Vietnamese team under training in Qatar (Photo: VFF) On its website, AFC said Indonesia and Vietnam are two teamsthat need no introduction to each other. The duo have faced off in SoutheastAsia for many a year, giving watchers some of the most memorable clashes at the AFF(ASEAN Football Federation) Cup – most recently in the semi-final of the 2022edition when Vietnam won 2-0 on aggregate.
However, what makes January 19’s match all the more specialis the fact that it will be the first time in 52 years that two Southeast Asiansides will meet at the AFC Asian Cup.
According to the AFC, Vietnam will hope to build on 2019and make another knockout stage appearance, but will have to do it under newhead coach Philippe Troussier who will lead them into their first majortournament since the departure of the hugely successful Park Hang-seo earlylast year.
Meanwhile, it will be momentous for Shin Tae-yong’s Garudaas they return to the continental stage for the first time since 2007 when theywere co-hosts alongside Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. And with an intenserivalry between the supporters, the two sides will aim for nothing but a winwhen they face off in their second group outing, it said.
The other four highly anticipated matches include Qatar vsLebanon, Iran vs the UAE in Group C, Australia vs Uzbekistan in Group B, andSaudi Arabia vs Thailand in Group F.
Vietnam is poised to make its debut in Group D, facing Japan onJanuary 15 before the clash against Indonesia on January 19./.
VNA
