HANOI - One day before going to Indonesia to play in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, coach Philippe Troussier affirmed that Vietnam's goal is not only to win but also to win in a way.
Before the first leg match against Indonesia on March 21, Vietnam faced many disadvantages. The team lost a series of key players such as Dang Van Lam, Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Tuan Anh and Pham Tuan Hai due to injury, while the opponent had just added 10 naturalized players - originally from Indonesia but born, raised and currently playing in European national championships, mainly in the Netherlands.
In the most recent confrontation between the two teams, in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup, Vietnam suffered a 0-1 defeat in a match where Indonesia had a better playing style, opportunities and personnel. That match somewhat affected the psychology of Coach Troussier's students, as it ended an eight-year unbeaten streak against their opponents from the archipelago.
Coach Troussier talks with Vietnamese players on the training ground at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center on March 15. Photo: Lam Thoa
In addition, Indonesia will also play at home at Gelaro Bung Karno Stadium, which has a capacity of about 80,000 people. However, coach Troussier affirmed that Vietnam's goal is nothing but victory. "Winning means realizing Vietnam's goal of going deeper and further in the Asian arena," coach Troussier said at a meeting with leaders of the Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) this morning. "However, the path to achieving that goal is not smooth, not easy. My players are warriors. They always try hard every day, prove themselves every day, in every training session, to aim for the goal of not only winning but also the way to win."
The team gathered for training in Hanoi from March 13, with 33 players. At around 7:30 pm tonight, Coach Troussier will announce the list of 28 players selected to go to Indonesia.
Regarding this issue, the French coach said, with the direction for his students sitting below: "Whether the players go to Indonesia or not, they are all a collective, a block. We represent the pride of the Vietnamese people, wise in tactics, calm on the field. This is a battle, we always try our best. I believe in the players. I will guide and show you the way. We will succeed together."
The team is expected to fly to Jakarta tomorrow and have two days to prepare for the first leg against host Indonesia. On March 26, Troussier and his team will play the second leg against this opponent at My Dinh Stadium.
These two matches are considered to be decisive in the ability of the two teams to continue. Vietnam is currently second in Group F with three points, while Indonesia has one point and is at the bottom of the Philippines. One of the two tickets is likely to belong to the strongest team and is currently leading the group with six points, Iraq.
In the previous qualifying round, Vietnam under coach Park Hang-seo made a miracle in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. According to VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan, it is not easy to repeat the previous achievement, but he believes that with the spirit of never giving up and always having the will to overcome difficulties of the Vietnamese people, the team will complete the set goals, meeting the expectations of fans.
Lam Thoa - Vnexpress.net
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