National team undergo intensive training ahead of AFF Cup 2022

Aside from Van Hau and Ngoc Hai undergoing individual practices due to injuries, the entire team showed good fitness after taking part in a 10-day training camp in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

To prepare for the AFF Cup, the Philippines have hired Josep Ferré Ybarz as head coach, with the Spaniard having experience managing football clubs worldwide, including Kitchee SC of Hong Kong (China), Buriram United, Ratchaburi FC, and Bangkok Glass FC of Thailand, East Bengal of India, and FC Bayamón of Puerto Rico.

The Philippines will name their strongest line-up in the friendly, which is a crucial test ahead of the AFF Cup.

Both national teams will get used to the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi on December 13 before playing the friendly game the following day.

In a recent interview, defender Van Hau said Vietnam must be able to defeat all regional football teams in order to win the AFF Cup as a special gift for coach Park before he ends his term in January 2023.

Meanwhile, striker Van Quyet noted that any member of the national team always tries their best to adapt to the plans set out by the coaching staff.

All footballers have shown high determination to once again bring the AFF Cup trophy back to Vietnam after the 2018 tournament, he confirmed.

The friendly match is due to be held at the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi at 6 p.m. on December 14.

The regional football tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21 to January 16, 2023. Vietnam have been drawn in Group B and will play two away matches against Laos and Singapore on December 21 and December 30, respectively. They will also play at home against Malaysia on December 27 before taking on Myanmar on January 3, 2023.

The 2022 AFF Cup represents coach Park’s final tournament in his capacity as head coach. The Vietnam Football Federation earlier announced that the Korean manager would no longer coach the national team following the 2022 AFF Cup, as his contract is set to expire in January 2023.