National football team to play continental matches

In the World Cup’s Asian qualifying Group F, Vietnam were drawn with Taiwan, Thailand, and Iraq.

Each country will play each other on a home-and-away round robin basis until the top team is decided and moves automatically to the next stage of qualification.

The Iraqi team with 23 footballers and 16 officials and staff arrived in Hanoi on October 5 afternoon.

Basil Hanna, head of the Iraqi delegation, said his team are coming to the city to find victory, just like any team would be in preparation for a match.

Basil Hanna, head of the Iraqi delegation to Hanoi Photo: Tuoi Tre

A factor that is even more important than a win though is the fun for both the players and spectators while playing sport, he added.

Coach Yahya Alwan of Iraq called up all the best players for his team to prepare for the match in Hanoi. They include Justin Meram playing in the US, Yaser Kasim in the UK, Ali Adnan in Italy, and Dhurgham Ismail in Turkey.

Hanna said that he and the coach had carefully watched all the recent matches of the Vietnamese national team to work out suitable ways to deal with the hosts on October 8.

Vietnam now rank third in the group after two matches, following a 2-1 win over Taiwan and a 0-1 defeat against Thailand.

The Thais have earned seven points, while Iraq have accumulated four points, and Taiwan zero.