Vietnam U20 coach: 'A draw with Qatar is not certain to enter the quarterfinals'

* Vietnam - Qatar: 9pm on Saturday, March 4, on MetaSports.

"Three points from the first match is not enough. If we draw with Qatar tomorrow, the team is not sure to enter the quarterfinals, so we can't say anything far," Mr. Tuan said before the training session on the afternoon of March 3.

After the first match on March 1, Vietnam and Iran both have three points, leading Group B. But coach Hoang Anh Tuan is still cautious, thinking that the situation of the group can still be complicated. He also hypothesized that if Iran and Vietnam both lose tomorrow, all four teams will start from the beginning.

"I always say the players have to forget everything in the past, to focus the most for tomorrow's match," emphasized the Khanh Hoa military leader.

In the first round, Qatar also lost 0-1 to Iran. But according to Mr. Tuan, Iran is very strong, and this result does not mean that it is easy for Vietnam to meet Qatar tomorrow.

"We have to recognize the fact that Vietnamese football is still a bit below Qatar, but not at the same level that we think it will be easy," said Vietnam U20 coach. "Football is not arithmetic. Qatar lost to Iran, but football is different every game, every opponent is different and every moment is different."

Mr. Tuan revealed that he had studied Vietnam's opponents in the 2023 AFC U20 group stage, and found that every team has its pros and cons. "The important thing is whether our force is good enough, ready, determined and united," said the Khanh Hoa military leader, emphasizing that he wants the players to enter the game with a respectful and serious attitude. when I meet Qatar tomorrow.

In the second round of Group B tomorrow, March 4, Vietnam will play Qatar at 9pm, Hanoi time. Four hours earlier, Iran was pitted against Australia.