Viet Nam’s football team are ready to take on Thailand in the Suzuki cup at the ASEAN Football Championship (AFF) at Sarakul Stadium in Phuket tomorrow.
The game was relocated by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) from the unstable capital to Phuket amid political tension there.
The team had their first training session on the hard turf at Spanhin pitch after a gruelling journey from HCM City to Phuket via Singapore on Wednesday.
Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto has not had a single win since taking over in April but is keeping positive about defeating the team’s archrivals.
"We are playing to win, but we shouldn’t fight a do-or-die game with Thailand. It’s only the first match of the tournament. Viet Nam have two more important games with Malaysia and Laos," said Calisto.
"Vietnamese players will up their training and keep upbeat. Thailand are a powerhouse and have the advantages of home game and a star squad,"
"We could lose the game [with Thailand], but we’re not anxious about it." he said.
The 53-year-old coach will meet with Thailand’s coach, Peter Reid, former England midfielder, ahead of tomorrow’s game.
The former Sunderland and Manchester City manager is hoping to lead Thailand to its fourth title in the biennial event.
The English coach has sporting stalwarts Teerathep Winothai, Teerasil Daengda, Suree Sukha, Suchao Nutnum on his side. Datsakorn Thonglao will line out for V-League’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Niweat Siriwong, the former midfielder of Vietnamese Tien Giang and Eastern Asia Bank has also made the team.
Reid has lost his assistant Steve Darby, who was rushed to hospital on Wednesday for thrombosis. Darby led the Viet Nam women’s team to victory in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in 2001.
Thailand got straight into training after a flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phuket on Wednesday.
Last month, Viet Nam drew with Thailand 2-2 and North Korea 0-0, ranking them second at the T&T Cup in Ha Noi.
The AFF Cup is the most coveted football competition in the ASEAN region.
Winners of the December 28 final will net US$100,000 in prize money.
Viet Nam haven’t won the AFF Cup since it began in Singapore in 1996 and have not beaten Thailand in 10 years - apart from a 3-0 win in the Tiger Cup semi-final in 1998.
Arch-rival Thailand have drawn with Viet Nam, Malaysia and Laos for the group B AFF Cup.
Singapore will play Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar.
The country has won the cup three times. In 1998 they beat Viet Nam 1-0, in 2005 they wiped out Indonesia 5-2 in a two-leg final, and in 2007 they defeated Thailand 3-2 on aggregate.
Change of venue
The AFF announced that the match will go ahead at the original venue in Phuket next Friday 12 after the settling of the polical unrest there. The Viet Nam squad will rush onto an 870km flight to Bangkok straight after the second game with Malaysia next Wednesday.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Viet Nam confident against Thais
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
AFF-Suzuki Cup to move to Phuket
Thai sports authorities have moved this week's Asian Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, from Bangkok to the southern island of Phuket to avoid the political crisis in the capital.
Emergency rule is now in place at Bangkok's two airports, which were occupied last Saturday by thousands of anti-government protesters braced for a prolonged siege with riot police.
"There's too much trouble in Bangkok, so we've decided to switch the venue," Thai football chief Worawi Makudi said last Saturday.
"All parties have agreed, this is the best solution to the problem and Phuket is a very suitable alternative."
He added that Phuket - not affected by the crisis - is easily accessible. Worawi also said he would guarantee the safety of players and officials during their time in Phuket. The decision to move the event was made late last Saturday after a two-day meeting of regional sports authorities.
Representatives of the AFF inspected the Phuket stadium and were satisfied with preparations to move the championships. Thailand are co-hosting the fiercely-contested biennial tournament, beginning on Friday, with Indonesia.
Phuket will now host Group B, comprising Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam and Malaysia, while Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar and last year's winners Singapore will contest Group A in Jakarta.
The provincial 15,000-seat Sarakul Stadium is recognised by FIFA to meet international standards.
The AFF decision to move to Phuket ended Viet Nam's hopes of hosting group B matches.
"As a member of the AFF, the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) respects the decision to move the event to Phuket, and will do everything in our power to make the event a success," said VFF chairman Nguyen Trong Hy.
Man United star Ronaldo wins Golden Ball award
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was named the European Footballer of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fourth Manchester United player to win the Ballon d'Or.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi came second and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres third in a poll of 96 journalists from allover the world organized by France Football, the French magazine said on its website (www.francefootball.fr).
Ronaldo dominated the voting, garnering 446 points. Messi had 281 points and Torres had 179.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo joins former United greats Denis Law (1964), Bobby Charlton (1966) and George Best (1968) as a winner of the prize previously known as the European Footballer of the Year award.
Ronaldo was second last year with 277, while Kaka, last year's winner, was eighth this time with only 31 points.
Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season as United won the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo adds the Ballon d'Or award to the FIFPro World Player of the Year trophy he won in October, and the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Writers awards.
Source: VNN
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Vietnam top candidate to replace Thailand as AFF Cup host
Vietnam is the number-one candidate if the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) decides to take away Thailand’s co-hosting right of the AFF Cup 2008 in an AFF meeting this afternoon in Kuala Lumpur.
Vice-Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), who is also Vice-Chairman of AFF, Duong Vu Lam, and VFF Secretary General, Tran Quoc Tuan, will attend today’s urgent meeting.
According to VFF’s viewpoint, Vietnam seems to be the top candidate to replace Thailand because Vietnam was one of four countries (excluding Malaysia) initially asked to host the AFF Cup 2008. Then, Thailand and Indonesia were selected. However, Vietnam is considered to be the number-one reserved candidate in case Indonesia and Thailand cannot meet AFF’s requirements.
Thailand now runs the risk of losing the hosting right of the AFF Cup because of political instability and Vietnam has a high possibility to be chosen, not Malaysia.
In the latest talk with VFF’s officials, the AFF Chairman also mentioned this possibility.
On Thursday, the Chairman of Thai Football Federation said this agency would try at its best to host AFF Cup 2008, which will start on December 6.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Malaysia willing to replace Thailand as AFF Cup host
The tension in Bangkok has made the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) consider moving matches of AFF Cup 2008 from Thailand to Malaysia.
Malaysia’s top daily the New Straits Times on Tuesday quoted some senior officials of the Malaysian Football Federation as saying that Malaysia is willing to host B group of AFF Cup 2008 if the security situation in Bangkok doesn’t allow the organisation of these matches there.
Thailand and Indonesia are the two hosts of the qualifier round of AFF Cup 2008. Group A has Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia and host Indonesia playing at Senayan Stadium in Jakarta. Group B features Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and host Thailand scheduled to compete at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok.
Because of a demonstration last month, the surface of Rajamangala Stadium was damaged and the host decided to organise AFF Cup matches in Supachalasai Stadium.
Yet, as demonstrations and the political situation have become tenser in Bangkok recently, a question has been raised: “Is Thailand able to host Group B?” Even the Thai Football Association is not sure.
“The situation in Bangkok is not really stable, especially after demonstrators blockaded Suvarnabhumi International Airport,” an anonymous official from the Thai Football Association said.
According to the New Straits Times, if it replaced Thailand as the host of Group B of AFF Cup, Malaysia would receive $150,000 from the AFF.
The AFF plans to release an official decision about this issue in the next few days, after it receives a report from Thailand.
Senior officials of the VFF are now working in China and they haven’t made any statement.
Malaysia willing to replace Thailand as AFF Cup host
The tension in Bangkok has made the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) consider moving matches of AFF Cup 2008 from Thailand to Malaysia.
Malaysia’s top daily the New Straits Times on Tuesday quoted some senior officials of the Malaysian Football Federation as saying that Malaysia is willing to host B group of AFF Cup 2008 if the security situation in Bangkok doesn’t allow the organisation of these matches there.
Thailand and Indonesia are the two hosts of the qualifier round of AFF Cup 2008. Group A has Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia and host Indonesia playing at Senayan Stadium in Jakarta. Group B features Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and host Thailand scheduled to compete at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok.
Because of a demonstration last month, the surface of Rajamangala Stadium was damaged and the host decided to organise AFF Cup matches in Supachalasai Stadium.
Yet, as demonstrations and the political situation have become tenser in Bangkok recently, a question has been raised: “Is Thailand able to host Group B?” Even the Thai Football Association is not sure.
“The situation in Bangkok is not really stable, especially after demonstrators blockaded Suvarnabhumi International Airport,” an anonymous official from the Thai Football Association said.
According to the New Straits Times, if it replaced Thailand as the host of Group B of AFF Cup, Malaysia would receive $150,000 from the AFF.
The AFF plans to release an official decision about this issue in the next few days, after it receives a report from Thailand.
Senior officials of the VFF are now working in China and they haven’t made any statement.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Maradona suýt bị giết
Một thông tin gây chấn động làng bóng đá thế giới khi một người đàn ông quốc tịch Anh đã bị bắt giữ do có ý định tiếp cận và ra tay hạ sát tân HLV Argentina trong trận đấu giao hữu giữa đội bóng vùng Nam Mỹ và Scotland diễn ra hôm 19-11.
Kẻ ám sát được xác định là Ian Wellwort, 43 tuổi, cư trú tại Middlesbrough. Hắn là người không có việc làm và có biểu hiện bất thường về tâm lý. Wellwort bị phát hiện có hành vi nghi vấn quanh khu vực ngoài SVĐ Hampden Park, Scotland, trong trận đấu ra mắt trên cương vị HLV của Maradona.
Ian khai rằng hắn ta muốn trả thù Maradona vì cho rằng bàn thắng "Bàn tay của chúa" trong trận đấu Argentina vượt qua Anh tại World Cup 1986 (ảnh) đã khiến hắn mất cả tiền thua độ lẫn người vợ. "Tôi đã vay mượn số tiền 500 bảng để đánh cá. Nếu Anh giành chiến thắng tại Mexico 1986 thì tôi sẽ có số tiền gấp 5 lần nhưng cuối cùng tôi phải trả nợ 125.000 bảng".
Người đàn ông 43 tuổi này tiết lộ ý định muốn "cắt cổ" Maradona. Báo chí Argentina đưa tin, chỉ một tuần sau vụ việc ám sát bất thành xảy ra, danh tính cũng như mưu đồ của Wellwort mới được tiết lộ. Tên này sẽ phải đối mặt với mức án tù 5 năm.
FIFA trừng phạt Peru
Tổng thư ký LĐBĐ Nam Mỹ, Eduardo Deluca đã thông báo cho các quan chức bóng đá Peru về việc cấm vận của FIFA.
Theo quyết định của FIFA, đội tuyển quốc gia Peru (ảnh) cũng như các CLB thuộc quốc gia này sẽ không được tranh tài tại các giải đấu quốc tế. Nguyên nhân là do chính phủ Peru can thiệp vào công việc của LĐBĐ nước này.
Trước mắt, trong cuộc bốc thăm chia bảng Copa Libertadores, các CLB Peru sẽ không có mặt. Nhưng đó không phải điều nguy hiểm nhất với bóng đá Peru. Đội tuyển quốc gia của họ có thể bị loại khỏi vòng loại World Cup 2010 dù đã thi đấu được 1/2 chặng đường. Ngoài ra, quyền đăng cai giải U-20 Nam Mỹ của Peru vào năm tới cũng sẽ bị tước.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Viet Nam preps for Indoor Games
Viet Nam is revving up for the third Asian Indoor Games to be held in provinces and cities nation wide next November.
Ha Noi will be the main venue for 11 sports, along with HCM City, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Phu Tho and Dong Nai.
In a meeting with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in June, Viet Nam agreed to pay US$2.5 million for the right to host the biggest indoor sports event in Asia, which is expected to attract over 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 45 countries and territories.
Viet Nam is currently making preparations to construct an indoor sports centre to house the event.
The 24 official sporting events include athletics, short course swimming, finswimming, dance, archery, petanque, wushu, boxing, shuttlecock kicking, sepak takraw, aerobics, chess, Chinese chess (Xiangqi), futsal, Thai muay, traditional Vietnamese martial arts (Vovinam), billiards, kurash (central Asian wrestling), bowling, mountain climbing, kick boxing, hockey and a demonstration of the martial art jejitsu.
At the 2nd Indoor Games in Macau, China last October, which attracted 4,500 athletes from 45 countries and territories to participate in 135 events, Viet Nam ranked 13th in the medals tally - with two golds, five silvers and eleven bronzes.
At the 1st Asian Indoor Games in Thailand in 2005, Viet Nam, who sent a 15-member squad to compete in six of the 15 sports, finished in 21st place with one silver and one bronze medal.
The Asian Indoor Games is a biennial competition held by the Olympic Council of Asia for its 45 National Olympic Committee members and is designed to encourage young Asians to participate in a wider range of sports at top levels.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Maradona Officially Appointed Coach Of Argentina
Diego Maradona was officially presented as the coach of the Argentine national team on Tuesday evening. He stated that it "is a dream come true" and that he will "work as much as possible" so that the national team can enjoy success...
Diego Armando Maradona officially took over as the new coach of Argentina on Tuesday evening. The Argentine football legend affirmed that it "is an honour" and that it is a "dream come true" for him, because it is a position that he has wanted to occupy for many years.
"It's an honour," said Maradona. "Being named the coach of the national team is a dream come true.
"I'm going to give it my all for things to turn out well. We are going to work hard every morning in order to give the national team what it deserves. I want to maintain this project with Carlos (Bilardo), both of us are going to be at the head of everything," added the successor of Alfio Basile, who resigned on the 16th of October, the day after Argentina lost 1-0 to Chile in Santiago.
"This arrives during the best time of my life. Every morning I can wake up, every lunch time I mean (he laughed). I have the confidence of my daughters back, I enter a beautiful dream which is the national team, my parents are well, I'm well spiritually and emotionally, I can't ask for more. It arrives in the best moment of my life, I'm going to work with everything I've got," an emotional Maradona stated.
Despite lots of speculation in recent days, Maradona didn't end up revealing his coaching team: "We haven't decided it yet. But Checho Batista and Tata Brown are at our services."
Possible assistants include, Miguel Angel Brindisi, Oscar Ruggeri and Alejandro Mancuso. "Lots of names have appeared and lots more certainly will. We have to have a very clear mind when selecting who will be by our side," insisted Maradona.
When asked if he is afraid about possible failure with the national team, something that could further damage his reputation, Maradona affirmed: "I'm not afraid that my crown might fall. It would be worse to hide in the shadows" .
Maradona will take a flight to Spain later on in the night, as he is planning to attend the UEFA Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Source: goal.com
Monday, October 13, 2008
Nữ Việt Nam trút 11 bàn thắng vào lưới Malaysia
Riêng Tuyết Mai có tới bốn bàn thắng trong trận đấu. Còn tiền đạo Ngọc Châm cũng không khó khăn để tìm thêm hai bàn để nâng tổng số lên 4 bàn thắng sau ba trận đấu. Trong khi đó, với hai bàn thắng có được trong trận đại thắng trước Malaysia, Lê Thị Thương cũng có 3 bàn tại giải.
Tiền đạo Tuyến Mai (phải) có 4 bàn thắng dễ dàng vào lưới thủ môn Malaysia. Ảnh: An Nhơn. |
Ở trận đấu này, Malaysia đã tỏ rõ là đội yếu nhất bảng đấu. Bởi trước đó họ cũng đã thất thủ trước Lào 0-1 và sau đó là thua Myanmar 0-7. Thua Việt Nam 0-11, Malaysia nâng tổng số bàn lọt lưới lên 19, trong khi chưa một lần chọc thủng lưới đối phương.
Trong ba trận đã đấu, gặp Malaysia được xem là dễ nhất cho các cô gái Việt Nam. Họ chơi bóng chỉ bên một phần sân. Thủ môn Kiều Chinh có một trận đấu thảnh thơi, không một lần phải ra tay vất vả. Ngược lại, toàn đội Malaysia chỉ biết cố thủ và chống đỡ các đường tấn công của đội chủ nhà. Bị tra tấn liên tục, hàng thủ của họ không thể đứng vững, liên tục phạm phải sai lầm, dù đôi lúc các đường bóng của Việt Nam không phải quá sắc bén. Thế nên, cơn mưa bàn thắng được các cầu thủ Việt Nam trút vào lưới Malaysia cũng dễ hiểu.
Trước Việt Nam vượt trội đẳng cấp, Malaysia chỉ đứng vững đến phút 12 của trận đấu. Từ quả phạt góc của Văn Thị Thanh bên cánh trái, Ngọc Châm đánh đầu không quá khó nhưng cũng đủ làm thủ môn Malaysia vào lưới nhặt bóng.
Hiệp một kết thúc với tỷ số 5 -0, bằng các bàn thắng tiếp theo của Tuyết Mai, Văn Thị Thanh và một bàn đá phản của hậu vệ Malaysia, ở các phút 36, 38, 40 và 43.
45 phút của hiệp hai có thể xem là màn diễn tập nhàn nhã cho các cô gái Việt Nam. Thêm 6 bàn thắng được ghi cho đội chủ nhà. Tuyết Mai có hai bàn ở phút 69 và 80, Lê Thị Thương phút 55 và 66, Ngọc Châm phút 74 và bàn ấn định tỷ số đậm 11-0 được thực hiện do công của tiền vệ Minh Nguyệt.
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| Niềm vui của VN là nỗi thất vọng của cầu thủ Malaysia. Ảnh: An Nhơn. |
Với vị trí đầu bảng A, Việt Nam nhiều khả năng sẽ đụng Thái Lan ở bán kết. Trong khi đó, cũng chiều chủ nhật, Myanmar có chiến thắng đậm Lào với kết quả 7-0 và gần như chắc chắn đứng nhì bảng, dù còn một trận chưa đấu như Việt Nam.
Via: Vne
