With a very small chance to advance into the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal round, the last group stage match with Thailand tonight in Bangkok is only a matter of honor for the Vietnam team. “We will play our best to win back trust from the fans,” coach Phan Thanh Hung told reporters. The squad’s destiny at the tournament is not in their hands, as even a win against the host is not enough to send them through. Vietnam will have to wait for the result from the second game of the day between the Philippines and Myanmar to know where it will be going next -- coming home or heading for the semifinal. Under the championship regulations, the goal difference will be taken as the first tie-breaker if teams finish with equal points after the group stage. “It’ll be much easier for Vietnam if Myanmar can beat the Filipinos,” coach Hung said. Vietnam, with 1 point and a -1 goal difference, will advance into the semifinal with Thailand if they beat the host with at least 1 goal, and in the meantime Myanmar (1 point, -4 goal difference) nets at most 3 goals to defeat the Philippines. In case the Filipinos (3 points, 0 goal difference) draw with Myanmar, Vietnam has to beat Thailand by at least 2 goals. Thailand has already secured their semi ticket, and will thus not send its strongest formation to today’s match. “But we still aim to beat Vietnam,” coach Winfried Schaefer told a media meeting on Thursday. The Vietnam side meanwhile admitted its small chance to go through, but head of the delegation Ngo Le Bang said they will fight until the last minute. “It would be wonderful if Vietnam can beat Thailand; otherwise, we will still be doing our best to respect the fans who have traveled to Thailand to cheer us on,” Bang said.
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