Coaches show determination ahead of semi-final

U23 Malaysia coach Elavarasan said he hopes to have an attacking match with U23 Vietnam, although he highly appreciates coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team.

Malaysia U23 coach Elavarasan holds a press conference before the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 semi-finals. (Source: VFF)

U23 Malaysia Coach: U23 Vietnam has many good players

At the press conference before the semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Malaysia, taking place in Rayong (Thailand) at noon on August 23, coach Elavarasan said: "We will meet a very strong team, U23 Vietnam.

I will not comment on which player is the most dangerous on the opponent's side, because they have many good players. I only know that U23 Vietnam has a very good team play style."

"We have had two good matches in this year's tournament (U23 Malaysia won all matches against Indonesia and Timor Leste in the group stage). I am looking forward to the semi-final. We will play offensively, hopefully the match will be full of attack," added coach Elavarasan.

This is the second official tournament in a row this year that Mr. Elavarasan has led the Malaysian U23 team. Last time, this coach led the Malaysian U23 team at the 32nd SEA Games but was unsuccessful.

That time, coach Elavarasan's team was defeated by coach Philippe Troussier's U23 Vietnam team in the group stage, and also failed to pass the group stage of the men's football event at the SEA Games in May.

This time, commenting on the U23 Vietnam team, Coach Elavarasan said: "Your strength is Coach Hoang Anh Tuan. You have made it this far, proving that you are a strong team. But the weakness of U23 Vietnam is also here, many of your players are entering the semi-finals of an international tournament for the first time (laughs)".

"We conceded a goal against Timor Leste in yesterday's match (August 22) because the players sometimes lacked concentration. It can also be seen that Timor Leste football has also improved, they know how to seize opportunities," coach Elavarasan affirmed.

U23 Indonesia coach thanks U23 Vietnam

Coach Shin Tae Yong did not forget to mention that U23 Vietnam helped U23 Indonesia reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 tournament.

Before the final match of the group stage of the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 tournament, U23 Indonesia no longer has the right to decide and must wait for the results of the groups of U23 Vietnam and U23 Thailand.

Specifically, the team from the archipelago can only advance to the semi-finals if U23 Vietnam and U23 Thailand do not lose to the Philippines and Cambodia.

In the final match of the group stage, while U23 Vietnam had a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Philippines, U23 Thailand defeated Cambodia with a score of 2-0. Thus, the two semi-final matches are U23 Vietnam vs U23 Malaysia (4pm on August 24) and U23 Thailand vs U23 Indonesia (8pm on August 24).

Sharing at the press conference before the semi-finals, coach Shin Tae Yong said: "I have to thank U23 Vietnam. Thanks to Vietnam's victory over the Philippines, we are here. The teams that have come here are all worthy. I hope the upcoming matches of the tournament will be fair."

Thailand U23 coach shows high determination

Meanwhile, coach Sritaro of Thailand U23 showed great determination before the semi-final match, but he also emphasized that any team that reached this round is very strong and the opportunity is equally divided for all.

"We have to play with focus. Indonesia is a strong opponent. Of course, U23 Thailand aims for victory to reach the final," said coach Sritaro.

When asked by reporters about the ugly act when Indonesian and Thai players fought each other in the final match of SEA Games 32, Coach Sritaro said: "Everything has changed, the strength of the two teams is also different now. I hope tomorrow we will focus on playing football 100%".

According to the semi-final schedule on August 24, U23 Vietnam will meet U23 Malaysia at 4:00 p.m., then U23 Thailand will meet U23 Indonesia at 8:00 p.m.

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