History is on Vietnam’s side ahead of the Southeast Asian Games football match against the Philippines in Indonesia today.

In their five encounters in the last two decades, Vietnam won three times and lost just once.

Vietnam’s best result is a 4-0 thrashing at Jakarta’s Gelano Bung Karno Stadium in the 2002 SEA Football Championship for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Last year in Hanoi Vietnam lost 2-0.

Today’s match will be played at 4 pm at the Gelano Bung Karno Stadium where Vietnam twice beat the Filipinos.

Vietnam’s German coach Falko Goetz told the media that the game would be a tense one for his side since there was almost no information about the rivals except that they had many naturalized footballers playing in Europe.

“We did have good preparations and did all we could before the tournament.”

The Philippines, who are led by another German, Michael Weiss, said they were confident of beating Vietnam.

“We have talented players who will stun Vietnam. These are not empty words. We will prove it.”

In 2009 Vietnam won 83 gold medals at the SEA Games to finish second behind Thailand.

VOV