Futsal World Cup: Vietnam reach knockout stage
Vietnam’s futsal (indoor football) national team made history by reaching the knockout stage at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in its first-time appearance at the event in Colombia.
They secured the berth as one of the best third-placed teams after finishing Group C with one win and two losses.
They beat Guatemala 4-2 in the opening match thanks to goals from Nguyen Minh Tri and Tran Van Vu but lost the next two matches against Paraguay and Italy.
Depending on the draw, Vietnam can face Russia or Portugal in the knockout game.
The championship has attracted the participation of 24 teams and will conclude on October 1.
World No 4 Italy is one of the title favourites in this World Cup. They won a bronze medal in Thailand in 2012, in Brazil in 2008, and were also runners-up in Chinese Taipei in 2004.
Meanwhile, Vietnam rank 39th in the world.
They beat Guatemala 4-2 in the opening match thanks to goals from Nguyen Minh Tri and Tran Van Vu but lost the next two matches against Paraguay and Italy.
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| Vietnam' play against Italy at the Futsal World Cup in the last group match. (Source: Getty Images) |
The championship has attracted the participation of 24 teams and will conclude on October 1.
World No 4 Italy is one of the title favourites in this World Cup. They won a bronze medal in Thailand in 2012, in Brazil in 2008, and were also runners-up in Chinese Taipei in 2004.
Meanwhile, Vietnam rank 39th in the world.
