Robson sees Thais among favourites for ASEAN Suzuki Cup

Holders Vietnam will face Singapore and Myanmar at this year’s ASEAN Suzuki Cup, while Bryan Robson’s Thailand were Wednesday drawn alongside Indonesia and Malaysia.

The biennial tournament, co-hosted by Vietnam and Indonesia, will be held from December 1-29, with a qualifying event in October where Cambodia, Laos, Timor-Leste and the Philippines will battle for the final two berths.

Six nations were drawn into two groups of four in Hanoi on Wednesday with the top two from each advancing to home-and-away semi-finals with the final also being played on a home-and-away basis.

Former England captain Robson said it would be tough playing in Indonesia, where 100,000 fans are likely to turn up to cheer on the home team, but he added that Thailand were one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

“I think whichever way it was going to go you are going to get at least one tough team, especially as they have home advantage,” he said.

“(Co-hosts) Indonesia or Vietnam were obviously going to be in the group and provide us with a difficult game.

“We have drawn Indonesia and I have already heard that there is likely to be 100,000 spectators there and that will be a difficult challenge for the boys.

“But I would say that we will be one of the favourites in the competition.”

Singapore, winners of the tournament on three occasions, in 1998, 2004 and 2007, are targeting the final at least this time round.

“The group we are in is slightly easier than the other group, where there will be three title contenders in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia,” said Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic.

“Overall I am happy with the draw. It is a good draw for us. There are three stages in the tournament and we need to clear the first two stages to reach our target of the final.”

Group A – Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, qualifier 1

Group B – Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, qualifier 2