Vietnam - North Korea: The Final Test

The match with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the last chance for coach Miura to review the squad before going to Bangkok to face Thailand in the second qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup.

“The match against North Korea is very important. This is the last chance for me to review the squad and prepare for the match against Thailand,” said coach Toshia Miura. “North Korea is a very strong opponent. Playing against them, we will learn many things.”

Cong Vinh will likely play alongside Cong Phuong in the match against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Photo: Quy Doan

This time, the DPRK brought a very strong squad to Hanoi, including 10 players who had just participated in the 2015 Asian Cup. The most formidable player on the visiting team is goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk, the best player in Asia in 2009 and who contributed greatly to helping the DPRK win a ticket to the 2010 World Cup finals after a 44-year wait. In addition, there are other notable names such as defender Sim Hyon Uk, Ro Hak Su, midfielder Ri Chang Chol...

“Our goal is to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals. So this time I brought a strong squad with the hope that the match with Vietnam would be a good test. The average age of my players is 24.2, the average height is 1m76. In addition to the players having good skills, the team's main weapons are collective play and fierce fighting spirit,” coach Kim Chang Bok shared.

The captain of the DPRK said that his team has never had the mindset of playing superficially in friendly matches. He affirmed that his team will play their best at My Dinh with a fiery attacking style.

On the other side of the front line, Coach Miura also hopes that the attacking power of the DPRK will help the Vietnamese team "test" the defense. However, he declared that the home team will not only play defense.

“We will not only endure the battle but also attack. When U23 Vietnam faced a strong opponent, U23 Korea, my students not only successfully blocked the opponent's spearheads but also created some dangerous opportunities. I hope the Vietnam team will do the same when facing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,” said coach Miura.

After the match with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on May 21, the Vietnamese team will fly to Bangkok to prepare for the match with Thailand on May 24.

According to VNE