Difficult for Vietnam futsal team
After the first 3 matches in Group A of the 2024 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, the Vietnamese and Thai futsal teams had the same scenario: defeating Malaysia, Timor Leste and Brunei with a large gap to get 9 full points.
While the Vietnamese futsal team won 2-0 against Malaysia, 4-1 against Timor Leste and 14-0 against Brunei, the Thai futsal team defeated Malaysia 3-1, Timor Leste 7-1 and Brunei 13-0. The Thai team has a goal difference of +21, so it is ranked above Vietnam (+19).
Both teams have reached the semi-finals one round early. Therefore, the match at 6pm today (November 6) will be a competition for the top spot. While Thailand only needs 1 point to secure the number one position, Vietnam must win to take the top spot, in order to avoid strong opponent Indonesia in the semi-finals.
Vietnam futsal team (red shirt) faces Thailand in the final match
The Vietnamese futsal team has not had an impressive record in previous encounters with Thailand. In 9 encounters with the "War Elephants", Pham Duc Hoa and his teammates lost 8. The Thai futsal team is still a giant in the Southeast Asian playground, having won 16 out of 17 Southeast Asian futsal tournaments ever held. The only year Thailand did not win the championship was 2010, because this team... did not participate.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese futsal team has never won the Southeast Asian championship, with the best results being runner-up twice (2009, 2012), and third place five times. For 12 years, Vietnamese futsal has not participated in the Southeast Asian futsal final, although during this time, the players have participated in the World Cup final twice (2016, 2021).
That said, although the Vietnamese futsal team has experience competing with Russia, Italy or the Czech Republic at the World Cup, Diego Raul Giustozzi's students are still in a weak position when placed next to Thailand. The Golden Temple team has long reached the continental level, showing a level superior to most futsal teams in Asia, not to mention Southeast Asia.
Duel
However, that does not mean that the Vietnamese futsal team is completely at a disadvantage in the big match at 6pm today. When both Thailand and Vietnam have to save their energy, coach Giustozzi's team can create a surprise.
The Vietnamese futsal team's ability to defend, maintain formation and counter-attack has improved. Nhan Gia Hung and his teammates have also created better chances, with smooth attacks from the flanks to the center. The problem for the players is finishing, as Mr. Giustozzi still lacks a sharp enough striker to handle difficult situations.
The Vietnamese futsal team also needs to calculate to keep their footing and save their cards against Thailand when they are sure to pass the group stage. Because the upcoming semi-final match is the most important match that Vietnam must win.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-doi-tuyen-futsal-viet-nam-hom-nay-dai-chien-cuc-nong-voi-thai-lan-185241105211419881.htm
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