AFF Cup 2018: Vietnam National Team and the current situation in Group A

According to the regulations of the Organizing Committee of the AFF Cup 2018, if teams have the same number of points, the first criterion to divide the ranking is the goal difference and not the head-to-head record. Therefore, in Group A of the AFF Cup 2018, the Vietnam National Team and the Myanmar National Team have certain advantages. The Vietnam National Team defeated Laos 3-0 and Malaysia 2-0.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar team had two excellent comebacks to defeat Cambodia 4-1 and Laos 3-1. Both have 6 points after 2 wins, but Myanmar has a better goal difference and is leading. The Vietnam team is ranked second, ahead of Malaysia (also with 6 points but having played 3 matches) in terms of additional index (7 goals scored compared to 5).

Three scenarios

Table A situation. Photo: Internet

Looking at the situation, it will not be too difficult for Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar to win against Cambodia and Laos. The two tickets to the semi-finals will be a direct confrontation between these 3 teams, in which each team will play 1 home match and 1 away match.

In the match on November 20 against Myanmar on away field, if Vietnam wins, the national team will certainly win 1 of 2 tickets to the semi-finals. Then in the last round, even if we lose to Cambodia, Coach Park Hang-seo and his team will still have 1 of 2 top positions in the group because Malaysia will face Myanmar directly. But to get the top position in the group, after having 3 points against the army of coach Antoine Hey, the national team must have at least 1 more point against Cambodia at My Dinh Stadium.

If they draw with host Myanmar, Vietnam will have a huge advantage even though they continue to be second in the group, behind Myanmar. In the final match, Vietnam will focus on creating a "rain of goals" against the visiting team Cambodia to claim the top spot in the group. Meanwhile, Myanmar will have a very difficult away match against host Malaysia.

The worst case scenario is that we lose to Myanmar. At that time, our chance of getting a ticket to the semi-finals is still open, but the Vietnam team no longer has the right to decide on the race for the top spot. At that time, the number of goals scored and lost in the matches between Vietnam and Cambodia and Malaysia and Myanmar will be the deciding factor.

90% Vietnam is the best in group A

According to experts, with the current situation, strength and schedule, Vietnam and Malaysia have a better chance of advancing. The big problem for the Vietnamese team is how to win the group, while the two opponents Malaysia and Myanmar have to settle with each other to compete for the remaining ticket. Many people also believe that if they get a favorable result at Thuwunna Stadium, Mr. Park Hang Seo can completely let the main squad rest in the match against Coach Honda's team at My Dinh Stadium in the final round.

Myanmar struggled to get a win against the two weakest opponents in the group, Cambodia and Laos. Photo: AFF

The belief is well-founded when Cong Phuong, Anh Duc, Van Duc and many other Vietnamese players are playing in good form, the more they play, the better they get. The Vietnamese team has no injured players (except Huy Hung who was injured in training) and after 2 matches, only Van Hau received 1 yellow card.

Myanmar struggled to win against the two weakest opponents in the group, Cambodia and Laos. Vietnamese fans believe that with good mentality and current form, coach Park Hang-seo and his team are capable of defeating host Myanmar and then beating Cambodia to take the top spot in group A.

About 2,000 fans will go to Thuwunna Stadium to cheer for the Vietnamese national team. Mr. Park and his students are making millions of fans ecstatic, they need to continue to stabilize their performance, avoid being subjective after the impressive victory over Malaysia.

An Thanh