HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam and Indonesia are favourites to qualify for the Southeast Asian Football Championship semi-finals, which kick off tomorrow.

The two teams drew spots in group A, which also includes the Philippines and Laos. Group B, playing in Singapore, includes Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar.

"I think Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have the biggest chance to reach the last four this year. I think Thailand are the favourite to win the title," a reporter from Indonesia told Viet Nam News at the My Dinh training pitch.

"Viet Nam and Thailand's chances to go through the group stage are better than those of the Philippines and Laos. I hope my country will come out on top this year. We have been runners-up many times."

Wichana Sena, a journalist from Thailand, favoured Singapore to win the title. The team have been the most successful with four titles, but it is undeniable that naturalised players had an important role in these past glories.

Singapore's current squad no longer have the services of those influential naturalised players but Sena believed they had found quality replacements.

"Singapore is the strongest team this year. They have a new team with new players and new aspirations. They have very good strikers," Sena said.

While not thinking much of Viet Nam's chances of winning the title, he hoped for a Viet Nam-Thailand final.

"It would be great if Thailand and Viet Nam get to the final," he said. — VNS