The Japanese women's team entered this match with a fairly relaxed attitude. Coach Nils Nielsen's team soon won a ticket to the quarter-finals after two convincing victories.
With 13 goals scored and no goals conceded after two legs, Japan is proving that they are one of the top candidates for the championship this year.
Those numbers will surely make Vietnamese fans worried. The 0-1 defeat to Taiwan (China) in the second match was a regrettable stumble for the Vietnamese women's team.
In that match, coach Mai Duc Chung's students controlled the ball quite well and were not completely inferior to the opponent. However, the lack of sharpness in the final finishing situations caused the red shirt team to pay the price.
In fact, it was not a match where the Vietnamese women's team played poorly. The players still maintained confidence, organized ball control and made efforts to deploy attacking plans. The most regrettable thing lies in the ability to take advantage of opportunities in front of the goal.
Against a strong opponent like Japan, the top priority of the Vietnamese women's team will definitely be solidity in defense. Japan is famous for its ball control, quick coordination and flexible movement. If the defense does not maintain a reasonable distance, the gaps will quickly be exploited.
A positive point for Vietnam is that this match will take place in the afternoon, with more pleasant weather conditions than the match against Taiwan (China) before. Lower temperatures can help players maintain better fitness and play with high intensity throughout 90 minutes.
In addition, Japan's early entry into the quarter-finals also opens up a noteworthy possibility. Coach Nils Nielsen may consider rotating the squad to save energy for key players before the knockout round.
Link to watch live the Vietnam women's - Japan women's match:
//tv360. vn/tv/tv360-9? ch=9887&ev=83728&es=1&col=banner§=BANNER&page=home
