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Vietnam coach Park sets three-point target for UAE clash
  • | Nhan Dan | November 14, 2019 07:08 AM
Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo has affirmed that he always looks towards the goal of winning every game, regardless of playing at home or away, with no exception for the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 14.




Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo (second from left) and UAE coach Bert van Marwijk (second from right) at the press conference.

The Golden Dragons will host the UAE opponents at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium tomorrow in their third Group G clash in the second round of the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers. This is considered a crucial match that decides the two sides’ possibility of advancing to the third qualification round.


Addressing a pre-match press briefing on Wednesday, Park emphasised his desire for the full three points in all matches, stating that the recent renewal of his contract with the Vietnamese Football Federation (VFF) poses no impacts on his mindset for the UAE clash.

The unexpected defeat against Thailand will surely make the UAE play with greater precaution and determination in tomorrow’s game. However, the Republic of Korea tactician still voiced his confidence as he has a good understanding of the playing style of UAE coach Bert Van Marwijk.

“Bert van Marwijk is a pretty famous coach who guided the Netherlands to a runner-up finish at the 2010 World Cup before leading some other teams, such as Australia and Saudi Arabia. He clearly understands the attributes of the Middle East players. According to our analysis, Van Marwijk’s football philosophy is to focus on defence and then to deploy counterattacks.

“He often arranges many players in midfield. Marwijk is a kind of coach who knows to carefully analyse the opponents and pour attacks on their weak points. I predict that the UAE will remain optimally focused during tomorrow’s match against Vietnam and go for broke at a certain moment aiming for a win. We have already prepared for that situation if it happens,” Park said.

“Football has many variables, and the UAE’s loss to Thailand is nothing special and poses no impacts on the Vietnamese team. We always look towards a victorious goal with a reasonable approach to the match,” he affirmed.

For his part, UAE coach Bert van Marwijk spoke highly of the Vietnamese side, stating that his side have made the best preparations possible for the Thursday game at My Dinh Stadium.

In the last-minute preparation for the UAE clash, coach Park Hang-seo announced the final 23-man Vietnam squad on November 13, with forward Trong Hung and defender Le Van Dai, both from Thanh Hoa FC, having been eliminated from the initial 25-man team.

The 23-man Vietnamese squad:

Goalkeeper (3): Dang Van Lam (Muangthong United), Nguyen Tuan Manh (Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN), Pham Van Cuong (Quang Nam FC)

Defender (6): Nguyen Thanh Chung (Hanoi FC), Do Duy Manh (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Huu Tuan (Ho Chi Minh City), Doan Van Hau (Heerenveen SC), Que Ngoc Hai (Viettel), Bui Tien Dung (Viettel)

Midfielder (9): Vu Van Thanh (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Tuan Anh (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Pham Duc Huy (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC), Do Hung Dung (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Huy Hung (Quang Nam), Nguyen Trong Hoang (Viettel), Nguyen Hoang Duc (Viettel)

Forward (5): Nguyen Van Toan (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Cong Phuong (Sint Truidense), Nguyen Anh Duc (Becamex Binh Duong), Ha Minh Tuan (Quang Nam), Nguyen Tien Linh (Becamex Binh Duong)

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