The quarter-final match between Vietnam U.23 team and Iraq U.23 team took place at 0:30 on April 27 at Al Janoub Stadium (Qatar). Competing in the middle of the night, coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team are not “lonely” because a large number of Vietnamese fans are willing to stay up late to cheer from afar while watching live on VTV5 and FPT Play. Many Vietnamese fans living and working in Qatar also plan to come to the field to “inspire” Khuat Van Khang and his teammates.
U.23 Vietnam aspires to defeat U.23 Iraq in the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.23 Asian Championship
Comments on Iraq U.23 – Vietnam U.23: The ‘dream’ of the Changzhou miracle comes true
U.23 Iraq’s journey to the quarterfinals was considered spectacular when it lost to U.23 Thailand in the opening match but then won 4-2 against Tajikistan in the second match and suddenly defeated Saudi Arabia in the first leg. The final match ranked first in Group C. Meanwhile, U.23 Vietnam went more smoothly with 2 consecutive victories against U.23 Kuwait (3-1), U.23 Malaysia (2-0). Losing 0-3 to U.23 Uzbekistan in the final match, U.23 Vietnam entered the quarterfinals with second place in Group D.
Van Truong and U.23 Vietnam are ready for the quarter-final match with U.23 Iraq
If you have to choose an opponent in the quarterfinals, U.23 Vietnam is considered satisfactory when facing U.23 Iraq, which is considered “easier” than U.23 Saudi Arabia. Speaking before the “big battle” with Iraq U.23, coach Hoang Anh Tuan expressed: “We have prepared for the match against Iraq U.23, everything is ready. As you know, Iraq U.23 Very strong. We respect our opponents and have a strategy, strategy, and spirit for this match.” Meanwhile, coach Radhi Shenaishil of U.23 Iraq said: “U.23 Vietnam is a team with its own aspirations and goals, which is to reach the semi-finals of U.23 Asia. Therefore, U.23 23 Iraq must prepare very carefully. Respecting U.23 Vietnam, we must practice hard because we understand that we will have to face strong opponents.”
The quarterfinal match between U.23 Vietnam and U.23 Iraq was live on VTV5, FPT Play
In the history of confronting U.23 Iraq at all team levels, U.23 Vietnam is inferior, but as coach Hoang Anh Tuan shared: “In football, the past is the past, the present is the present. If you remember, in the 2018 U.23 Asia tournament, U.23 Vietnam lost to U.23 Uzbekistan in the final. That doesn’t mean we will be in the finals again this year In the past against Iraq at the national team level, Vietnam lost a lot, but that doesn’t mean history will repeat itself. In football, the difference in strength does not necessarily determine victory or defeat in the match , because there are many more factors. I hope that in this match, history will change.”
In the quarter-final match against U.23 Iraq, U.23 Vietnam also felt more secure about their forces when Ngoc Thang and Van Cuong were ready to return to help coach Hoang Anh Tuan have more personnel options. Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Thai Son and their teammates aspire to achieve victory in this U.23 Asian Championship.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team actively prepared for the quarter-final match against U23 Iraq with a training session at Al Ersaal training ground on the evening of April 25.
On the morning of April 26, the entire team will have a professional meeting to disseminate fighting strategies and personnel to the competing squad. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his coaching staff try to maintain an optimistic atmosphere in the team to reduce pressure on the players. He also thoroughly emphasized that his students must demonstrate well the three core elements of discipline – desire – professionalism. That is the key to opening the door to success for the team as well as for each player’s own development. The U.23 Vietnam team will take the field in traditional red uniforms.
