On the morning of July 16th, the U19 Vietnam National Team departed for Indonesia to participate in the 2024 U19 ASEAN Championship.
Reflecting on the team’s preparation, head coach Hua Hien Vinh stated, “U19 Vietnam had three quality friendly matches in China and two recent practice matches. At this point, the players are in good condition and ready for the upcoming tournament. Overall, they have grasped the operational tactics set out. Of course, there are still areas to improve, and the coaching staff has focused on these during recent training sessions to ensure we are fully prepared.”
Adapting to Indonesian Climate
Commenting on the hot weather in Indonesia, coach Hua Hien Vinh expressed, “The only real advantage belongs to the host. U19 Vietnam must adapt. We moved from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and had four training sessions there in the early morning to help the players acclimate. I can say that the players are gradually getting used to the match schedule.”
Emphasis on VAR Awareness
During training sessions, coach Hua Hien Vinh also emphasized the importance of understanding VAR technology. “We have considered this and reminded the players. Recently, I had them review situations from EURO 2024 to stress that the game continues until the referee’s whistle, not before. Upon arriving in Indonesia, the tournament organizers will provide more detailed VAR briefings for the players to understand better,” he said.
Travel Itinerary
According to the schedule, the U19 Vietnam team will depart from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Jakarta at 9:50 AM. Afterward, they will take a domestic flight to Surabaya, where the 2024 U19 ASEAN Championship will be held. In this tournament, U19 Vietnam is in the same group as Myanmar, Australia, and Laos.
Assessing Group Rivals
Evaluating the group stage opponents, HLV Hứa Hiền Vinh commented, “The group for U19 Vietnam is relatively tough. U19 Australia was the champion in 2020, did not participate in 2022, and is returning this year as a strong contender. Additionally, U19 Laos is an unknown quantity; two years ago, they finished as runners-up. Overall, the group is highly competitive, and U19 Vietnam will need to put in a significant effort.”
With a thorough preparation phase and clear focus areas, U19 Vietnam is set to face the challenges ahead in the U19 ASEAN Championship. The team’s readiness and adaptability will be crucial as they aim for success in this prestigious tournament.
Leave a Reply