STEADY PROGRESS FOR THAIS

National head coach Chanvit Phalajivin said this week that he is pleased with the progress his side are making following their close 2-1 win over Germany’s Fourth Division side Borussia Fulda.

“Every player is gaining benefit from this trip,”’ said Chanvit, whose team have been placed in Group A of the Asian Cup alongside Australia, Iraq and Oman.

“’We are improving the fitness of players in each position.”

However Chanvit admitted that there are still problems in front of the goal considering that his side squandered several chances in their friendly against Fulda.

Thailand’s next friendly match will be against TSV Lennarts tomorrow before wrapping up their tour with a game against the Frankfurt Eintracht Under-21 team on the weekend.

VIETNAM on the other hand, had just begun their training camp on Monday in preparation for their friendly against Jamaica on Sunday in Hanoi.

With the exception of three players – striker Cong Vinh and defenders Viet Cuong and Van Bien who have been allowed to check-in late – the rest of the squad have reported for camp under head coach Alfred Riedl.

“In friendly matches it is better for the team to suffer heavy losses against strong teams than plunder goals against minnows,” said Riedl of their upcoming encounter against the opponents from the Caribbean.

For the Asian Cup 2007, Vietnam have been placed in Group B against Japan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.