UAE media speak highly of Vietnam U23s

After the results of the draw for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship were announced, some media agencies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) published articles stating that Vietnam U23s would be a tough challenge for the West Asian team in the Group D campaign.

As the reigning Asian runners-up, Vietnam U23s have been highly esteemed and appreciated by the UAE media.
As the reigning Asian runners-up, Vietnam U23s have been highly esteemed and appreciated by the UAE media.

* [Infographic] Vietnam’s Group D fixtures at 2020 AFC U23 Championship

Vietnam have been drawn in the same group with the DPR Korea, Jordan and the UAE for the biennial tournament, slated for January 8-26, 2020 in Thailand. As the reigning runners-up, Vietnam U23s have been highly esteemed and appreciated by the UAE media.

“Under the dynasty of coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam U23s are a strong team. The match with Vietnam will be extremely difficult,” the Al-Carlesage newspaper said.

“The Vietnamese players always fight with strong determination. They will be a big obstacle for the UAE on their way to securing a place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” it commented.

Coach Park Hang-seo and his Vietnamese players during a training camp to prepare for the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China.

Al Khaledzi, another news agency from the UAE, stated that qualification from Group D will be much easier for the UAE if they manage to achieve a positive result against Vietnam U23s.

“Vietnam are among the top four seeded teams. The UAE have to be extremely careful when confronting Park Hang-seo’s Vietnamese squad”.

As planned, Vietnam U22s will play a friendly against UAE U22s at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13. This is considered an important match for both sides before their official confrontation in next year’s AFC Championship.

The biennial tournament will also serve as a qualification event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with the four best teams qualifying as Asia’s representatives. If Japan are one of the top four sides, then the fifth-placed team will qualify.