The media in both Asia and Asia is focusing on the confrontation likened to the "Asian classic" between Thailand and Vietnam tonight (September 5). This is an important opening match for both teams, as they are all candidates who are expected to compete for a ticket to the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup.
"Experts predict the UAE will take the top spot. The rest is a direct competition between Thailand and Vietnam. The two teams met in the first match, Thailand played at home so they had to win. If the result is the opposite, the situation will be very bad...", commented Thailand's Siam Sport.
Thailand's leading sports newspaper also assessed that the Vietnamese team has become much stronger in recent times, especially under the leadership of coach Park Hang-seo.
"The problem is that the Vietnamese team is currently stronger than Thailand. Their outstanding feature is their very systematic playing style. The Vietnamese players also have a high sense of discipline, strictly follow the instructions of coach Park Hang-seo, and have physical strength".
However, the Thai media has put all their faith in the midfielder considered the best in Asia at the moment, Chanathip Songkrasin - a foreign player in impressive form in Japan's J.League 1.
Thailand has Songkrasin, which is very different from Thailand without Songkrasin. This is a player with a breakthrough playing style. Of course, he is the hope for the home team, Siam Sport expect Messi Jay.
In addition, coach Akira Nishino is also the name that Thais are waiting for to "shine" in the match against Vietnam. The Thais hope this will be an impressive debut of the Japanese strategist, with a victory over arch-rivals Vietnam to regain the No. 1 position in Southeast Asia.
