Vietnam U22 midfielder is not afraid of Thailand

The two teams met right from the group stage in the last match on May 11. Before the 32nd SEA Games, Thailand made a strong impression at the Doha Cup friendly tournament in March when drawing 2-2 Saudi Arabia, winning 1-0 Qatar and losing 0-1 to Kuwait to finish fourth. Meanwhile, Vietnam lost all three matches, ranked 10th.

Midfielder Tran Quang Thinh rated Thailand as a strong team in Group B of men's football at the upcoming SEA Games, but he affirmed that U22 Vietnam is not afraid of any player. "Each team has its own style of play and strength," he added. "The team that is lucky and seizes a good opportunity will win."

U22 Vietnam aims to win a gold medal despite a lot of pressure. Before Quang Thinh, striker Bui Vi Hao set a goal of scoring one goal per game, while goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan wanted to keep a clean sheet for the whole tournament. "I myself want to direct the defense well and make no mistakes," Quang Thinh said about his own goal.

Quang Thinh is on the staff of the Hanoi Police Club and is one of the five central defenders summoned by coach Philippe Troussier. He has to compete with Giap Tuan Duong, Luong Duy Cuong, Vu Tien Long and Phan Tuan Tai, who have played a lot in the V-League. "I myself can't kick the V-League, so I have to try twice and triple," Thinh said.

In recent training sessions, coach Troussier has repeatedly made substitutions when the player made a wrong pass. Quang Thinh thinks that's how the coach puts pressure on the players to get used to the official game, and at the same time requires high tactical skills.

"The coach said that if you want to not chase the ball, you have to control it, if you want to control it, you have to pass it and receive it," said the midfielder in 2001. "The coach practices longer and teaches the players how to receive and pass stars to put teammates in an advantageous position."