VietNamNet Bridge – One day before the drawing lots of men’s football category at Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2011, a Philippine blog on football said that Vietnam, which ranked second at SEA Games 2009, was not selected as the top seed at the upcoming games.
SEA Games 2011 will be the first games that have the participation of all 11 Southeast Asian countries. These teams will be divided into two groups to play in a round robin. The two top teams of each group will enter the semi-finals.

There is a difference in choosing seeds this year. Normally, the two top teams of the previous SEA Games are the top seeds of the two groups. But this year, it is rumored that host Indonesia will replace Vietnam as the top seed.

According to the Philippine blog, the two top seeds will be Malaysia (champion) and Indonesia (host), the second seeds are Thailand and Malaysia, and the third seeds are Singapore and Laos. If the information is accurate, Vietnam may face big rivals in the first round.

Coach Phan Thanh Hung of U23 Vietnam squad said all teams have carefully prepared for the SEA Games, particularly host Indonesia and current champion Malaysia.

Singapore and the Philippines, which use many foreign players who are naturalized in Singapore, are challenges.

Men’s football category will start from November 3, instead of November 7 as initially planned. Vietnam’s 22-member U23 squad will be in Indonesia on October 30 or 31.

PV