuba but I would like the players to put all their effort into making a good match tomorrow (Friday).

Japan head coach Shoichi Yanagimoto: This is a very important year before the Peking Olympics and we need to show good results. With the new faces in our team and with the players who have come back, I believe we have a balanced team. It will be a tight schedule against such competitive teams and we will need to be tough to achieve good results.