With an average age of 22, Myanmar coach Gerd Zeise believes the youthfulness will work in his team’s favour when the co-hosts open their AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 Group B campaign against Vietnam at the Thuwanna Stadium in Yangon on Sunday.
Six have followed him into the main national team from the youth squad that featured in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand last year.
“Even though they are young, they have a lot of international experience, (not just) in the World Cup and also from our European tour,” said the German in the pre-tournament press conference on Saturday.
With a capacity home crowd anticipating a good tournament, Zeise is too aware on the intense expectations his team face in the first AFF Suzuki Cup they are hosting on home soil.
“There is pressure in every game, but this is special because we are hosting the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time at senior level,” he said.
“The pressure is high, but we are like family and will handle it together. We have the advantage as hosts, but we need the fans to be on our side to support us.”
Although Vietnam have the upper hand in many of their previous head-to-head meetings, Myanmar will take encouragement from their most recent AFF Suzuki Cup meeting where they held their opponents to a 1-1 draw at the group stage at Bangkok, Thailand in 2012.
Zeise is backing his young team to make good in the attempt to replicate their 2004 semi-final run despite failing to record a win in their final two pre-tournament friendly matches against Indonesia and Oman.
“We had very good preparation in Europe and only in the last two matches we did not perform in the way we wanted to see,” he said.
“The teams in this group are good, especially Vietnam who are like a machine. Vietnam are the favourites but we will try to perform to our best to satisfy the home fans.”
Vietnam have enjoyed a better pre-tournament build-up where they have been unbeaten since May, including a successful training tour in South Korea in October.
The Golden Stars’ head coach Nguyen Huu Tang is making his first AFF Suzuki Cup appearance as a technical staff, having previously featured in the first three editions of the tournament as a player.
He is confident his fully-fit squad can make their first steps towards capturing their second regional trophy following the 2008 success.
“Luckily we have all of our best players here in the tournament with only one player injured,” he said. “It’s a pity we don’t have Nguyen Tuan Anh who is injured, but we have other players and our style will remain.
“Myanmar is a young team who has improved a lot in recent times and the home team is favourite. All teams in this group have a chance to do well in this tournament.”
The preceding Group B game will see 2010 winners Malaysia take on Cambodia, who are making their first AFF Suzuki Cup finals appearance since 2008.
The Angkor Warriors have qualified for the finals after they defeated Laos, Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste in their qualifying group at home in October.
Cambodia head coach Lee Tae Hoon is keen for his team to test their capabilities against stronger opponents in the group stage.
“We have not played in the final round for a long time, but we now have an opportunity to play against these good teams,” said the South Korean.
“Every game is not easy because the opponents are at a higher level. The first game is important and difficult, but I hope the quality of our players can improve after this tournament.”
Cambodia’s recent international progress is observed by Malaysia coach Ong Kim Swee as he gears his side to put their recent off-pitch difficulties behind them in the opening group fixture.
“Cambodia has improved tremendously and prepared well after an unbeaten qualifying campaign, so we have to maximise our chances with three points in the first game,” he said.
“Doing well in the first match will only help in our confidence and give us a spark, but we also have to look forward to other games as we aim to qualify for the semi-finals.”
