Illustrative photo (Source: vietnamnet.vn) Hanoi,June 4 (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam will face five-time Futsal World Cup winners Brazilin this year's tournament in Lithuania.
The Southeast Asian team were placed in Group D alongside futsal royaltyBrazil, Panama and the Czech Republic during a draw held earlier this week inZurich.
A total of 24 teams in six groups will compete in the tournament in September.The two best teams of each group and the top four third-placed sides will gothrough to the knockout rounds.
"Group D is not too difficult but also not an easy one. If there are nosurprises, Brazil will take top place. Vietnam will vie with the other two fora berth in the last eight," said Tran Anh Tu, head of the VietnamFootball Federation's Futsal Department.
"The Czech Republic are really strong. We need one point from them. Meanwhile,we must beat Panama who are similar to Guatemala (who lost to Vietnam in theprevious World Cup group stage). We hope we can repeat our fairy tale from fiveyears ago," Tu said.
World No 43 Vietnam will face Brazil, No 2, on September 13, then Panama,No 37, on September 16 and finally the Czech side, No 16, three days later.
Head coach Pham Minh Giang said it would be a tough task for Vietnam to get outof the group and detailed planning was required.
"Brazil and the Czech Republic are powerful. The former are five-timechampions. The latter just eliminated powerhouses Italy in the Europeanqualifier. Only Panama are the same level as Vietnam," said Giang.
"We will play on the counter-attack and defend our goal as best as wecan and minimise goal conceded from Brazil and the Czechs. It would begreat to earn one point against the Czech Republic.
"We must beat Panama with the maximum possible score to be among the topfour third-placed teams who will advance to the next round. My first act is toresearch them carefully and then produce suitable tactics. As I regularly watchcompetitions, Panama are home to quality players but they lack teamspirit," he said.
Brazil have played in every World Cup and won the tournament three timesin a row in 1989, 1992 and 1996. Their two other crowns were in 2008and 2012.
Brazil have played Vietnam twice. The Vietnamese came out on to 3-2 in theHCM City International Futsal Tournament in 2013 but Brazil cruised toan 8-1 win at the Grand Prix a year later.
It will be the third World Cup for Panama. They advanced to the quarter-finalsin their debut in 2012 and four years later, they went out in the groupstages.
The Czech Republic will compete in their fourth World Cup this September.Previously, they played in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
Vietnam secured their first World Cup berth in 2016 and reached thequarter-finals in Colombia, losing to eventual silver medal winners Russia.
Giang and his players are in quarantine in HCM City now after returning homefrom the World Cup playoff in the UAE where they defeated Lebanon to advance.
After that, they will prepare for the tournament and will have a trainingcamp in Spain if the COVID-19 pandemic is under control in August.
The World Cup will be held in Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipeda from September 12with the final set to be played at Kaunas Arena on October 3./.
VNA
