LookAtVietnam – Viet Nam team have to beat Syria to qualify for the final round of the Asian Cup when the two teams clash in group D first leg game on Saturday.

Listen here: Coach Henrique Calisto (right) calls up top striker Le Cong Vinh (left), who plays for Portugal’s Leixoes, to strengthen the squad against Syria in order to qualify for the final round of the Asian Cup.

Viet Nam, who are currently third in the group and three points behind Syria and China, will battle against the group leading Syria, who beat China 3-2 and Lebanon 2-0, in the first leg at Ha Noi’s My Dinh National Stadium followed by the away leg four days later.

At the Asian Cup qualifiers, Calisto’s crew crushed Lebanon 3-1 in Ha Noi but were routed by China 6-1 in Hangzhou.

In preparation for the first leg game against Syria, the 56-year-old coach has called up top striker Le Cong Vinh, who plays for Portugal’s Leixoes in the Liga Sagres, and strengthened the squad with six youngsters from the U-23’s including trio Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Trong Hoang and Phan Thanh Hung.

“Syria are a strong team. They are superior to Viet Nam in both fitness and size with a well-organised squad,” said Calisto.

“They also play attacking football as well having a good defence. Viet Nam have to beat them at home to challenge for the final round berth because China will take the group,” he added after watching Syria drew Thailand 1-1 in a friendly match on Sunday.

Viet Nam will play their last games of the Asian Cup qualifiers with Lebanon in away on January 6 and at home to China on March 3.

As scheduled, the top two teams of group will qualify for the final in Qatar in 2011.

Viet Nam’s best performance in the Asian Cup was in 2007 when the team qualified for the quarter-finals.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News