U20 Vietnam eyes semi-finals of football tournament

Two teams in the same group as Vietnam at the U20 Southeast Asian Football Tournament, Indonesia and East Timor, have just decided to not participate in the event. Brunei will replace them in the group.

Accordingly, Group A includes Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Malaysia and Group B has Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei and Vietnam.

This afternoon, July 31, Vietnamese football players will meet Cambodian players in the first match of the tournament. After that the team will play against Thailand on August 2 and Brunei on August 4.

According to chief coach of the Vietnamese U20 football squad, Nguyen Manh Cuong, the withdrawals of Indonesia and East Timor will not tremendously impact the tournament.

SThe young football teams in the region are quite evenly-mat0 Vietnam at this tournament is going to the semi-finals,⬝ said Nguyen Manh Cuong.

It is the most regrettable that Australia isn”t taking part in the event. SIt is not true that we didn”t invite Australia to join the event because they are too strong. It is simply that if Australia participates in the tournament, the number of participating teams will be odd so it would be difficult for us to divide teams into groups. Southeast Asia has 11 countries but the Philippines isn”t taking part in the event. We give priority to teams in the region firstly, and then to guests,⬝ said Cambodia”s Ravy Khek, head of the organising board.

All matches will be held at Thanh Long Sports Centre in HCM City.

Fixture table

July 31, 3.30pm: Vietnam Cambodia

             5.30pm: Thailand Brunei

August 1: 3.30pm: Malaysia Singapore

                5.30pm: Laos Myanmar

August 2: 3.30pm: Vietnam Thailand

                5.30pm: Brunei Cambodia

August 3: 3.30pm: Singapore Laos

                5.30pm: Malaysia Myanmar

August 4: 3.30pm: Thailand Cambodia

               5.30pm: Vietnam Brunei

August 5: 3.30pm: Laos Malaysia

               5.30pm: Myanmar Singapore

August 9: 3.30pm: the match for bronze medal            

               6pm: Final match

VNN