Viet Nam face Japan in SEA teaser

Viet Nam”s Olympic team has concocted an aggressive attack plan for November 17″s third qualifying match against Japan for the Beijing Olympics at Ha Noi”s My Dinh National Stadium.

The match is the last trial before the team leave for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand next month. In the first leg in Tokyo, Viet Nam were defeated by Naoaki Aoyama”s powerful header.

During a training session on Monday, Austrian coach Alfred Riedl had his players drilling sideline attacks with quick passes and teamwork as well as shots in front of the 18-yard box.

The team will be strengthened by the return of playmaker Nguyen Minh Chuyen, who has recovered from a knee injury and is crucial to the powerful midfield duo with Vo Duy Nam.

The Austrian coach, however, still mourns the absence of Nguyen Vu Phong, who is out with a pulled thigh. Phong scored five of the eight goals for Viet Nam at the Olympic qualifiers.

Viet Nam”s defence is the Achilles” heel of the team. Nguyen Thanh Long Giang is looking for a partner to patch up the hole in the centre defence.

Mai Xuan Hop has not been at his best as a centre defender and will be replaced by Doan Viet Cuong or Nguyen Dai Dong.

The side attack strategy of the team will be in the hands of skilled wingers Le Tan Tai, Huynh Quang Thanh, Chau Phong Hoa, Vo Nhat Tan and Mai Tien Thanh. Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh are the best choices for forwards for Riedl, along with Nguyen Anh Duc.

Meanwhile, Japan need a win in Ha Noi to keep a safe distance from Qatar in a race for the only Olympic berth in group C, which includes Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Japanese coach Yasuharu Sorimachi will sustain his best players, who helped beat Viet Nam at the first leg in Tokyo including strikers Hirayama Sota, Mizuno Koki and Hosogai Hajime. Only striker Lee Tadanari suffers from a heel injury.

The visiting team arrived in Ha Noi early this week to prepare for the crucial match whose winner will have an important advantage in the Olympics qualifiers.

SEA Games target

As the SEA Games approach, Viet Nam, who have never stood on the victory podium, expect to maintain the high level of performance they”ve exhibited in the Beijing Olympic qualifiers so far and in the Asian Cup, which was co-hosted by Viet Nam in July.

The team secured crucial financial support before the SEA Games when Viet Nam Football Federation signed a prize contract with the Sai Gon Shopping Centre on Wednesday.

Viet Nam will potentially receive a cash-prize of US$100,000 for winning the SEA Games, along with a luxury Mercedes-Benz for the most valuable player.

As scheduled, Viet Nam, who drew group B against Malaysia, Laos and Singapore, will meet Malaysia in the group B opener of the SEA Games on December 1.

Teams will compete in round robin formulation, the top two teams of each group duking it out in the semi-finals.

Austrian coach, who is Viet Nam”s longest foreign coach in residence, has never tasted a SEA Games gold medal, an important hole in his medal collection.

VNS