VN to play crunch match against Indonesia

Viet Nam”s hopes of qualifying for the final stage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics will either be realised or dashed when they play host to Indonesia at My Dinh Stadium tomorrow.

To qualify for the next round, Viet Nam, who are on nine points after five matches, need at least a draw in their group C match against the visitors, who beat Oman 2-1 in their last game.

At My Dinh Stadium three years ago, Salossa helped Indonesia beat Viet Nam 3-0 in the Southeast Asian Football Championship-Tiger Cup, but this time they will not compete in the match tomorrow as they are not included in the official squad list sent by Indonesia Football Federation last Wednesday.

Phung Cong Minh, from V-League leaders Binh Duong, and Nguyen Tang Tuan (Hoang Anh Gia Lai) have been called up to the national squad and will be taking part in a training session at the National Training Camp in Ha Noi this weekend.

Top striker Le Cong Vinh, who scored Viet Nam”s only goal in their 1-0 first-leg victory over Indonesia in March, has fully recovered from a groin injury, officials said.

Vinh will play up front alongside Phan Thanh Binh, Nguyen Phuc Hiep or Nguyen Anh Duc, while Long Giang will be the cornerstone of Viet Nam”s defence.

Despite the home team”s optimism, the absence of wing back Nguyen Van Bien who suffered a knee injury last Sunday and winger Mai Tien Thanh who was suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the qualifiers could cause problems.

According to assistant coach Mai Duc Chung, Bien will undergo a medical examination before a final pronouncement is made on his match fitness.

The coaches were planning to play Nguyen Ngoc Dieu (from Khanh Hoa) or Dong Thap”s Chau Phong Hoa at left back and Nguyen Vu Phong in midfield.

The remaining members of the national squad are expected to be fit for Wednesday”s crunch match.

Viet Nam are now in second place three points behind Lebanon, who are sure of a birth in the next qualifiers and three points above third-placed Indonesia.

Money boost

Viet Nam, who have never qualified for the Olympic Games since they made their debut in the Moscow Olympics in 1980, were given a financial boost on Thursday when the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) signed a one-year co-sponsorship deal with Yamaha Motors Viet Nam.

At the signing ceremony in Ha Noi, a representative of Yamaha Motors Viet Nam said the team would get a US$5,000 bonus if they win tomorrow in addition to a cash prize for the man of the match.

Lotus Steel, who earlier this year signed a $250,000 sponsorship deal with the VFF, also said they would give the Vietnamese players a cash-bonus if they win against Indonesia.

Yamaha Motors Viet Nam, which owns the Japanese League”s Jubilo Iwata, said Vietnamese players would be given the chance of training in Japan in the near future.

VNS