HANOI (28 Oct 2011) – The onus in Group B of the SEA Games this year would be on the rest of the competing teams to show that they can at least do more than just put up token resistance to 2009 runners-up Vietnam.
Nguyen Trong Hy, the president of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) was quoted by the Thanh Nien newspaper that their passage to the semi-finals of the meet this year would be much easier considering they are in the weaker Group B.
Vietnam are in Group B of the SEA Games against Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Timor Leste and Brunei.
Group A are defending champions Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia.
“East Timor is perhaps the weakest team while Brunei is not a strong team,” glared Trong Hy. “The Filipino team is not well known. I think Vietnam and the Philippines or Myanmar will advance to the semi-finals,”
“We dare not say that we can heave a sigh of relief but I feel it is a bit easier than I expected because Vietnam is in Group B while strong teams like defending champions Malaysia and arch-rivals Thailand are in Group A.”
Trong Hy’s confidence came after their 5-0 win over Myanmar and also the 1-1 draw against defending champions Malaysia at the recent VFF Cup in Hanoi.
“We don’t have to clash with hosts Indonesia in the group stage. Our group consists of six teams but the competition is not too strong for us. We know more or less about their strengths and weaknesses,” he boasted.
“We have clashed with them several times and we have come out the winners most of the time.”
26th SEA GAMES SCHEDULE
GROUP A
9 November 2011
1. Singapore vs Malaysia (16.00 WIB)
2. Indonesia vs Cambodia (19.00 WIB)
11 November 2011
1. Malaysia vs Thailand (16.00 WIB)
2. Cambodia vs Singapore (19.00 WIB)
13 November 2011
1. Thailand vs Cambodia (16.00 WIB)
2. Singapore vs Indonesia (19.00 WIB)
15 November 2011
1. Malaysia vs Cambodia (16.00 WIB)
2. Indonesia vs Thailand (19.00 WIB)
17 November 2011
1. Thailand vs Singapore (16.00 WIB)
2. Indonesia vs Malaysia (19.00 WIB)
GROUP B
3 November 2011
1. Vietnam vs Philippines (16.00 WIB/SUGBK)
2. Laos vs Myanmar (19.00 WIB /SUGBK)
5 November 2011
1. Brunei Darussalam vs Timor Leste (16.00 WIB/ SUGBK)
2. Myanmar vs Vietnam (19.00 WIB/SUGBK)
7 November 2011
1. Timor Leste vs Philippines (16.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
2. Laos vs Brunei Darussalam (19.00 WIB/ Lebak Bulus)
9 November 2011
1. Myanmar vs Brunei Darussalam (16.00 WIB/ Lebak Bulus)
2. Vietnam vs Timor Leste (19.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
11 November 2011
1. Philippines vs Laos (16.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
2. Brunei Darussalam vs Vietnam (19.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
13 November 2011
1. Philippines vs Myanmar (16.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
2. Timor Leste vs Laos (19.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
15 November 2011
1. Myanmar vs Timor Leste (16.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
2. Philippines vs Brunei Darussalam (19.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
17 November 2011
1. Laos vs Vietnam (16.00 WIB/Lebak Bulus)
19 November 2011
1. Winner of Group A vs Runner up Grup B (16.00 WIB)
2. Winner of Group B vs Runner up Grup A (19.30 WIB)
21 November 2011
1. 3rd Place Match (16.00 WIB)
2. Final (19.30 WIB)
