Vietnam and Indonesia go for broke
Hanoi – The winner of Saturday’s Group A clash between Indonesia and Singapore is all but guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the Tiger Cup.
While Indonesia coach Peter Withe and his counterpart Edson Tavares have been trying to play down the significance of the game, suggesting, somewhat unconvincingly it has to be said, that defeat would not spell the end of the eitherÂ’s side interest in the competition, the fact remains that there is awful lot riding on the outcome.
Indonesia and Vietnam currently top the table, with four points each from their two games. Singapore are in third place with two points but should collect another six points from their remaining games against Laos and Cambodia.
A loss for either Indonesia and Vietnam would make it mathematically impossible for them to get to the eight-point mark, meaning an early exit from the competition should Singapore see off the group's makewights.
A draw would on Saturday would not be disastrous but neither Tavares nor Withe would like to see the fate of their campaign rest on goal difference, the first tie-breaker used by competition organisers if teams are level on points at the end of the group stage.
Vietnam go into the game buoyed by a 9-1 defeat of Cambodia on Thursday night and a full house at the My Dinh National Stadium will certainly add to the sense of occasion and should inspire TavaresÂ’ charges to go for the win this football-crazy country craves so much.
The Brazilian, as you would expect from someone who hails from Rio de Janeiro, is a keen advocate of the beautiful game but admits that his principles may have to be sacrificed in tomorrowÂ’s game.
“I like to see football played well because I think the fans like to see the game played in nice way,” said the 48-year-old.
“But at the same time, I know that there are some games where you have to accept that winning is more important than the way you play and I suppose that the game against Indonesia is one of those games when you have to be pragmatic, not idealistic.
“Having said that, I guarantee that we will not seek to play any defensive football to carve out a draw. One point is not good enough for us to confirm our berth into the semi-finals.”
Tavares, in his second spell as Vietnam coach, knows that IndonesiaÂ’s strength lies in their ability to attack down the flanks but he will have taken heart from the way Singapore denied Alie Aboy and Boas Salossa space in which to opearate.
The Brazilian is conscious, however, that copying SingaporeÂ’s pressing style may not be so effective at the National Stadium where the pitch is significantly larger than the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Ci Minh City.
Tavares, who has also coached in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and China, as well as in Brazil and Chile, will wait until tomorrow evening before naming his name, but Le Cong Vinh, who scored a hat-trick against Cambodia, Nguyen Manh Dung and Pham Van Tai Em have knocks and are doubtful.
Withe will pick from a full squad and is unlikely to make major changes, despite seeing his charges turn in somewhat muted performance against Singapore on Thursday night.
The Englishman will be hoping that a day spent travelling from Ho Chi Minh City up to Hanoi will not have too disruptive an effect his players.
“Vietnam are the hosts, they are playing at home in front of their fans so if you look at the books then they should win the game,” said the man who is chasing his third Tiger Cup triumph following wins with Thailand in 2000 and 2002.
“Vietnam like to pass the ball and we like to pass the ball so it promises to be an interesting contest between two passing teams.”
Like his counterpart Tavares, Withe will field a young team for the game but the one-time England striker has no reservations about their ability.
“This Indonesia side is still at a very raw stage at this time,” he said. “The players I have picked are the players I have had a chance to see.
“I haven’t had the chance to see all the players in Indonesia as I have only been in charge for six months and there might be better players out there. But this is the strongest squad I could pick of the players I have seen and I believe that these are the right players to represent Indonesia.”
The game kicks off at 19.30 local time.