Doan Van Hau: 'Every opponent in the AFF Cup is strong'

Vietnam was crowned at the AFF Cup 2018 but failed to defend the title in the following period, losing 0-2 to Thailand in the semi-finals. AFF Cup 2022 is the last tournament Coach Park Hang-seo leads the team, and he wants to join his students to reclaim the Golden Cup from the Thais.

Located in Group B, Vietnam will start with a trip to Laos on December 21. According to the schedule, the team has two home matches in the group stage, against Malaysia on December 27 and Myanmar on January 3, interspersed with a match on the field of Singapore on December 30. Two tickets to the semi-finals in Group A are Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Brunei.

"The teams are all big opponents. To win the championship, Vietnam must focus and win all opponents," defender Doan Van Hau shared before a training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center on the afternoon of December 11.

The team returned to Hanoi on December 10, after a week of training in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. On December 14, the team will play a friendly with the Philippines at Hang Day Stadium to evaluate personnel, before going to Laos.

"The match against the Philippines is very important. It is the final rehearsal, preparing to enter the AFF Cup with the goal of achieving the highest score. That match is also an opportunity for the players to express themselves, to be kept," added Doan Van Hau.

Vietnam currently has 28 players, one member missing is Nguyen Quang Hai. Pau FC agreed to let the midfielder return in 1997 to attend the AFF Cup even though the tournament was not part of the FIFA system, but he would not attend friendly matches to avoid injury, only flying back to the army on December 15. After the friendly match with the Philippines, coach Park Hang-seo will finalize the list of 23 players as guests of Laos.

"Having added Quang Hai in the near future, that's the joy of the team. The last two AFF Cups he has always been one of the best players. Quang Hai is present, Vietnam will be stronger", Doan Van Hau said.

Van Hau used to go to Europe to play football for Heerenveen, so he often contacts to share experiences with Quang Hai. The defender of Hanoi said that the senior is having a hard time adapting to the new environment.