Vietnam will test their skills in their fifth official friendly matchagainst Palestine at the My Dinh Stadium here this weekend.
At apress briefing on November 6, coach Toshiya Miura said he had yet toscout the capabilities of his team's West Asian rivals.
"I haveno idea about (the strengths of) Palestine. The FIFA ranking shows theyare at higher level than Vietnam. However, I am happy to play againststronger rivals," remarked Miura.
The match forms part of the team's preparations for the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup tournament later this month.
Askedabout his Vietnamese players, the Japanese coach revealed that he waspleased with their performance in training and in recent competitions.
"Iam satisfied with my players' training in Osaka and friendly matches inHo Chi Minh City. The last two weeks ahead of the Cup is an importanttime for final preparations, and we will concentrate on the AFF Cup,"said Miura.
He expressed surprise over the players' hard work andfighting spirit which was so unlike what he heard about them beforearriving in Vietnam.
However, the players have to work onovercoming their weaknesses, and the friendly match against Palestinewas a crucial test and an opportunity to do just that.
"They areyoung and lack experience. They have nearly no chance of winning againststrong rivals. We will have to overcome their disadvantages in thecoming weeks," noted Miura, who ousted five players days ahead of thefriendly match.
At the briefing, Vietnam Football Federation(VFF) General Secretary Le Hoai Anh said the AFF Cup was the mostimportant event and most honourable title for any team in the ASEANregion.
"The VFF has created the best conditions, includingtraining courses and friendly games, for the national team throughoutthe year to help them bring the Cup home for only the second time inhistory," Anh added.
"Everyone can see their progress throughthese activities, and the VFF hopes that these are the best possiblepreparations for this year's competition."
Asked about Vietnam's goal of winning the Cup, Miura said nobody could accurately predict the future.
"Ofcourse I want to be champion. But you know, Vietnam only won the Cuponce, in 2008. (This year) we will try step by step to be semi-finalistand then finalist," he added.
The match will be aired live onVTV6 channel at 5pm on November 9. A week later, the hosts will welcomeMalaysia, their last test, at My Dinh while Palestine will travel toThailand to play against the hosts on November 14.
The AFF-Suzuki Cup will kick off on November 22, with Group A matches taking place here and Group B, in Singapore.-VNA
At apress briefing on November 6, coach Toshiya Miura said he had yet toscout the capabilities of his team's West Asian rivals.
"I haveno idea about (the strengths of) Palestine. The FIFA ranking shows theyare at higher level than Vietnam. However, I am happy to play againststronger rivals," remarked Miura.
The match forms part of the team's preparations for the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup tournament later this month.
Askedabout his Vietnamese players, the Japanese coach revealed that he waspleased with their performance in training and in recent competitions.
"Iam satisfied with my players' training in Osaka and friendly matches inHo Chi Minh City. The last two weeks ahead of the Cup is an importanttime for final preparations, and we will concentrate on the AFF Cup,"said Miura.
He expressed surprise over the players' hard work andfighting spirit which was so unlike what he heard about them beforearriving in Vietnam.
However, the players have to work onovercoming their weaknesses, and the friendly match against Palestinewas a crucial test and an opportunity to do just that.
"They areyoung and lack experience. They have nearly no chance of winning againststrong rivals. We will have to overcome their disadvantages in thecoming weeks," noted Miura, who ousted five players days ahead of thefriendly match.
At the briefing, Vietnam Football Federation(VFF) General Secretary Le Hoai Anh said the AFF Cup was the mostimportant event and most honourable title for any team in the ASEANregion.
"The VFF has created the best conditions, includingtraining courses and friendly games, for the national team throughoutthe year to help them bring the Cup home for only the second time inhistory," Anh added.
"Everyone can see their progress throughthese activities, and the VFF hopes that these are the best possiblepreparations for this year's competition."
Asked about Vietnam's goal of winning the Cup, Miura said nobody could accurately predict the future.
"Ofcourse I want to be champion. But you know, Vietnam only won the Cuponce, in 2008. (This year) we will try step by step to be semi-finalistand then finalist," he added.
The match will be aired live onVTV6 channel at 5pm on November 9. A week later, the hosts will welcomeMalaysia, their last test, at My Dinh while Palestine will travel toThailand to play against the hosts on November 14.
The AFF-Suzuki Cup will kick off on November 22, with Group A matches taking place here and Group B, in Singapore.-VNA
