Việt Nam target high finish at AFF U23 championship – Sports – Vietnam News | Politics, Business, Economy, Society, Life, Sports

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Vietnamese gamers practice on Saturday in Phnom Penh. Việt Nam are prepared for the AFF U23 Championship on February 14-26. Picture of VFF

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam takes half within the AFF U23 Championship fielding their youthful, beneath 21 squad, however nonetheless purpose for the very best attainable end on the event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The championship runs from February 14 to 26. Việt Nam are in Group C with Thailand and Singapore. Group A has East Timor, the Philippines, Brunei and the hosts. Group B consists of Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos.

The highest workforce of every group and the second-placed workforce with the perfect outcomes will advance to the semi-finals.

“Like different groups, Việt Nam has additionally ready fairly nicely for this competitors,” mentioned coach Đinh Thế Nam.

“Now we have educated for a month. And we’ll goal the very best attainable place.

“I’ve confidence within the entrance line however the defence shouldn’t be fairly adequate. Defenders will not be completely centered and nonetheless lack confidence.

“It’s the first time taking part in internationally for a few of my gamers. We should push their confidence up, We nonetheless have a number of days to enhance the workforce forward of the primary match.”

Nam, who led Việt Nam’s U16 workforce to the Asian championship’s quarter-finals in 2016, mentioned the workforce must be at their greatest in each single match to advance to the ultimate.

He mentioned: “They’re U21s and possibly not the perfect for this event. We aren’t asking them to get the title however by the event, we’ll discover gamers for the U23 workforce that can compete on the thirty first SEA Video games. And these U21s will symbolize Việt Nam on the thirty second Video games in Cambodia in 2023.”

Việt Nam will play their first match in opposition to Singapore on February 19 on the Prince Stadium in Phnom Penh.

“We may even watch the match between Singapore and Thailand (on February 16) and attempt to perceive their taking part in model and discover their weak factors. After which, we could have appropriate techniques in opposition to each of them,” Nam mentioned.

Defender Dụng Quang Nho is also hoping to final so long as attainable within the event and play within the closing.

Nam added: “Việt Nam Soccer Federation doesn’t count on for us to win this championship. However we’ve got nonetheless labored actually onerous with out Tết vacation relaxation. We purpose to play our greatest in all matches earlier than going house.” 

Talking on the briefing yesterday morning, Thailand coach Salvador Garcia mentioned his workforce, which incorporates gamers from the U19 squad, had been at their greatest after weeks of coaching. 

Garcia mentioned the event can be a superb likelihood for the children who hope to advance to the knockout stage.

He added that they’d first concentrate on the Singapore match earlier than analysing Việt Nam for the following match.

Coach Nazri Nasir of Singapore mentioned his workforce is in powerful group. He’s lacking a few of their greatest gamers who couldn’t be part of the workforce as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. However Singapore ready nicely for this occasion which is a warm-up of the SEA Video games in Might.

Previous to the briefing, organisers introduced defending champion Indonesia withdrew from the event due to the COVID-19 and harm issues.

Soccer Affiliation of Indonesia confirmed the choice to not take part after seven gamers and one workforce official examined constructive for coronavirus, with one other 4 members of the squad in danger after being in shut contact from sharing rooms.

As well as, three different gamers — Gunansar Mandowen, Ramai Rumakiek and Muhammad Iqbal — had been already harm doubts heading into the event.

Earlier, coach Brad Maloney of Malaysia mentioned his defender Muhammad Safwan Mazlan would miss the primary match in opposition to Myanmar on February 15 due to a constructive take a look at outcome.

Việt Nam landed in Phnom Penh with 27 gamers who all examined adverse.

Vietnamese referee Ngô Duy Lân will officiate on the AFF U23 Championship. Picture vov.vn

One other Vietnamese to work in Cambodia is referee Ngô Duy Lân.

Lân, 37, is one among three FIFA-leveled officers of Việt Nam and the one one who reached the elite certificates, the very best stage in referee rating. — VNS