The Vietnam national team has been drawn in Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship, to be co-hosted by Vietnam and Indonesia on December 1-29.
In an official draw in Hanoiyesterday , Vietnam will compete in a group with Myanmar , Singapore and the qualifying runners-up.
Regional rivals Thailand, the 2008 AFF Cup runners-up, will face co-hosts Indonesia, Malaysia and the top qualifying team in Group A, which has been nicknamed the ‘Group of Death'.
Vietnam , Thailand , Singapore , Indonesia , Malaysia and Myanmar will have byes in the preliminary round, while Laos , Cambodia , the Philippines and East Timor will compete in a round robin for the remaining two berths.
" Vietnam have a slight advantage, because Group A is a tougher draw, as it includes Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia . However, it's won't be easy for Vietnam as group hosts and defending champions," Vietnam team coach Henrique Calisto said.
"Two years ago, Vietnam surprised everyone to win the Cup, but this year, our rivals won't take us for granted. It means that we'll face many difficulties in the tournament. We'll have to try our best to do everything we can to defend the trophy. I don't think it'll be easy."
The Portuguese added that Vietnam needed to respect every opponent in the group, as he had witnessed the rapid progress of Myanmar . Vietnam have tussled with Singapore in recent tournaments.
"It's not that easy. Playing Singapore and Myanmar is as difficult as taking on Thailand , Malaysia and Indonesia . We're the defending champions and we'll have to do everything we can to retain the cup," the Vietnam Football Federation's general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said after the draw.
As scheduled, Vietnam will play Myanmar in the Group B opener on December 2, while Indonesia take on Malaysia on December 1.
In January, officials from the AFF toured facilities, including the 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi to evaluate the preparations for this year's AFF Cup.
The country has been in a rush to prepare for the event in order to meet the strict criteria set by the AFF Council for stadia, accommodation and transport.
Two years ago, Vietnam won the AFF-Suzuki Cup, which was co-hosted by Thailand and Singapore , after a 3-2 win in a two-leg final with Thailand .
The AFF Cup has become a symbol of football prowess in Southeast Asia since the inaugural event in 1996.
Since 2002 the tournament has been held in two countries, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals and final, which is played in a home-and-away format.
At the first tournament in Singapore in 1996, Vietnam came third before finishing as runners-up in 1998 as the host nation.
Thailand has won the title three times, while Singapore has been twice victors./.
In an official draw in Hanoiyesterday , Vietnam will compete in a group with Myanmar , Singapore and the qualifying runners-up.
Regional rivals Thailand, the 2008 AFF Cup runners-up, will face co-hosts Indonesia, Malaysia and the top qualifying team in Group A, which has been nicknamed the ‘Group of Death'.
Vietnam , Thailand , Singapore , Indonesia , Malaysia and Myanmar will have byes in the preliminary round, while Laos , Cambodia , the Philippines and East Timor will compete in a round robin for the remaining two berths.
" Vietnam have a slight advantage, because Group A is a tougher draw, as it includes Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia . However, it's won't be easy for Vietnam as group hosts and defending champions," Vietnam team coach Henrique Calisto said.
"Two years ago, Vietnam surprised everyone to win the Cup, but this year, our rivals won't take us for granted. It means that we'll face many difficulties in the tournament. We'll have to try our best to do everything we can to defend the trophy. I don't think it'll be easy."
The Portuguese added that Vietnam needed to respect every opponent in the group, as he had witnessed the rapid progress of Myanmar . Vietnam have tussled with Singapore in recent tournaments.
"It's not that easy. Playing Singapore and Myanmar is as difficult as taking on Thailand , Malaysia and Indonesia . We're the defending champions and we'll have to do everything we can to retain the cup," the Vietnam Football Federation's general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said after the draw.
As scheduled, Vietnam will play Myanmar in the Group B opener on December 2, while Indonesia take on Malaysia on December 1.
In January, officials from the AFF toured facilities, including the 40,000-seat My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi to evaluate the preparations for this year's AFF Cup.
The country has been in a rush to prepare for the event in order to meet the strict criteria set by the AFF Council for stadia, accommodation and transport.
Two years ago, Vietnam won the AFF-Suzuki Cup, which was co-hosted by Thailand and Singapore , after a 3-2 win in a two-leg final with Thailand .
The AFF Cup has become a symbol of football prowess in Southeast Asia since the inaugural event in 1996.
Since 2002 the tournament has been held in two countries, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals and final, which is played in a home-and-away format.
At the first tournament in Singapore in 1996, Vietnam came third before finishing as runners-up in 1998 as the host nation.
Thailand has won the title three times, while Singapore has been twice victors./.
