Vietnam, the just-crowned champions of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018, will face the Republic of Korea who won the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Football Championship in 2017, in a friendly match next spring.

At the Vietnam - RoK match in ASIAD 2018 in Bogor, Indonesia on August 29. (Source: Xinhua)

The two football bodies reached an agreement on December 15 in Hanoi to pit the winners of their respective regional tournaments against each another every two years. The one-and-done showdown will be called the AFF-EAFF Champions Trophy.

The inaugural match will be held on March 26.

After Vietnam won the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 in Hanoi on December 15, the AFF-EAFF Champions Trophy has become a focus of attention in the Republic of Korea, where coach Park Hang-seo’s squad will face the team of his motherland.

Vietnam held the AFF Suzuki Cup trophy again after 10 years by beating Malaysia 1-0 in the second-leg final (and 3-2 on aggregate) of the tournament that took place at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on December 15 night. The national team took the first champion title of the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2008, also at My Dinh Stadium.

The brilliant performance by midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (No. 19) brought his name into the list of Asia’s top ten selected by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

On its website, the AFC described Hai as a creative player with a good sense for space who can make rare passes almost impossible by others. He was also hailed as a spotlight in Vietnam’s young and amazing team.

Hai was named the Most Valuable Player of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 for his significant contributions to the Vietnamese football squad’s victory at the tournament, and admired for the skills he performed with his left leg in free kicks and passes./.

VNF/VNA