Vietnamese players in a practice session. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamwill play Chinese Taipei in today’s friendly match that will see manyyoungsters as both sides look to rejuvenate their line-ups.
The match is one of theactivities to prepare for the last 2019 Asian Cup qualification round nextweek.
It will be the second meet forthe teams within 12 months. Previously Vietnam beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the2018 World Cup qualifier in Hanoi last March 23. It was the first win fornational coach Nguyen Huu Thang since he took charge of the team some weeksearlier.
“I hope for a similar win. But itwill not be easy because there is a big change in my team. Some veterans haveretired leading to a young roster,” Thang said at a press briefing in Hanoi onMarch 21.
The 45-year-old coach said if histeam was led by experienced ones they would be more confident but he believedthat his young players could control the game.
“Some of my players have beencompeting in the K. League (the Republic of Korean football tournament), someare the key players of their clubs, while some are teenagers but presentregularly in the first teams in V. League. They are strong enough to compete inall tournaments,” Thang said.
“My team is turning into a newpage. Young players bring fresh air although there will be difficulties. Wewill overcome challenge well.”
Talking about rivals, Thang saidChinese Taipei also replaced almost positions of their team. They were nowyoung but not weak. It could be a great match for the young generation.
Midfielder Luong Xuan Truong, whoreturned home from the Republic of Korea,also attended the briefing.
“From now on there will be no LeCong Vinh, Pham Thanh Luong and Truong Dinh Luat. We will have to try harder torepeat what we did in last year’s match,” he said
On the visitors’ side, coachKazuo Kuroda confirmed that the team might be at a lower level compared to Vietnam,but that was no reason to be afraid of the hosts. Chinese Taipei wanted a win.
Japanese Kazuo used to be ahigh-school teacher before he worked as a football trainer for a year at the J.League 1’s Vissel Kobe FC. One of his students, Okazaki Shinji, is now playingfor English Premier League champions Leicester City.
He has also helped train at least40 players who are currently playing at the J. League.
Before taking charge of theChinese Taipei team, Kazuo was the technical director and managed the U-18squad.
His U-18 team also lost 1-6 to aU-19 Vietnam squad in 2013.
In his five-month reign, Kazuoadded 17 new faces to the team.
Chinese Taipei beat Guam 2-0 andlost 0-2 to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The 68-year-old coach said he washappy with the chance to play Vietnam. He would base Vietnam’s good footballfacility and infrastructure to improve the conditions of Taipei when he wasback home.
The match will be aired live fromthe Hang Day Stadium from 6pm on VTV6.
After that, Vietnam will travelto Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on March 24, to play Afghanistan in the Asian Cup’sGroup C match four days later.
Chinese Taipei will welcomeTurkmenistan on March 26.-VNA
The match is one of theactivities to prepare for the last 2019 Asian Cup qualification round nextweek.
It will be the second meet forthe teams within 12 months. Previously Vietnam beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the2018 World Cup qualifier in Hanoi last March 23. It was the first win fornational coach Nguyen Huu Thang since he took charge of the team some weeksearlier.
“I hope for a similar win. But itwill not be easy because there is a big change in my team. Some veterans haveretired leading to a young roster,” Thang said at a press briefing in Hanoi onMarch 21.
The 45-year-old coach said if histeam was led by experienced ones they would be more confident but he believedthat his young players could control the game.
“Some of my players have beencompeting in the K. League (the Republic of Korean football tournament), someare the key players of their clubs, while some are teenagers but presentregularly in the first teams in V. League. They are strong enough to compete inall tournaments,” Thang said.
“My team is turning into a newpage. Young players bring fresh air although there will be difficulties. Wewill overcome challenge well.”
Talking about rivals, Thang saidChinese Taipei also replaced almost positions of their team. They were nowyoung but not weak. It could be a great match for the young generation.
Midfielder Luong Xuan Truong, whoreturned home from the Republic of Korea,also attended the briefing.
“From now on there will be no LeCong Vinh, Pham Thanh Luong and Truong Dinh Luat. We will have to try harder torepeat what we did in last year’s match,” he said
On the visitors’ side, coachKazuo Kuroda confirmed that the team might be at a lower level compared to Vietnam,but that was no reason to be afraid of the hosts. Chinese Taipei wanted a win.
Japanese Kazuo used to be ahigh-school teacher before he worked as a football trainer for a year at the J.League 1’s Vissel Kobe FC. One of his students, Okazaki Shinji, is now playingfor English Premier League champions Leicester City.
He has also helped train at least40 players who are currently playing at the J. League.
Before taking charge of theChinese Taipei team, Kazuo was the technical director and managed the U-18squad.
His U-18 team also lost 1-6 to aU-19 Vietnam squad in 2013.
In his five-month reign, Kazuoadded 17 new faces to the team.
Chinese Taipei beat Guam 2-0 andlost 0-2 to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The 68-year-old coach said he washappy with the chance to play Vietnam. He would base Vietnam’s good footballfacility and infrastructure to improve the conditions of Taipei when he wasback home.
The match will be aired live fromthe Hang Day Stadium from 6pm on VTV6.
After that, Vietnam will travelto Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on March 24, to play Afghanistan in the Asian Cup’sGroup C match four days later.
Chinese Taipei will welcomeTurkmenistan on March 26.-VNA
VNA
