Vietnam U23 team practise in Thailand. (Photo: VFF) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has a chance to enter the final of the M-150Cup friendly football tournament in Thailand after Uzbekistan tied with Myanmar2-2 in Group B activity on December 11.
Vietnam is on top after the first match withthree points. Uzbekistan and Myanmar are second with one each.
The Vietnamese squad just needs a drawagainst Uzbekistan on December 13 to get to the gold-medal match.
It is the same with Thailand in Group A asthey just tied with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the next matchto join Vietnam.
Coach Park Hang-seo and his players areworking hard to prepare for their second game at the I-Mobile Stadium inBuriram.
Two days before the match, Park, who watchedUzbekistan vs Myanmar game on the stand, asked his players to carefullypractice counter-attack plans to face Uzbekistan.
“He asked us to practice defence in a dynamicway but follow the 3-4-3 formation. He requested players to keep contact witheach other and between lines. It will help the team work fluently,” saiddefender Tran Dinh Trong.
“We are shorter than them but if we couldcover each other in all situations and play with confidence we could beat thisgiant team,” he said, adding that the whole team was ready for the match.
Speaking about Park’s 3-4-3 formation, whichwas just introduced to Vietnam squad, former national striker Dang Phuong Namsaid the team gradually mastered it and achieved success as seen in their 4-0win over Myanmar last week.
“They (the U23s) show their skills better inmanaging the balls and co-operate with each other well. People can see thatwhen they work together to produce four goals and many other chances againstMyanmar,” said Nam.
“Trio Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Quang Haiand Nguyen Văn Toan can play well even in personal or team situations. Hai andPhuong worked perfectly together. They just need to improve their link with therest of the team,” he added.
Hai, who scored a double in the openingmatch, received appreciation from coaches and experts.
“I believe in Hai, who can make a change in amatch. He has grown up quickly after competing two years in the V. League underHanoi FC’s jersey. Eyes should be kept on this big potential guy in Vietnamcrew,” said former national defender Nguyen Viet Thang.
Apart from the trio, other players who areexpected to fly high are midfielders Duc Huy, Hong Duy, Ngoc Quang and XuanTruong.
Former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh said theteam’s wing defender Van Hau and Van Thanh were secret weapons.
“They are strong. They displayed good speedand technique, and even managed to score from a long distance. Thanh can evenbe switched with a striker, he often scores for his club and national teams,”Vinh said.
On the other side, Khaydarov Ravshan ofUzbekistan was excited with his team’s fightback to draw with Myanmar on December11.
He said some of his players suffered injuriesbut the team immediately went to the field to practice.
Ravshan said Vietnam was a good team, playingwith discipline and strictly following tactics and he would work with hisassistants to have a plan when facing Vietnam on December 13.-VNA
VNA
