Men's football SEA Games 27: U23 Vietnam faces defending champion Malaysia

Accordingly, in men's football, there are two groups. Group A (6 teams) consists of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Group B (5 teams) includes Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, East Timor and Cambodia.

Head coach Hoang Van Phuc said that Group A is not an "easy place" for Vietnam as the gap between regional U23 football teams is too narrow. Furthermore, we have to play an additional match compared with rivals in Group B, thus generating some challenges for players in terms of physical condition, injuries and yellow/red cards.

Teams will compete in a round robin format, selecting the best two for semi-final matches. The former capital city Yangon will host matches of Group A, where the host Myanmar plays (Thuwunna stadium), while the new capital Nay Pyi Taw will serve Group B (Zayar Theikdi stadium in the national sports complex of Myanmar).

Vietnamis to face a strong rival Malaysia, the Philippines team with a lot of immigrant players and a Laos squad with intensive progress in the past months.

The opening match for men's football (also for SEA Games 27 festival) will start on December 1. The official opening ceremony for SEA Games 27 will begin on December 11.

Right after hearing the news, Vietnam Football Federation Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy commented that the two groups in the men's football event are equal for fighting, saying that each team has its own advantages and disadvantages. He noted the U23 Vietnam team has to show the best preparation in both skill and spiritual issues.

The final match for men's football will take place at newly-built Zayar Theikdi stadium.

In the women's football event, Group A consists of Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia; while Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and East Timor will compete in Group B. Teams will compete at Mandalay stadium.

In men's futsal, due to Brunei's withdrawal, as many as 6 teams will play in the two groups, in which Group A has Myanmar, Indonesia, and Malaysia, while Vietnam, Thailand and Laos will compete in Group B.

Malaysiafaces tough competition in the preliminary rounds in their effort to defend their gold medal. It won the gold medal in SEA Games 26 held in Indonesia, after beating the hosts in a penalty shootout after extra time. The score was 1-1 after 120 minutes of official competition, but the Young Tigers triumphed 4-3 in the deadly penalty shots.

The concept of SEA Games 27 is "Green, clean and friendship" which clearly reflects the objectives of the Union of Myanmar.

(Source: Dangcongsan.vn)