Don’t underestimate Vietnam, warns Vieira
Iraq head coach Jorvan Vieira is adamant that his side is not going into Saturday"s 2007 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final clash with Vietnam believing that…
20/07/2007 00:00:00
Iraq head coach Jorvan Vieira is adamant that his side is not going into Saturday”s 2007 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final clash with Vietnam believing that they are the overwhelming favourites to book their ticket to the last four.
Iraq won Group A ahead of pre-tournament favourites Australia but Vieira is insisting his team must not be complacent against the competition”s co-hosts when they meet on Saturday evening.
STwo days ago I was asked if I expected it to be an easy game or if Vietnam is afraid,⬝ said the Brazilian. SI don”t believe this as football matches are won of the field, not outside the field or in the newspapers.⬝
Buoyed by a partisan home crowd, Vietnam kicked-off their Asian Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates before they survived a second half onslaught to secure a point against Asian Games gold medallists Qatar.
However, they were cruelly exposed against an impressive Japan side as the defending Asian Cup champions ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.
SWe have to respect Vietnam because to get to this stage then they have had to qualify on merit,⬝ Vieira continued
SDon”t forget they beat they UAE, who won the Gulf Cup a few months earlier, and they got a good result against Qatar. OK they lost heavily against Japan but we cannot analyse them on this one match.⬝
Iraq have been one of the most impressive teams of the tournament so far, with their 3-1 win over the Socceroos standing out.
But it was exactly that result that has Vieira insisting that the players remain grounded and do not under-estimate the Vietnamese.
SThe players are not over-confident at all,⬝ he said. SI pressure the players not to think that way. If you remember many people said that we were the underdogs in our match with Australia.
SSince the beginning we look to win every match. Now this competition is like an ejector chair. If you don”t win then you are out.⬝
While Vieira refused to divulge whether or not any players are injured for Saturday”s crucial clash, stating that that is an issue for the medical staff, there are fitness doubts over Hawar Mulla Mohammed and Saleh Sadir.
And with Qusay Munir suspended the Brazilian appears to have mounting problems in midfield.
However, ringing the changes is nothing new to Vieira, who has yet to field the same starting line-up since he took over the Iraqi managerial reigns back in May, just before the WAFF Championship.
SI have played 11 games and I can honestly say I have not started the same team in each match,⬝ he said. SAnd in number 12 the team will be different again.
SIn football anything is possible. I hope that we win the game in 90 minutes because the winners will have to travel to Malaysia the next day, but if it goes to extra-time or penalties we will be ready.⬝
STwo days ago I was asked if I expected it to be an easy game or if Vietnam is afraid,⬝ said the Brazilian. SI don”t believe this as football matches are won of the field, not outside the field or in the newspapers.⬝
Buoyed by a partisan home crowd, Vietnam kicked-off their Asian Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates before they survived a second half onslaught to secure a point against Asian Games gold medallists Qatar.
However, they were cruelly exposed against an impressive Japan side as the defending Asian Cup champions ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.
SWe have to respect Vietnam because to get to this stage then they have had to qualify on merit,⬝ Vieira continued
SDon”t forget they beat they UAE, who won the Gulf Cup a few months earlier, and they got a good result against Qatar. OK they lost heavily against Japan but we cannot analyse them on this one match.⬝
Iraq have been one of the most impressive teams of the tournament so far, with their 3-1 win over the Socceroos standing out.
But it was exactly that result that has Vieira insisting that the players remain grounded and do not under-estimate the Vietnamese.
SThe players are not over-confident at all,⬝ he said. SI pressure the players not to think that way. If you remember many people said that we were the underdogs in our match with Australia.
SSince the beginning we look to win every match. Now this competition is like an ejector chair. If you don”t win then you are out.⬝
While Vieira refused to divulge whether or not any players are injured for Saturday”s crucial clash, stating that that is an issue for the medical staff, there are fitness doubts over Hawar Mulla Mohammed and Saleh Sadir.
And with Qusay Munir suspended the Brazilian appears to have mounting problems in midfield.
However, ringing the changes is nothing new to Vieira, who has yet to field the same starting line-up since he took over the Iraqi managerial reigns back in May, just before the WAFF Championship.
SI have played 11 games and I can honestly say I have not started the same team in each match,⬝ he said. SAnd in number 12 the team will be different again.
SIn football anything is possible. I hope that we win the game in 90 minutes because the winners will have to travel to Malaysia the next day, but if it goes to extra-time or penalties we will be ready.⬝
