At 0:30 on April 27, U-23 Vietnam will face U-23 Iraq in the quarterfinals of the U-23 Asia tournament at Al Janoub Stadium (Qatar). U-23 Vietnam won against U-23 Iraq in the quarterfinals of U-23 Asia 6 years ago in Changzhou, a tournament in which Coach Park Hang-seo and his team created a miracle in reaching the final.
U-23 Vietnam and U-23 Iraq will repeat the U-23 Asian quarter-final match 6 years ago this season. PHOTO: AFC
That was Coach Park Hang-seo’s first official tournament in Vietnamese football during a period of erasing and re-doing with a very low confidence index since Coach Huu Thang’s time. Now, coach Hoang Anh Tuan is also following Mr. Park’s path when Vietnamese football is almost at the bottom under coach Troussier.
Recalling the Changzhou miracle 6 years ago, coach Hoang Anh Tuan of U-23 Vietnam shared: “At the 2018 U-23 Asian Finals, U-23 Vietnam reached the final against Uzbekistan and this was not possible. This year’s meaning is the same. The past is the past, the present is the present. In the past, Vietnam met Iraq at many levels and had many failures, but that does not mean that history will continue. In football, the difference in strength does not necessarily determine the team’s victory. To win there are many factors. Hopefully tomorrow’s match will change history.”
However, the U-23 Vietnam team is aiming for the quarter-final match with Iraq U-23 with determination and solidarity. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan shared: “As I said after the match against U-23 Uzbekistan, the stronger team won and we also expected that. Importantly, we are now focusing our maximum attention on the match with Iraq U-23. We are always ready and always respect our opponents. Before the tournament, we told the players that all the teams in the group are strong, meaning they can win, they can draw or they can lose.”
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that U-23 Vietnam respects the opponent and is ready for the match. PHOTO: VFF
Iraq’s U-23 squad has many quality players on the national team. And coach Radhi Shenaishil of U-23 Iraq did not hesitate to share that when saying: “U-23 Iraq has many good players. They are also playing for the national team. We have good cohesion and interaction between the players. U-23 Vietnam is very strong but Iraq has its ambitions. The Iraqi U-23 players are very happy to receive support from the leadership, it is a positive motivation for them to move forward.”
Prediction: U-23 Vietnam drew 1-1 with Iraq and won in the penalty shootout.
