EXPECTED CRACKER BETWEEN THAI AND VIETNAM

The Thais and Vietnam are in Group A of the biennial championship alongside Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.

Vietnam head coach Henrique Calisto is looking forward to his team’s first game against Thailand – just after the opening game of the men’s football which will see Malaysia taking on Timor Leste.

“Just win, just lose or just draw, we still don’t know, but we will do our best in the match,” said the Portuguese coach.

“The last time we met, it ended in a draw. So we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

While the Vietnamese team is hopeful of a winning start, defending champions Thailand believe that they can stamp their supremacy in the first match of their campaign.

“We believe our players can get the right result against Vietnam, and we’d like to be playing again on the final day of the SEA Games,” added Thai head coach Steve Darby.

For the record, the Thais have won the SEA Games men’s football gold for eight consecutive times since 1993.

GROUPINGS

Group A: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Cambodia

Group B: Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia

FIXTURES

2 Dec (Main Stadium): Malaysia vs Timor Leste (1500hrs)/ Thailand vs Vietnam (1745hrs)

4 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Thailand vs Cambodia 1500hrs)/ Vietnam vs Timor Leste (1745hrs)

5 Dec (Main Stadium): Singapore vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Myanmar (1745hrs)

6 Dec (Main Stadium): Vietnam vs Malaysia (1500hrs)/ Timor Leste vs Cambodia (1745hrs)

7 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Singapore (1500hrs)/ Indonesia vs Laos (1745hrs)

8 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Timor Leste vs Thailand (1500hrs)/ Cambodia vs Malaysia (1745hrs)

9 Dec: Opening Ceremony

10 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Singapore (1745hrs)

11 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Cambodia vs Vietnam (1500hrs)/ Malaysia vs Thailand (1500hrs)

14 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Semi-finals

17 Dec: Third/ Fourth Placing (1500hrs at Chao Anu Vong Stadium)/ FINAL (1700hrs at Main Stadium)