The national men's football team will hope to defend their AFF Suzuki Cup trophy this winter (Photo: goal.com)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Following the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s announcement thatthe AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 schedule will remain unchanged, the national footballteam seem to have a busy winter after the coronavirus pandemic haswreaked havoc with the football schedule.
Vietnam will have to play 9-11matches in both World Cup qualifiers and the AFF Suzuki Cup from October toDecember.
The AFF event's finalround will run from November 23 to December 31, before which the national teamwill play Malaysia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier in October.
The match in Kuala Lumpur wasoriginally scheduled for March 31 but was postponed by the AFC to October 13due to the spread of COVID-19.
“The AFF announced the AFF Cup2020 will start in October but that is the event’s preliminary round. Vietnamare the defending champions so we don’t have to play in this round. In October,Vietnam will only play in the 2022 World Cup qualifier as scheduled,” said VFF GeneralSecretary Le Hoai Anh.
“FIFA and the AFC moved theWorld Cup qualifiers’ competition schedule on FIFA days in October andNovember, so the matches of Vietnam against Indonesia on November 12 and UAE onNovember 17 won’t affect the schedule of the AFF Cup’s group round which beginson November 23.
"However, the competitiondensity for Vietnam in the last three months of the year will be very thickwith three World Cup qualifiers matches and at least 6-8 matches of the AFFCup.”
According to the VFF, thefederation and head coach HLV Park Hang-seo will work closely together toget the side physically and mentally prepared for the games.
To help prepare for thematches, the VFF plans to invite foreign teams to play friendlies with Vietnamin June.
The Vietnamese team willconvene in late May or early June and then again at the end of Septemberfor the matches.
Vietnam aim to defend their AFFCup title which they gained after beating Malaysia 3-2 over a two-legged finalin December 2018.
The 2020 edition will followthe same format as of 2018 with the top 10 teams from ASEAN split into twogroups and facing each other on a home-and-away basis./.
Vietnam will have to play 9-11matches in both World Cup qualifiers and the AFF Suzuki Cup from October toDecember.
The AFF event's finalround will run from November 23 to December 31, before which the national teamwill play Malaysia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier in October.
The match in Kuala Lumpur wasoriginally scheduled for March 31 but was postponed by the AFC to October 13due to the spread of COVID-19.
“The AFF announced the AFF Cup2020 will start in October but that is the event’s preliminary round. Vietnamare the defending champions so we don’t have to play in this round. In October,Vietnam will only play in the 2022 World Cup qualifier as scheduled,” said VFF GeneralSecretary Le Hoai Anh.
“FIFA and the AFC moved theWorld Cup qualifiers’ competition schedule on FIFA days in October andNovember, so the matches of Vietnam against Indonesia on November 12 and UAE onNovember 17 won’t affect the schedule of the AFF Cup’s group round which beginson November 23.
"However, the competitiondensity for Vietnam in the last three months of the year will be very thickwith three World Cup qualifiers matches and at least 6-8 matches of the AFFCup.”
According to the VFF, thefederation and head coach HLV Park Hang-seo will work closely together toget the side physically and mentally prepared for the games.
To help prepare for thematches, the VFF plans to invite foreign teams to play friendlies with Vietnamin June.
The Vietnamese team willconvene in late May or early June and then again at the end of Septemberfor the matches.
Vietnam aim to defend their AFFCup title which they gained after beating Malaysia 3-2 over a two-legged finalin December 2018.
The 2020 edition will followthe same format as of 2018 with the top 10 teams from ASEAN split into twogroups and facing each other on a home-and-away basis./.
VNA
