VietNamNet Bridge – According the ASEAN Football Federation’s
(AFF) calculations, the Vietnamese football team currently tops the region and
may have to play in the most difficult group at the AFF Cup 2012.

The AFF ranks regional teams based on their records at the
AFF Cup 2010. With 20 points, Vietnam
ranks first. Indonesia comes
second with 19.3 points, followed by Malaysia
(18), Singapore (16) and the
Philippines
(12).

These teams will enter the finals of AFF Cup 2012. Laos, Cambodia,
Myanmar and East Timor have to compete in the qualifier round.

At the AFF Cup 2012 finals, Vietnam
and Indonesia will be the
top seeds, Malaysia and Singapore the second seeds, Thailand and the Philippines the third seeds. The two
remaining tickets will be granted to the two best teams of the qualifier round.

The AFF has announced that Thailand
and Malaysia
will host the AFF Cup 2012. As the hosts, though they are in different seeding
groups, they will play in two different groups. As a result, Vietnam and Indonesia may be in the same group.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), this is
a disadvantage for Vietnam
and Indonesia
at the upcoming AFF Cup 2012. The federation aimed to get the championship at
AFF Cup 2010 or 2012. Last year Vietnam
was defeated by Malaysia
in the semi-finals. The team must take the championship of AFF Cup 2012.

In related news, the host of the Southeast Asian Games 2011
– Indonesia
– plans to remove women’s football. The regional sports council will make
decision on February 25-26.

Under the influence of Vietnam,
Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, the AFF has decided to
organize the AFF Women’s Football Championship 2011 if women’s football is
removed from SEA Games 2011.

Eight countries have registered for the event, which is
scheduled in Laos this
October, including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos,
Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia
and the Philippines.

PV