Qatar Vietnam faces Asia's number one team Japan in the opening match of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup. Kick-off at 6:30 p.m.
Al Thumama Stadium is gradually filled with fans
Vietnamese fans in the stands of Al Thumama stadium. Photo: Lam Thoa
Some fans from the host country Qatar also arrived early to cheer for Vietnam and Japan. Photo: Lam Thoa
Japanese female fans also arrived early in the stands of Al Thumama Stadium. Photo: Lam Thoa
Japanese players warm up at Al Thumama Stadium before kick-off. Photo: Lam Thoa
Vietnam players warm up
Captain Hung Dung is one of three starting midfielders, along with Tuan Anh and Thai Son. Photo: Lam Thoa
Tuan Hai suffered a slight injury and had to practice separately yesterday, but was still in the starting lineup for the match against Japan. Photo: Lam Thoa
Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip is the first goalkeeper to start an official tournament for Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thoa
Two team lineups
Vietnam : Nguyen Filip, Vo Minh Trong, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Pham Xuan Manh, Do Hung Dung, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Phan Tuan Tai, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thai Son, Bui Hoang Viet Anh.
Japan: Zion Suzuki, Yukinari Sugawara, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Keito Nakamura, Junya Ito, Mao Hosoya.
Japan starting lineup
Japan's starting 11 list does not include Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo or Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injury.
Vietnam starting lineup
The starting goalkeeper is Nguyen Filip. The defenders selected in the 5-3-2 formation include Vo Minh Trong, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Pham Xuan Manh and Phan Tuan Tai. The starting midfield trio is Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Tuan Anh and Nguyen Thai Son. In attack, Nguyen Dinh Bac plays alongside Pham Tuan Hai, who has just recovered from injury.
The three players not registered for this match are Nguyen Van Toan, Giap Tuan Duong and Nguyen Van Tung. Thus, the Vietnamese team no longer has any real strikers on the bench.
Two neutral fans arrived early to cheer for the Vietnamese and Japanese teams in the match at Al Thumama Stadium. Photo: Lam Thoa
Al Thumama Stadium, a stadium inspired by Qatar's traditional Taqiyah hat, before the match. Photo: Lam Thoa
Two Bangladeshi fans at Al Thumama Stadium cheered for Vietnam - a team considered weaker than Japan. Photo: Lam Thoa
The Vietnamese players' jerseys are ready in the locker room at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar. Photo: Lam Thoa
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Facing Vietnam in the past five years, Japan only won 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, then won 1-0 and drew 1-1 in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. Coach Hajime Moriyasu considers the appearance of coach Philippe Troussier - a person who understands Japanese football - as Vietnam's most dangerous weapon.
However, the challenge at Al Thumama Stadium on the evening of January 14 is considered the greatest at this time for Vietnam, when Japan has achieved the highest form in the world in the past year with 10 consecutive wins, scoring 45 and conceding only five goals.
Difficulties surrounded Vietnam before the tournament, when a series of quality and experienced players were absent due to injury. Compared to the meeting at the 2019 Asian Cup, while the Japanese squad became stronger and more stable, the "golden generation" of Vietnamese football declined, causing strong turmoil, forcing the coach to put more trust in the group of young players.
As for Japan, they are aiming for their fifth Asian Cup title in history. Their seriousness is demonstrated by the fact that they have called up all the best players playing in Europe, such as Takefusa Kubo, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Wataru Endo. Even the fact that an injured Kaoru Mitoma is still called up also reflects the calculation and confidence of the "Samurai Warriors" to go far.
Japan are the most successful Asian Cup team, having won four titles, most recently in 2011. They have also reached the quarter-finals of the last eight editions, and are the current runners-up. Hajime Moriyasu's side are favourites for the 2023 Asian Cup, and their 17th place in the FIFA rankings shows that.
Despite the widening gap in skill level, Mr. Troussier still believes that Vietnam can create a surprise, and even if they cannot gain points, a loss by a small margin is still a success. Vietnam clearly understands that a goal or a yellow card can decide the ticket to the next round.
Japan and Vietnam are in Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup, along with Iraq and Indonesia. The teams will play a round robin, with the top two advancing to the round of 16. The four third-placed teams with the best records in the six groups will also advance, as Vietnam did at the 2019 Asian Cup under Park Hang-seo.
Vy Anh
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