Vietnam must win AFF Cup’s last group stage match: Coach Park

“Tomorrow, the team will play the last match of the group stage against Myanmar in Hanoi,” Park told a press conference in Hanoi on Monday. “It is also the first game of 2023 and I believe that with the best preparation, we will win so that we can enter the semi-finals as the top group-stage team.”

Although Vietnam had a 0-0 draw with Singapore in the third group-stage game, Vietnam are still leading Group B with seven points. They can only be eliminated if they lose to Myanmar by six goals.

“Vietnam must win to claim the top spot of Group B,” Park said. “Once entering the semi-final we will have to be determined to fight hard as all teams that make it to that round are strong.”

Myanmar currently have just one point after playing three games and have been elininated from the tournament.

Their main goal in the Vietnam clash will be to have a good experience, coach Antoine Hey said at the press conference.

Coach Antoine Hey of Myanmar at an AFF Cup press conference in Hanoi, January 2, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

“Vietnam are a leading team in Southeast Asia. They have experience, confidence and a quality squad,” Hey said. “We will try our best in the game with Vietnam and we hope we can earn some valuable lessons.”

If Vietnam top Group B, they will play the first semi-final game of the AFF Cup on January 6 abroad and must depart Vietnam on January 4.

Park said he will have to find a way to get his players physically ready for the semi-finals.

He said he will rely on results of two final matches in Group A to get Vietnam prepared.

In the last group-stage matches in Group A on Monday’s evening Thailand meet Cambodia while the Philippines play against Indonesia.