Centre-back Que Ngoc Hai and two other players at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Ahead of theVietnamese football team’s important match at the Asian Cup 2019 in the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) on January 12, Iran’s Varzeshi newspaper pointed out three outstandingVietnamese names that Iranian players should watch out for.
They are midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, centre-backQue Ngoc Hai, and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam.
The newspaper described Nguyen Quang Hai as Vietnam’smost important player, noting that he won the best player award at the AFF Cup2018 – of which Vietnam were the champions. The 21-year-old player also exhibitedan outstanding performance at the final round of the 2018 AFC U-23Championship, the newspaper said.
Quang Hai is usually placed in attack but canalso retreat to the centre midfield position. He has shown his ability to scorein a number of Vietnam’s matches in the past and he is ready to shine in the2019 Asian Cup, it added.
Meanwhile, Que Ngoc Hai and Dang Van Lam areimportant factors behind the success of the Vietnamese team. The newspaperspoke highly of the technical and defence skills of Que Ngoc Hai and describedDang Van Lam as a national hero with a wonderful goal-saving ability.
Iraq’s Al Mada newspaper commented that its teamwould face a number of difficulties in the first game against Vietnam onJanuary 8.
Vietnam were evaluated as a potential threat toIraq in its hopes to proceed to the knock-out stage, according to thenewspaper.
Al Mada warns that it would be a poor move forIraq to underestimate its opponents – namely Iran, Vietnam, and Yemen – and thewhole team should be on high alert, developing cautious strategies for eachmatches.
The newspaper said it has carefully followed thedevelopment path of Vietnam under the reign of coach Park Hang-Seo, aftergetting its national team’s surprise defeat at the U-23 Asian Championship oneyear ago. They removed Iraq from the round of eight on their journey to fulfil their championshipdreams.
The Vietnamese team is now built on the impressiveplayers from the U-23 Asian Championship 2018. Vietnamese players have a veryrelaxed spirit and it seems they are full of confidence towards playing a higher-levelcompetition, the newspaper said.
Vietnam are pooled with Iran, Iraq, and Yemen inGroup D of the AFC Asian Cup 2019. Afterplaying Iraq on January 8, the team will face Asian heavyweights Iran onJanuary 12 before wrapping up their group stage journey with a match againstYemen on January 16.
In a recent interview with Tasnim News Agency ofIran, head coach Park Hang-seo said the first goal of Vietnam – the AFF SuzukiCup 2018 champions – are to qualify for the knockout stage of thetournament. –VNA
VNA
