Coach Park Hang-seo of Vietnam and his players expect to win their second AFF Cup trophy this December. (Photo of VFF) Park triumphed in the 2018 edition but could notdefend top place in the 2020 competition.
The Korean expert's contract with the Vietnam Football Federationwill end next January, and the AFF Cup may be the last competition with thenational team if the two sides decide not to sit down to talk about anextension.
Park did not comment after the cup's draw on August 30but confirmed his determination to win earlier.
"Last time (2020 AFF Cup), it was a pity that we lost toThailand (in the semi-finals) and could not defend our title. This time I wantto take it back, winning the trophy for the second time," Park said.
"We could make it in 2018, making millions of supportershappy. We can make it one more time this year. "
However, in the December 23 to January 15 events, Parkmay not have his most talented midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai who is playing forPau FC in French Ligue 2.
Veterans such as midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang, defender BuiTien Dung and Tran Dinh Trong and strikers Nguyen Cong Phuong and Nguyen TienLinh are either injured or have just recovered from their injuries so theirchances to join Park's squad are not clear.
However, Park's determination has been strengthened by hisVietnamese colleagues and players who believe in a positive result for Vietnam.
"It is a good draw for Vietnam, facing Malaysia, Laos,Myanmar and Singapore in the group stage. I think Vietnam will meet nodifficulty to step into the semi-finals," said coach Dinh The Nam of thenational U20 team.
Meanwhile, international Phan Van Duc and Que Ngoc Haicannot wait to perform, although they also acknowledgethe challenges waiting ahead.
"Our performance will be better than in 2020 when theV.League 1 was paused because of the pandemic while we are playing ourleague currently. The tournament is back to the home-away format this year,which will make us much stronger with the amazing support of local fans,"said defender Que Ngoc Hai.
"Of course, we also suffer pressure, especiallyplaying away, but it will make the tournament more attractive.And as usual, we target the final match and silverware."
Midfielder Phan VanDuc said: "Malaysia and Singapore are two bigobstacles to Vietnam in Group B. We will have to vie for a semi-final slotagainst them."
"The key here ishow we prepare for the games. Personally, I always think about a match versusThailand. It would be good if it is the final."
Coaches' plans
Coach Kim Pan Gonbelieved it was a favourable draw for his Malaysia side.
"It is a good draw,although Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar are in our group. Vietnam is thestrongest team in the group," Kim said.
"Park Hang-seo hasa complete team. Singapore, Myanmar and Laos have good teams. We do not carewhether the teams are strong or weak. We will do our best in everygame."
Malaysia last won theAFF Cup in 2010 under coach Datuk K Rajagobal.
Malaysia has naturalisedseveral players to help find AFF Cup glory and will introduce them in theDecember event.
Midfielder Lee Tuck isthe latest case and the fourth in the team.
The 34-year-old playerhas played in ASEAN countries for many years. He has played 91 matches inMalaysia since 2016 and scored 31 goals.
Other 'imported' players are Mohamadou Sumareh (Gambia),Liridon Krasniqi (Kosovo) and Guilherme de Paula (Brazil).
Coach Antoine Hey of Myanmar is confident in creatingdifficulties for title favourites based on their head-to-head statistics.
Myanmar is the only team in the group Vietnam has not beatenduring Park's five-year reign.
The German tactician said Myanmar were in an attractive group.Myanmar will show a stronger performance because its local leagueshave restarted, and some of its players are sharpening their skillsabroad.
He said Myanmar's timetable was also reasonable, addinga reason to be confident.
The team will kick off the tournament on home ground and will havea rest after the two first matches. The players will fully recover ahead of thelast group match with Vietnam on January 3.
Coach Nishigaya Takayuki of Singapore said: "We will notunderestimate any team and are eager to face our group-stage opponents. Theteam did well to reach the semi-finals in the previous edition, and we will aimto give our best again this time and challenge for the trophy, but it is alsoimportant to stay focused and take it game by game.
"Of course, I understand the intense rivalry betweenSingapore and Malaysia, and it is an experience I am looking forward to.Furthermore, I am very excited as this will be my first time leading the Lionsat this regional tournament since taking charge of the team."
Group A activities
Thailand head coach Alexandre Polking prefers thenew tournament format, and like Park, he does not know if he could pickthe best players for his team.
The 'Thai Messi' Chanathip Songkrasin has refused to join ashe wanted to rest after a long and hard tournament with his Kawasaki Frontalein the J.League.
Songkrasin scored two goals in Thailand's 2-0 win over Vietnamin the 2020 Cup's semis.
Meanwhile, Thanawat Suengchitthawon, a midfielder for PremierLeague club Leicester City has to rest for at least six monthsafter ligament surgery.
"I believe the home and away format for this year'stournament will be very nice for the fans especially. With two group stagegames being played at home, it will give a different atmosphere and makes itmore special than the previous edition," said Polking.
"Thailand might not have the strongest players, but we haveenough time to make up a good team and defend our title. As the defendingchampion, we are ready to face and beat any rival."
Coach Shin Tae-yong said Indonesia, strengthened by naturalisedplayers, would win this year's tournament.
"I will prepare the Indonesian national team well andmaximally to win the 2022 AFF Cup," said Shin.
He added that Thailand are the most formidable opponent in GroupA, but other rivals also needed to be watched carefully.
"For the selection of players, I will choose the best playersin condition, and of course, there are naturalised players. Especially at thistime, Sandy Wals, Jordy Amat, and Shayne Pattiname are still in thenaturalisation process. We hope the three of them can soon join the Indonesiannational team," Shin said.
Cambodia's Nick Taylor, who also has a US passport,will compete at the cup. The 24-year-old plays as a forward for OrlandoCity B in the MLS.
He has played 20 matches this season, scoring one and assistingtwo.
Taylor will join other stars to play a friendly match againstBangladesh on September 22 as a warm-up for the cup./.
VNA
