Undersized Vietnam, who upset Gulf Cup champions United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2-0 and drew 1-1 with Asian Games winners Qatar, will face three-time champions Japan at My Dinh National Stadium in their last group B match on July 16, which promises to be a David-and-Goliath thriller.

“I’m looking forward to the match which will be one of the biggest games in my coaching career,” the 57-year-old Austrian told reporters on July 15 at a pre-match interview.

“We are going to play one of the strongest teams in the tournament and, for sure, it will be difficult for us to achieve something,” confessed Riedl who took over the squad from assistant Mai Duc Chung in April.

Japan coach Ivica Osim, who led the squad last Friday in a 3-2 win over the UAE and a 1-1 opener with Qatar to co-lead group B with hosts Vietnam on four points, promised to give the home side a hard time today.

“Our goal is to reach the quarter-finals no matter who we play or where we play in the quarters,” said Osim on July 15 through an interpreter.

“We will not play for a draw. To make sure we qualify, we have to win and not care about the result in the Qatar-UAE match,” which will be played at the same time.

The winners of group B will play in Hanoi during the quarter-finals at My Dinh National Stadium next week, while the second place team will head for Bangkok.

The Sarajevo-born coach admitted that their hosts will have the home field advantage with the crowds and weather conditions.

“Our players have problem with the heat and humidity, and many of them were sick after the match against the UAE,” said Osim.

Japan’s 28-year-old forward Naohiro Takahara, who plays in Germany’s Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt and is vital in the national squad’s attacking line, was still in doubt yesterday after contracting a serious flu.