Vietnam and Thailand will both win their Group A opening matches at the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup tonight, Thai legendary striker Kiatisak Senamuang told Tuoi Tre on Friday.
Vietnam will play Myanmar at 5:30pm November 24, and Thailand will challenge the Philippines at 8:20pm both at Bangkok-based Rajamangala Stadium in what will kick started the month-length event co-hosted by Thailand and Malaysia.
“I think Vietnam will have their first victory in this opening day,” the former striker, usually dubbed as “Zico of Thailand” said.
“Myanmar has the power of the youth, but that’s not enough to beat the seasoned Vietnam.”
Meanwhile, the host team, under the pressure created by local media these days, will also be able to defeat the Filipino rival, although it will not be an easy win, he added.
Thailand is considered the number 1 football team in the Southeast Asia, but they have in fact been unable to win an AFF Cup for a decade.
“It’d be a disaster if Thailand failed to win the opener on home soil,” he stated.
The Filipino squad will have more advantages in playing high balls with their naturalized players who are far stronger and taller than the Thai players.
“But we are more skillful,” he said.
Vietnam’s coach Phan Thanh Hung are also upbeat about the chance to win the opener.
“Our target is to gain three points in this first match, and we are confident that we can make it,” he told reporters.
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