When asked about how to prepare for the penalty shootout scenario, coach Hoang Anh Tuan did not answer in detail because this is privacy and a tactical secret. However, he said that U23 Vietnam is prepared for all situations.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan: “We should remember that comparing Southeast Asian football and the Middle East region, there is a complete difference. In the group stage, going to the quarterfinals to meet U23 Saudi Arabia or U23 Iraq is the same. We I don’t have any special plans, just high concentration, just thinking about tomorrow’s match.”
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan (Photo: AFC)
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan: “Remember in the group stage U23 Iraq lost to U23 Thailand 0-2. That doesn’t mean U23 Iraq is weak, but it also doesn’t mean U23 Vietnam can’t do it.”
Goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan commented on his opponent’s attack: “I watched the video of Iraq U23’s match and saw how they attacked. In the last match against Saudi Arabia U23, Iraq U23 attacked quite diversely, crossed a lot from both sides. We will try to fix it. , best against their crosses”.
Representatives of Vietnamese football faced Iraq many times but lost more than they won. However, according to coach Hoang Anh Tuan, past confrontation achievements are not related to this match.
“The past is the past, the present is the present. In 2018, U23 Vietnam reaching the final does not mean this year reaching the final. We have many past confrontations between the two teams, including the national team. Failure does not mean that history will continue. In football, the difference in strength and expertise does not necessarily determine the victory of a match. I hope that tomorrow’s match will change history. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan said.
“The stronger team won. We expected it in advance. That loss did not affect the preparation plan for tomorrow’s match. U23 Iraq or U23 Saudi Arabia are both strong. We always respect our opponents.
Before the tournament, I told the players that all the teams were strong. We can win, draw or lose. The loss to Uzbekistan does not affect the team’s morale tomorrow. Whether we lose or win, we have to play the quarterfinals, prepare, look ahead and focus our mind and spirit on tomorrow’s match.”coach Hoang Anh Tuan recalled the loss to U23 Uzbekistan.
Press conference begins
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan opened: “U23 Vietnam had 2 very good matches, winning against U23 Kuwait and U23 Malaysia. To prepare for the quarterfinals, everything is ready. We are very focused on tomorrow’s match. Vietnamese and Iraqi football are important. The system is very good, unfortunately only one of the two teams gets to the next round. If Iraq wins the right to continue, we will be very happy. If the U23 Vietnam team gets to the semi-finals, it will be great.”
U23 Vietnam faces U23 Iraq in the quarterfinals of U23 Asia
U23 Vietnam faces U23 Iraq in the quarterfinals of U23 Asia 2024. This is the second time the two teams have met in this round. In 2018, U23 Vietnam generation Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Cong Phuong defeated their West Asian opponents after a penalty shootout to advance to the semi-finals.
U23 Vietnam passed the group stage of the Asian U23 tournament for the third time. (Photo: AFC)
U23 Vietnam passed the U23 Asia 2024 group stage with second place in Group D. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team defeated U23 Kuwait (3-1), U23 Malaysia (2-0) before losing to U23 Uzbekistan. (0-3).
This is the first time U23 Vietnam won 2 matches in the group stage of the Asian tournament and won the right to continue after only 2 matches.
Meanwhile, Iraq U23 did not start well, being defeated by Thailand U23 with a score of 0-2 in the opening match. However, this West Asian team then defeated U23 Tajikistan and U23 Saudi Arabia to take top spot in Group C.
The last time U23 Vietnam played U23 Iraq was at the 2023 Doha Cup friendly tournament, which took place in Qatar last March. U23 Vietnam led by coach Philippe Troussier lost to U23 Iraq with a score of 0-3.
