Vietnam futsal team faces world's 7th ranked team

Coach Diego Giustozzi (second from left) and coach Kaka shake hands at the press conference - Photo: NK

The Kazakhstan futsal team has participated in the Futsal World Cup four times, with their best result being fourth place at the 2020 Futsal World Cup after losing 2-4 to Brazil in the third-place match. Notably, the Vietnam futsal team lost 1-9 to Brazil in the group stage of that year's Futsal World Cup.

Not only participating in the Futsal World Cup, the Kazakhstan futsal team also participated in the European Futsal Championship 3 times, the highest achievement was 3rd place in 2016. Currently, Kazakhstan is ranked 7th in the world, 24 places higher than the Vietnam futsal team.

At the 2024 Futsal World Cup, the Kazakhstan futsal team stopped in the quarterfinals after losing to Argentina (ranked 4th in the world) 1-6. The Kazakhstan squad that came to Ho Chi Minh City to play a friendly match with the Vietnam futsal team had 6 players who participated in the 2024 Futsal World Cup.

Coach Kaka brought 14 Kazakhstan players to Ho Chi Minh City to participate in 2 friendly matches with the Vietnam futsal team on April 13 and 15. Among them are 6 players who reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 Futsal World Cup.

The most prominent is Brazilian-born goalkeeper Leo Higuita. This goalkeeper, born in 1986, won the UEFA Futsal Champions League twice in the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 seasons.

Coach Kaka and captain goalkeeper Leo Higuita at the press conference - Photo: NK

Speaking at a press conference before the two friendly matches at noon on April 12 in Ho Chi Minh City, coach Kaka (Brazil) shared: "Due to many reasons, we cannot bring our strongest squad to Vietnam. However, our squad is balanced between youth and experience."

Evaluating the Vietnamese futsal team, coach Kaka said: "I have been following the Vietnamese futsal team regularly since coach Diego Giustozzi took charge. Most recently, the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship and the two recent friendly matches with Saudi Arabia. The Vietnamese futsal team plays with high intensity and effective tactics. They play fast and very strong."

For his part, coach Diego Giustozzi shared: "I am happy that the team still maintains the habit of winning. However, the most important thing is that we have improved a lot in both attack, defense and tactics."

"Young players have many opportunities to compete and gain experience. The current Vietnamese futsal team is 50% young and new, so the recent victory over Saudi Arabia is very meaningful," the Argentine coach added.

In the two victories against Saudi Arabia with scores of 2-1 and 3-2, the Vietnamese futsal team failed to score in the first half, before playing explosively in the second half.

Explaining this, coach Diego Giustozzi said there were two reasons. He said: "Firstly, this training session has many young players, so they got into the rhythm better in the second half. Second, we always play with high intensity, so we played better in the second half."

Coach Diego Giustozzi also highly appreciated the friendly match with Kazakhstan. Because this team is not only in the top 10 in the world but also has a good coach, good players, of Brazilian origin. "This is a very important match, helping the Vietnamese futsal team to compete and improve," he said.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-futsal-viet-nam-cham-tran-doi-hang-7-the-gioi-20250412135219687.htm