Yangon: In a team bubbling with youth Nguyen Anh Duc is, in many ways, the odd man out in this slick-passing, vibrant and expressive Vietnam side but he’s a key cog of the team nonetheless.

Although the goals have already come, with strikes in each of his nation’s two wins against Laos and Malaysia, the plaudits are still slightly tempered for the 33-year-old.

Given that he plays a role where he’s often tasked with making difficult runs off the ball or holding up play to allow his younger midfield teammates to make incisive late runs into the box it’s a job that often gets overlooked.

You can see that’s clearly not the case though by either the coaching staff or his teammates and the deep bond within the Golden Stars squad is one that transcends the age difference between the Binh Duong man and his younger comrades.

“As everyone knows I’m one of the older players in the team but I know what to do to integrate with the younger players.

“Talking together is a good way for us to be unified and play as a whole.”

Talking is something that the squad is usually happy to do, but when it comes to assessing the specific threats that Myanmar will pose tomorrow in Yangon, the experienced forward prefers to leave that up to others.

“As a player I prefer not to comment on the opponent – that’s the job of our coaching staff who will analyse them and find a way to win tactically.

“All I know is that our team is unified and we will try our best to win this match.”

That unity will be a key factor in trying to remain composed and tactically disciplined when they face a hostile crowd for the first time in the tournament, with a capacity-crowd expected at the Thuwunna Stadium.

“As everybody knows, Myanmar's football team has so much enthusiasm so absolutely the match with them is going to be hard especially because we will play at their home.

“It’s important though that we remain composed under the pressure of the crowd and everything around us but we won't be scared and our team must do our best to win.”