Vietnam and Indonesia, both eager to secure their first points in the 2023 Asian Cup, will go head-to-head on Friday at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
With their initial defeats in mind, these underdog teams are determined to turn their fortunes around and make a mark in Group D.
Match Preview:
Vietnam started their opening fixture against Japan with an unexpected lead, displaying their potential to cause an upset.
However, they were unable to maintain their advantage and ultimately succumbed to a 4-2 defeat. This setback seemed to affect their morale in the second half.
Nevertheless, under the guidance of experienced French manager Philippe Troussier, the Golden Star Warriors remain hopeful and are aiming to compete for the title this season.
Currently sitting second in Group F with three points from two matches, Vietnam is on track to qualify for the third stage of 2026 World Cup qualification.
Indonesia, on the other hand, suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Iraq in their opening match. Despite showing promise early on, they conceded a late goal just before half-time and struggled to create meaningful chances in the second half.
Having never been defeated in their Asian Cup opener before, Tim Garuda will be determined to bounce back from this defeat.
However, defensively, they have been inconsistent in recent months, conceding multiple goals in three of their last four matches across all competitions.
Team News:
For Vietnam, several young players made appearances in their first match, with Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Filip earning their second caps for the senior team.
Captain Do Hung Dung is nearing his 40th cap milestone, while Vu Van Thanh and Nguyen Van Toan are approaching 50 and 60 caps, respectively.
Nguyen Dinh Bac and Pham Tuan Hai impressed with their goals, contributing to Vietnam’s attacking threat.
Indonesia faced concerns over captain Asnawi Mangkualam’s fitness after a muscle injury, but he managed to feature in their opening match against Iraq before being substituted at halftime.
Pratama Arhan made his 40th international appearance, while Justin Hubner and Yakob Sayuri added depth to the team.
Possible Lineups:
Vietnam: (3-4-2-1)
Filip;
Binh, B. Anh, Tai;
T. Anh, Son, N. Ahn, Khang;
Dung, Bac;
Hai
Indonesia: (4-1-4-1)
Ari;
Mangkualam, Ridho, Baggott, Arhan;
Klok;
Sayuri, Salaeman, Hubner, Ferdinan;
Struick
Prediction: Vietnam 2-1 Indonesia
In what promises to be an evenly matched encounter, both Vietnam and Indonesia have the potential to secure a victory. However, with Troussier’s extensive tournament experience, Vietnam may have a slight edge.