Futsal team targets Asia top five berth

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam wants to own one of the five tickets for Asia to compete at the FIFA World Futsal Championship later this year in Colombia.

Therefore, the team must be one of the top five at the Asian competition which will kick off in Uzbekistan on February 10.

The ideal result is a berth in the semi-final round or they must qualify for the knock-out round and have at least two wins in the play-off rounds to stand fifth.

Coach Bruno Garcia Formoso and his team left for Tashkent last week to familiarise themselves with the freezing weather and the different food and culture, which are considered big challenges for their target.

Spaniard Formoso said his players were all from the South of Viet Nam where it was hot all year round while it was currently minus degrees in Uzbekistan. The early arrival would help his team to adapt to the cold.

He also wanted his players to totally focus on the game when they were away from Viet Nam where their families are welcoming the Lunar New Year.

Viet Nam will play Thailand, Tajikistan, and Chinese Taipei in the Group C activities.

According to Formoso, apart from Thailand which is the top Asian team, the other two are at the same level with Viet Nam.

That is the main reason which the coach believes will help in accomplishing his target.

He said the first and most important task was to enter the quarter-finals. Thereafter, the whole team would plan for every step (if they have to join the play-off round for those who lose in the quarter-finals).

He said he knew the World Cup was a dream for everyone including the Vietnamese and he hoped to make it come true.

In the days in Tashkent, the coaching board has invited several teams to compete with Viet Nam as warm-up activities.

In a match on Monday, Viet Nam tied Uzbekistan 3-3. Their next game is against China on Saturday.

The Asian Futsal Championship sees 16 participants and will close on February 21. Viet Nam’s best result was the quarter-final round in 2014. — VNS

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