Expats beware! Thousands may fill Hanoi, Saigon streets after Vietnam-Thailand match tonight

Be prepared to stay home tonight, expats, if you do not like crowds and all kinds of noise as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi streets will likely be crawling with people and vehicles celebrating Vietnam’s expected qualification for the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying round.

Both Vietnam and Thailand want to win the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification taking place late Sunday evening at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The two teams are very determined to win the match tonight, as Thailand is led by a very competent coach, Kiatisak, who stood behind the final success of the U-23 Thailand in SEA Games 27 (2013) and the Thai team in Suzuki Cup 2014, and helped bringing Olympic Thailand team to the semi-final in 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Japanese coach Toshiya Miura and his Olympic Vietnam team played jubilantly at Incheon Asiad in 2014, including a historic 4-1 victory over Olympic Iran.

Under the leadership of coach Miura, strength is an advantage of the Vietnamese team. Besides, resistance to high balls also improved markedly as he often chooses tall and strong defenders.

In the game against Thailand tonight, coach Miura likely to use the defenders with very good height including Ngoc Hai (1.8m), midfielder Chi Cong (1.82m), Huy Cuong (1.80) and Minh Tung (1,83m).

Despite missing many scoring chances in the 0-1 defeat to North Korea, Teerasil Dangda of the Thai team remains a dangerous striker of Thailand.

Although Thailand has recruited many new faces but Dangda still the most dangerous player of Thailand, especially when facing Vietnam, striker Cong Vinh of Vietnam said.

The ability to attack of the Thai team relies heavily on young midfielder, Chanathip, 21, who is nicknamed “Messi of Thailand”.

Thai coach Kiatisak Senamuang told Tuoi Tre that his players will stage an attacking formation on the Thai national stadium Rajamangala in Bangkok tomorrow to beat Vietnam to pocket all three points.

Vietnam is strong in building solid defense for sharp counterattacks that can assault even stronger rivals, Kiatisak added.

Coach Miura of Vietnam said Thailand is the best team in the region and is led by a good coach like Kiatisak.

“However, I am not interested in the history of confrontation between Vietnam and Thailand team, as we have prepared for this match and will have the appropriate tactical adjustments. We went to Thailand to win,” he added.

“We feel very confident and just wait for the game to be started,” striker Cong Vinh said.

To prepare for the tournament, both Vietnam and Thailand had friendly games with North Korea this month and Vietnam had a 1-1 tie while Thailand lost 0-1 to the team coming from the northeast of Asia.

The group F of the 2018 World Cup Asian qualifiers includes Iraq, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vietnam ranks 19th place in Asia and only starts their World Cup campaign from the second round from May 24, 2015 to March 29, 2016.

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