Darby predicts Thailand v Vietnam final in Vientiane

Thailand's SEA Games coach Steve Darby predicts that his men will meet Vietnam in the final in the biennial event in Laos.

Thailand will meet Vietnam, Malaysia, East Timor and Cambodia in the first round. The top two teams advance to the semi-finals and the football tournament kicks off next week.

Darby said yesterday Vietnam and Malaysia are strong sides but he believes Thailand and Vietnam will progress past the first round.

"Vietnam have made fast progress and I think we will meet them in the final," said the English coach.

Thailand, who are eight-time defending champions, will leave for Laos tomorrow. They will kick off their campaign against Vietnam on Dec 2.

FIXTURES

Dec 2 - Thailand v Vietnam, Dec 4 - Thailand v Cambodia, Dec 8 - Thailand v East Timor, Dec 11 - Thailand v Malaysia, Dec 14 - Semi-finals, Dec 17 - Final