VietNamNet Bridge – On October 9, at Melbourne, Australia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw for the 2015 Asian Championship qualifiers (AFC Asian Cup 2015). Vietnam will be in Group E with Uzbekistan, the UAE, and Hong Kong (China).

The UAE and Uzbekistan are the largest competitors of Vietnam in Group E. Uzbekistan is the team that has maintained its high stability in the last three Asian Cups, with two consecutive times entering the quarterfinals, in 2004 and 2007, and winning the fourth place in 2011.

For Vietnam, the only one time it entered the finale is at the Asian Cup 2007, as the co-host. At this tournament, Vietnam made a big surprise when it defeated the UAE to become the only team in Southeast Asia to enter the quarterfinals.

With the high stability under the “reign” of coach Phan Thanh Hung, the Vietnamese team is expected to make surprise at the first round of the Asian Cup 2015.

Other teams in Southeast Asia will face difficulties in Asian Cup 2012 qualifiers. In particular, Singapore is in Group A with Jordan, Syria, and Oman. Thailand is in Group B along with Iran, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Indonesia is in Group C along with Iraq, China, and Saudi Arabia. Malaysia will face Qatar, Bahrain, and Yemen in Group D.

The Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers will compete in a round robin to select the two top teams in each group, as well as the best third team for the finals.

2015 Asian Cup draw results:

Group A: Jordan, Syria, Oman, Singapore

Group B: Iran, Kuwait, Thailand, Lebanon

Group C: Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia

Group D: Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Malaysia

Group E: Uzbekistan, UAE, Vietnam, Hong Kong

S. Tung