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The Vietnamese nationwide staff in coaching forward of their closing two World Cup qualifiers. Photograph thethaovanhoa.vn
Peter Cowan
There aren’t any ethical victories in skilled sport, however that doesn’t imply Việt Nam don’t have anything to play for within the World Cup qualifiers.
Park Grasp-seo’s males wrap up their marketing campaign with matches at dwelling to Oman this Thursday and away to Japan subsequent Tuesday, and whereas qualification for Qatar is past them, there are greater than a meaningless six factors on provide.
Việt Nam have already made historical past as the primary Southeast Asian staff to safe a win within the third spherical of qualifying due to their 3-1 victory over China on February 1 and so they can prolong that document with one other at dwelling to Oman.
The guests are additionally out of competition for a spot in Qatar and certain gained’t relish a visit to muggy Hà Nội within the thick of mouldy March, so it might be nice to see the Vietnamese staff take the sport to them as they did towards China, as a substitute of the conservative method employed within the majority of the marketing campaign.
Racking up two wins at this prime stage of competitors would cement Việt Nam because the area’s prime staff, no matter Thailand’s AFF Cup triumph.
Secondly, there’s nonetheless an opportunity Việt Nam can keep away from the picket spoon and condemn neighbours China to backside spot on Group B.
A win on Thursday night time coupled with a Chinese language defeat at dwelling to group leaders Saudi Arabia (a close to certainty) would see Việt Nam transfer a degree above China forward of the ultimate spherical of fixtures.
A second from backside end isn’t what anybody needed at the beginning of this marketing campaign, however it might positive beat coming useless final, in order that alone must be greater than sufficient motivation for captain Đỗ Hùng Dũng et al.Lastly, and admittedly this one is the longest of lengthy pictures, however Việt Nam have an opportunity to drag off a historic upset of Japan.
The Asian soccer giants have struggled within the third spherical of qualifying by their lofty requirements and face a crunch match with Australia on Thursday as they try to carry onto the second computerized qualifying spot.
In the event that they lose in Sydney, subsequent Thursday’s conflict with Việt Nam takes on an ideal deal extra significance and Việt Nam may finish the Samurai Blue’s hopes of computerized qualification and ship them into the inter-continental playoffs.
A victory in Japan for coach Park’s facet could be unprecedented, as Việt Nam have by no means defeated Japan even at a impartial venue, by no means thoughts away from dwelling.
Final November when Japan visited Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hà Nội, they seemed removed from world beaters and laboured to a 1-0 win, so a reverse of that rating isn’t past the realms of chance.
Is it doubtless? No, but when following this staff over the previous few years has taught us something, it’s historical past is there to be made and data are made to be damaged. VNS
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