According to statistics from the Fox Sports Asia, with the core of the team consisting of the U23 and the Olympic teams, which performed admirably in the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship and the Asian Games 2018, Vietnam are among the top contenders for the AFF Championship title. With a squad of mostly young players, it is not surprising that the average age of the Vietnamese players at the AFF Cup is 23.69 years, ranked third at the tournament.
Striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who scored against Laos on the opening night of the tournament on November 8, is the oldest member in the squad, at 33 years-old, while Hanoi FC defender Doan Van Hau is the youngest at 19.
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Hanoi FC defender Doan Van Hau (in white) is the youngest player in Vietnam’s squad at 19 years old, but he has played a key role in both the Vietnam U23 and national teams.
However, one disadvantage for the Golden Dragons is the average height of the Vietnamese players in this year's tournament which is quite short (1.76m), only ranked third in the group of the top five favourites for the title. Nonetheless, with a series of players with a height of 1.80m in the defensive line, as keeper Dang Van Lam - the tallest in the team (1.88m), Doan Van Hau (1.85m), Luc Xuan Hung (1.83m), or Do Duy Manh (1.80m), fans can be assured in defending against long ball situations.
Meanwhile, defending champions Thailand have the best average height (1.80m) in the group of five candidates for the tournament’s top spot. Central defender Pansa Hemviboon is the tallest player in the Thai squad (1.91m), followed by two goalkeepers Saranon Anuin (1.87m) and Chatchai Budprom (1.84m). Striker Adisak Kraisorn, who scored six goals against Timor Leste in their Group B opening match, also has a good height of 1.82m.
In addition, Thailand is also the second highest average age group in the tournament (26.74), with six players in their 30s, including keeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen the oldest at 34 years old. The youngest player in the defending champions' squad is striker Supachai Jaided, who was born in 1998.
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Defending champions Thailand have the best average height in the group of five candidates for the tournament’s top spot.
Timor-Leste is the youngest team in the event with average age of 20.56 years, with Laos second with 21.34 years.
Indonesia’s Brazilian-born forward Beto Gonçalves who is 37 years 10 months and eight days old is the oldest player in the tournament, while Timor Leste’s Gumario is the youngest at 17 years and 22 days old.
Vietnam beat Laos 3-0 in their first match of Group A, which took place at the Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on November 8. The team returned to Hanoi for training the following day, in preparation for their next key Group A match against Malaysia at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium on Friday.
Previously, Malaysia defeated Cambodia 1-0 in their first match of the tournament.
