Viet Nam’s coach Toshyia Miura wants his team to beat Thailand by at least one goal when the two meet in the 2018 World Cup qualification round tonight in Ha Noi.

It means that the Japanese has set a target of winning three points on home turf at the My Dinh Stadium although he had high praise for the arch-rivals.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday in the capital city, Miura said he had prepared for the second-leg game between the two squads.

“There will be several changes in my team, but in any case my players will have to play their best for a good match,” Miura, who received appreciation after his team’s 1-1 draw against Iraq last week, said.

The coach said a win over Thailand was always a target that he has been chasing since he began to work in Viet Nam.

“Thailand have won most of its matches against Viet Nam. I not only want to beat them but also want to bring Viet Nam to continental level,” he said.

“It is difficult to beat them with four or five goals but a solitary goal win is possible,” he believed.

“Thailand is always a big rival that every Vietnamese wants to defeat and we, the players, want even more than them,” striker Le Cong Vinh, who also presented at the conference yesterday, said.

Vinh should be the one who knows Thailand the best as he was one of Viet Nam team members who beat Thailand in the AFF Championship final in 2008.

“It is difficult to compare them in different times. But they are always players with skilful techniques who understand each other,” Vinh said.

“Thailand’s football is the best among ASEAN countries. So we need to know who we are and have a suitable plan to have a good result against them,” the captain said.

On the other side, coach assistant Kairung Threejagsang said he hoped Viet Nam, who dropped a win over Iraq in the last seconds would be attacking like his team tomorrow, so that it would be a great match for spectators.

And Kairung also hoped to take three points home as they did in the first-leg match months ago.

Coach Kiatisak Senamuang said it would be no easy match for the hosts.

He said fan support would make Viet Nam stronger especially when they play on home soil. Vietnamese fans were great and really wanted a win for their team but his players would make a strong impression on them.

He said the Thais had their own ways and knew how to manage the game.

The former national striker, who played and coached in Viet Nam for several years, said My Dinh would be a place for the Thais to perform their skills before taking a win home.

In this match, Miura will be backed by thousands of local fans, while his players are in good spirits after a draw versus Iraq.

However, Thai fans also want to make My Dinh their home ground with more than 2,000 tickets having been booked by the Thai football association.

The visiting team, which has had more rest days than the hosts is promised a bonus of 1 million baht (US$26,700) for each goal that they score in this match.

Under Miura’s reign, Viet Nam have met Thailand thrice and lost all.