The international friendly futsal tournament 2024, hosted by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation, serves as a preparatory stage for the Vietnam national futsal team ahead of the 2024 AFC Futsal Championship in Qatar. The tournament will feature teams from Morocco, Iraq, New Zealand, and Vietnam, competing in a round-robin format from March 28 to 31 at the Lanh Binh Thang Stadium in District 1, Ho Chi Minh.
This tournament is not only a test for the participating teams but also a chance for the younger players to gain experience. Adil Sayeh from Morocco appreciates the opportunity for their young players to gain valuable experience, while Coach Eakins from New Zealand sees it as a chance for his team to evaluate their strength and prepare for future competitions.
Vietnam’s coach, Diego Giustozzi Raul, acknowledges the challenge ahead due to injuries within his squad, leading to the inclusion of younger players. This situation, however, presents an opportunity for these newcomers to prove themselves.
Additionally, the tournament features Iran, a strong contender ranked 7th worldwide and a bronze medalist at the 2016 World Cup in Colombia. Despite their strength, Morocco, the second-highest ranked team participating, will not bring their strongest lineup due to preparations for the 2024 African Futsal Championship.
The absence of key player Minh Trí due to injury forces Coach Raul to rely on young talents, viewing this as an essential test for Vietnam’s preparation for the upcoming AFC Futsal Championship and an opportunity to assess the potential of the new generation.
This international friendly futsal tournament is thus a critical platform for Vietnam and the participating teams to fine-tune their squads, strategize, and gain invaluable match experience leading up to major continental competitions.
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