What did Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates say when Vietnam team was in the same group with China and Japan?

This afternoon (July 1), the draw ceremony for the third qualifying round was held online at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Accordingly, the lucky draw has put the Vietnam team in Group B with opponents Japan, Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and China. According to the plan, the first match of the third qualifying round of the Vietnam team will take place on September 2, 2021.

Que Ngoc Hai shared that all upcoming matches of the Vietnam National Team will be very difficult. Photo: Hai Hoang

Sharing right after the draw ceremony, the captain of the Vietnamese team said: ''At this draw ceremony, when I saw the Vietnamese flag standing together with the strongest football teams in Asia, I felt really proud. Surely many people will think that Group B is not too difficult. But personally, I think that having reached the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, all opponents are certainly very strong and the matches ahead are very difficult. I think every upcoming match will be tense, because all the teams present here have excellently passed the second qualifying round, to enter the third qualifying round - where all the strongest teams in Asia compete and try to win the best position to be able to attend the 2022 World Cup. That is a very big goal and all teams will find a way to conquer it. Therefore, every upcoming match of the Vietnamese team will be very difficult", said captain Que Ngoc Hai.

Que Ngoc Hai believes that every upcoming match of the Vietnamese team will be very difficult. Photo: Hai Hoang

In Group B, the Vietnamese team is in Group 1 with Japan, the team that Quang Hai scored against at Asian 2018. Sharing about having to face Japan, the team that is rated highest in Group B, the number 19 player of the Vietnamese team said: "Every goal brings a lot of emotions, scoring a goal against Japan is even more emotional. We aim for victory even when facing Japan."

Meanwhile, central defender Do Duy Manh also recalled the image of raising the national flag in Changzhou (China) at the 2018 U23 Asia as well as having to face the Chinese national team in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup.

The Vietnamese team is trying its best to realize its dream. Photo: Hai Hoang

“For me personally, that image is very proud, I am still emotional when thinking about this. The 12 teams have the best preparation for the 3rd qualifying round. Meeting the Chinese team is a particularly exciting match, the whole team is practicing hard to get the best results” - Duy Manh shared.

Striker Tien Linh said that this is a historic opportunity for him and his teammates: "The draw results give the feeling that Group A is a little heavier than Group B. Personally, I am very clear that once we reach the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup, all opponents will be very strong. This is a challenge but also a historic opportunity. Facing the top teams in the continent will not be easy, but it is also an opportunity for us to improve. Certainly, the Vietnamese team will continue to show effort, aspiration, and unity to assert ourselves in the top playground in Asia. We respect all opponents but are not afraid and will plan to get points in each match."

Also at the online draw, Coach Park Hang-seo shared with the Asian Football Confederation after the draw results. According to the Korean coach, this will be an opportunity for his students to gain more personal experience.

"In my opinion, any team in Group B is stronger than the Vietnamese national team. We will have to focus on preparing well for each match and playing with the highest spirit. When meeting big teams in the continent, it is an opportunity for Vietnamese football to learn and gain experience" - Coach Park Hang-seo shared.

Meanwhile, Luong Xuan Truong expressed his admiration for two players from the Korean and Japanese teams. Xuan Truong affirmed: "The two players that I always admire are Takumi from Japan and Son Heung-min from Korea, both of these players have outstanding football skills compared to Asian players. They are successful in the Premier League. I think my teammates and I do not want to face those players."