Vietnam: “Let’s Top Korea Soccer Again”

“We will capture first place of the group ahead of Korea.”

When Korea was set up in the same Group 7 with weak Vietnam, Maldives and Lebanon in the second preliminary group formation of Asia for the 2006 Germany World-Cup in the end of last year, competitors envied Korea, saying Korea had seized the “Lucky Seven.”

But within only six months, Korea sank to the situation in which everybody has crushed them. Although Korea beat Lebanon with 2-0 in the first game on February 18, it was defeated in an exhibition match against Turkey 0-1 on June 2, followed by a shocking draw with Maldives 0-0 on March 31.

If the situation continues, the third match of the second preliminaries against Vietnam in Daejon World-Cup Stadium on June 9 can’t be relieved. Vietnam once whipped Korea 1-0 in the preliminary of the Asian Cup last October.

In terms of objective capacity, 94th in FIFA ranking, Vietnam is a cut below Korea. (19th) However staying in second place following group-leading Korea (1 win, 1 draw), Vietnam (1 win, 1 draw) seems to be preparing with all its might because Vietnam can capture a leading position in the group by beating Korea.

According to the Vietnamese press, Brazilian coach of Vietnam, Edson Ausanro Tavarez has been doing severe “secret training” in Vietnam’s National Training Center (NTC) in Hanoi in preparation for the match against Korea. He is not opening their training to the press and he is prohibiting players from leaving the center.

Conducting strong physical training twice a day, Tavarez is urging his players mightily, saying, “I won’t accept of laziness in training. I hope they obey my principles.”

The charismatic Tavarez excluded Vietnam super star, Pam Van Kuen (20 years old) from the team roster against Korea, which was announced on May 25, because of his being a hindrance to teamwork. Kuen is a new goal maker who scored in the game against Korea in Asian Cup preliminary last year. Instead, Tavarez brought in a veteran striker, Ruh Huan-duk, and a goalie, Min Chang, who had been left off the national team for a long time.

Acting coach of Korea, Park Seong-hwa mentioned, “We will have exhibition matches twice with Turkey, giving priority to control of players’ physical strength, and do our best against Vietnam to revenge the defeat of last year.”

The second preliminary in Asia will be conducted with home and away games, and the leader of each group will advance to the final preliminary round.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com