AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023: India vs Vietnam Live Updates

5:00 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the India vs Vietnam match in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023. The kick-off is just thirty minutes away! I’m your host Aishwarya Chakraborty, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

Also Read:

• AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023: India face old foes Vietnam
• Step by step we’ll achieve our World Cup target, says Bibiano Fernandes ahead of AFC U-17 Asian Cup
• AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Rival Watch: Vietnam
• Bibiano Fernandes: We’ll take it one game at a time
• India U-17s are strong, have to prepare well against them: Japan boss Moriyama Yoshiro

AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023: India vs Vietnam - Build-up

The Indian U-17 football team will begin their AFC U-17 Asian Cup campaign on Saturday against a very mighty opponent in Vietnam. The Blue Colts came into the tournament on the back of a successful exposure tour in Europe where they went up against quality European sides.

India will feature at the tournament for the ninth time ever since the competition came into existence. And they will be keen to reach the knockout stages this time around.

Bibiano Fernandes’ side are grouped alongside defending champions Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. Ahead of their tournament opener, we take a look at how things stand.

The Stakes

India

India secured their qualification for the tournament by being the fourth second best team in the final qualifying round. The Blue Colts finished behind group leaders Saudi Arabia with nine points to their name. They won three out of their four games and ended up on the wrong side marginally against the table-toppers.

The team come into the tournament after playing against quality Spanish, German and Thai teams where they performed brilliantly. The boys will be keen to build upon their performances and make the nation proud at the continental stage.

Vietnam

Often considered to be one of the most consistent sides, Vietnam are undoubtedly one of the favourites to make it out of the group stage. The Golden Star Warriors work seamlessly as a unit and love to play a fast-paced brand of football.

Not just that, they’re an extremely disciplined unit at the back too! Vietnam finished the qualification round without conceding a single goal, where they faced the likes of Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Thailand. Vietnam too, have had a successful run of matches except their last encounter coming into the tournament where they lost to Yemen U-17, 2-0. All in all, they are going to be a huge test for India in their tournament opener.

Injury & Team News

Both teams have fully fit squads without any injury concerns going into the tournament.

Head-to-head

India and Vietnam came up against each other in the last edition of the tournament where Vikram Pratap Singh’s cool and composed penalty reserved India’s place in the quarter-finals.

Predicted Line-ups

India (4-2-3-1)

Sahil Poonia (GK); Mukul Panwar, Suraj Kumar, Ricky Meitei, Malemngamba Singh Thokchom; Danny Meitei, Gurnaj Singh Grewal; Lalpekhua, Vanlalpeka Guite, Korou Singh Thingujam (C); Thanglalsoun Gangte

Vietnam (4-4-2)

Phạm Đình Hải (GK); Phan Văn Thanh, Nguyễn Lương Tuấn Khải, Trương Nhạc Minh, Đặng Thanh Bình; , Vi Đình Thượng, Lê Đình Long Vũ, Phạm Nguyễn Quốc Trung, Nguyễn Công Phương; Nguyễn Thiên Phú, Nguyễn Thiên Phú