Vietnamese players practice at Kunshan Stadium on January 9. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) -Coach Park Hang-seo said Vietnam’s three rivals in Group D at the Asian U23Championship were powerful opponents. Among them the Republic of Korea (RoK),who play Vietnam on January 11, was formidable, but Park said he knew theirplaying style and hoped to succeed at the match in Kunshan, China.
Speaking at a press conference on January 10, Park said: “TheRepublic of Korea are one of the titlecandidates. The match will be very difficult for Vietnam, especially in thecold weather which strongly affects players’ performance. However after oneweek training here, my players have gradually adapted to it.
“In a group of strong rivals, we have to work hard for eachgame. And hopefully we can make a miracle here,” said Park through aninterpreter.
Park, a Korean coach, is slightly concerned because he hasalmost no information on the RoK squad who are veiled in secrecy.
However, Park said hepartly understood how the RoK would play after many years watching clubscompeting in the domestic tournament.
He said it was importantthat his players keep their confidence high during the game.
Today’s match will also be special forVietnamese captain Luong Xuan Truong as he will face a team from the country hehas played in for the last two years.
The midfielder competed first withIncheon United and then at Gangwon FC, and the 22-year-old is determined toleave an impression in his side’s tournament opener.
“I’m quite confident that we can makesomething happen here, something special,” he said. “I’ve had two years in theRoK but I didn’t improve a lot. But through this tournament I want to tell themthat I am good enough to play in the RoK,” Truong said.
Truong said he has learnt a lot duringhis time there and he knew how professional the Koreans were.
“The players are professional ineverything. In every situation they always think about what they have to do. Theythink about football and talk about football all the time and that makes theteam better.”
To Truong and some other teammates,including striker Nguyen Cong Phuong, it will be their last competition at theyouth football level before they reach the age limit.
Phuong said: “We will try our best atthis competition so that we can say an impressive goodbye to the U23 team.”
On the other side, coachKim Bong-gil said as the runner-up in the previous championship, South Koreaare targeting the trophy this year.
He said his team justpracticed at home in preparation for the tournament but they were veryconfident.
Kim said Vietnam was agood team under an experienced coach so it must be a well-organised team withdynamism and high spirit. He hoped the coming match would be a good game forboth sides.
Korean captain Hwang Hyun-soo said he knew Vietnam’splaying style and believed in a win for his side.
Hwang is the only player of the teamwho competed in the previous championship’s final match which saw his team loseto Japan two years ago.
He said a loss to Japanwas a memory to be left behind but it gave him great lessons. This year theywould do all they can to take the title.
The defender said Vietnamese mediamentioned a surprise in Group D’s opener but the RoK would start their journeywith a win because they knew Vietnam.
While the Vietnamese begin theircampaign against the Koreans, they will also face Australia and Syria in GroupD, with the country hopeful of continuing their growth on the continentalstage.
In the latest result of the tournamentyesterday, two other representatives from the ASEAN zone suffered failure.
Thailand lost 0-1 to the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea and Malaysia were defeated 0-4 by Iraq.-VNA
VNA
