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Tu said Vietnam are considered the weakest team in group B but their chance is not small, considering their current form. China and Oman are several places above Vietnam in the FIFA rankings but the level gap between them is not large, so third place in the group is possible for the Golden Dragons.
"Vietnam are on the momentum of development. The players are really confident and always ready to welcome new challenges. Therefore, facing teams from West Asia or China can be opportunities. Vietnam also won’t be too overpowered by Japan or Australia like before," Tu said.
However, he emphasized if Vietnam want to achieve good results, they have to use all of their power, play with great fighting spirit and winning mentality.
Vietnam are in group B with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman. They will play the first game of the final round on Sept. 2 against Saudi Arabia.
The final round is scheduled to be played on Sept. 2 and 7, Oct. 7 and 12, Nov. 11 and 16, 2021, as well as Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, March 24 and 29, 2022.
The 12 teams will play home-and-away, round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will qualify for 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the two third-placed teams advance to the Asian playoff to battle for a spot in the intercontinental playoff.
Japan have qualified for the World Cup seven times, followed by Australia and Saudi Arabia, both five times, and China, only once. Vietnam and Oman have never qualified for the global competition before.
Vietnam in the second round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Video by VnExpress/Hoang Khanh.
