The victory relieved the pressure.

In the second qualifying round, according to the format, the top three teams in each group and the best-performing second-placed team will advance. The Japanese team is a strong contender in their group, outperforming Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and India, so the top spot is unlikely to slip from their grasp.

Vietnam's chance was to finish second. However, the defeat against host nation Uzbekistan has left coach Mai Duc Chung's team with virtually no chance of advancing.

The defeat also reflects the decline of the Vietnamese women's national team since the World Cup. The players' physical condition and, especially, their motivation to play have been severely affected. This is understandable, given that the entire team placed a great deal of determination and aimed to peak in form for the 2023 World Cup.

The Vietnamese women's team will face the Indian team in their second match at the 2024 Olympics.

Nevertheless, the loss to Uzbekistan was still disappointing. Coach Mai Duc Chung himself admitted that the Vietnamese team deserved a point. The team was superior in terms of ability, but mistakes in their playing style led to an undesirable result.

The Indian team is a much weaker opponent compared to Uzbekistan. They are ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings, 27 places lower than the Vietnamese team. This is an opportunity for the Vietnamese girls to secure a resounding victory, relieve the accumulated pressure, and be in the best possible frame of mind for the remainder of the tournament.

India vs Vietnam form

The Vietnamese women's national team competed continuously throughout 2023. Their performance improved significantly, culminating in a gold medal at the 32nd SEA Games and a strong appearance at the 2023 World Cup. However, after the tournament in New Zealand, the team's performance declined, leading to their elimination from the 19th Asian Games and a loss to Uzbekistan in their opening match of the second round of the 2024 Olympic qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the Indian national team played 10 matches in 2023. However, they had 2 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws.

Indian vs. Vietnamese forces

Both teams have their best players available. The Vietnamese team will likely continue to field their key players to settle the match early before thinking about further preparations for the game against Japan.

Predicted lineups for India vs Vietnam

Indian Women: Elangbam Chanu, Ashlata Devi, Ngangbam Devi, Dalima Chhibber, Manisa Panna, Ranjana Chanu, Indumathi Kathiresan, Anju Tamang, Sangita Basfore, Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei

Vietnamese women's team: Kim Thanh, Hoang Thi Loan, Tran Thi Thu, Hai Linh, Thu Thao, Diem My, Bich Thuy, Duong Thi Van, Tuyet Dung, Hai Yen, Huynh Nhu.

Prediction: India 0-4 Vietnam

Van Hai

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