Qatar According to striker Bui Vi Hao, Vietnam can achieve the best results in the first two matches, before meeting fateful opponent Uzbekistan at the U23 Asian tournament.
At the 2024 AFC U23 Championship, Vietnam is in Group D, facing Kuwait (April 17), Malaysia (April 20) and Uzbekistan (April 23). The immediate goal set by coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team is to get past the group stage.
Before the training session on April 13, striker Bui Vi Hao said that he and his teammates did not feel any pressure as the tournament was about to start, and that the goals set by the coaching staff were appropriate. "The first two opponents, Kuwait and Malaysia, are both within Vietnam's reach. We are in high spirits and determined to contribute to achieving the best results in these two matches. I hope the whole team will score many goals," he said.
Striker Bui Vi Hao celebrates the only goal in Vietnam's 1-0 win over Yemen in Group C of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho on the evening of September 9, 2023. Photo: Hieu Luong
Vietnam U23 was initially led by coach Philippe Troussier. However, the French coach had to leave on March 26 when the national team lost two consecutive matches against Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan was chosen to replace him, leading the U23 team to participate in the tournament in Qatar. This tournament serves as the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The top three teams will qualify directly to France, while the fourth-placed team will play a play-off with an African representative.
Coach Tuan and his team arrived in Qatar on April 8, a week before the tournament opened, to have time to adapt to the time zone and weather. Yesterday, according to the arrangement of the Asian Football Confederation, the team moved to a new hotel and practiced at Al Erssal Stadium. The training ground has the same structure and quality as Qatar University where the team has practiced in the past few days.
At this training session, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan continued to strengthen the playing style he is applying, but with higher requirements.
"The coaching staff is focusing on the team working together more smoothly. We are required to boldly finish when we have the opportunity to score goals and aim for victory," Bui Vi Hao revealed, adding that he and his teammates have achieved "98% preparation" and only need to "improve the synchronization in team movement, in order to be more fluent when implementing tactics."
Vietnamese players practice on April 13. Photo: Doan Huynh
Vi Hao is only 21 years old but is a regular starter for Binh Duong Club, U23 and the national team. He is valued at 200,000 euros by Transfermarkt, the highest among Vietnamese players participating in the 2024 U23 Asian Cup.
Along with regional rival Malaysia, the confrontation with Uzbekistan in this group brings back many memories for Vietnamese football. At the tournament in Changzhou, China in 2018, under the guidance of coach Park Hang-seo, the team including Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Cong Phuong... made a miracle, advancing straight to the final to face Uzbekistan. Although losing 1-2 due to a goal conceded in the 120th minute, it was still a great achievement, opening a new brilliant period for Vietnamese football.
Lam Thoa
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