Vietnam team and their mindset before the match against Laos

The Vietnamese team won 2-1 against Cambodia in an international friendly match on the occasion of FIFA Days. However, this is a match in which the Vietnamese team still has many problems to learn from.

Coach Kim Sang-sik commented: “In the first half, we used a fairly stable lineup and the players performed exactly as we had prepared. Hai Long opened the scoring and Van Vi followed with a goal.

Vietnam team confidently looks forward to the match with Laos. Photo: VFF

However, in the second half, we had some difficulties in transitioning and some of the substitute positions were not really up to standard. Therefore, Cambodia had opportunities to score. Honestly, I am not completely satisfied with this result."

In fact, the Vietnamese team's attack did not play as expected. This shows that the void left by Xuan Son has not been filled yet.

Commentator Quang Tung stated: “Without Xuan Son, the Vietnamese team loses a pillar of support. He is a goal-scoring machine, the spearhead that can penetrate any defense, especially in Southeast Asia. Without Xuan Son, there is instability among the remaining players.”

Fans are more worried because Tien Linh is not in the best condition. Tien Linh only entered the field in the second half, but this seems to be more a time for him to warm up after his injury than to show his role as a leader of the attack.

On March 25, the Vietnamese team will compete with Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. To best prepare for this match, coach Kim Sang-sik considers the match against Cambodia as a test of the squad.

He spoke to the media about how to use the squad in the match against Cambodia: “I want to keep the squad stable to best prepare for the upcoming match against Laos. The match against Cambodia is also an opportunity for young players to observe, analyze and accumulate experience. In the future, they will have other opportunities.”

One piece of data for the Vietnamese team's coaching staff to analyze is that Laos recently had a friendly match before the opening round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Their loss to Sri Lanka - a team ranked 200th in the world - was also a surprise. However, we should not underestimate our opponents because they are receiving reinforcements from overseas Lao players.

The Vietnamese players have also prepared themselves confidently for the match against Laos. Midfielder Hai Long shared after the match against Cambodia: “I think the whole team played well. There were moments when we were not yet smooth, but after that we adjusted and played more steadily. This is an important step forward for the upcoming match against Laos.”

During the training session on the afternoon of March 21, striker Vi Hao said: “The team always researches the opponents in advance, sees which opponents are in the playing positions and analyzes to have the best match against Laos. The fact that Laos just lost 1-2 to Sri Lanka is a psychological advantage for the Vietnamese team. I have not seen the 3 Lao players. But the whole team will have their analysis.

I will practice to find a chance to compete. If given the chance, I will play my best to score against the Laos team."

The Vietnamese team is preparing for the match against Laos at Binh Duong Stadium. The goal of winning has been set to aim for a ticket to the next round. This is a match where we have home field advantage, however, as commentator Quang Tung analyzed, Laos is a stronger opponent.

“The Laos team has not been naturalized, but they are using a foreign coach. In the 2024 ASEAN Cup, and right in the match against the Vietnamese team, a new look appeared. The lack of confidence has decreased, they dare to hold the ball and deploy their playing style. Fearlessness can be a weapon for teams that are not highly rated against a stronger opponent,” said commentator Quang Tung.

The match between Vietnam and Laos in the opening match of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 25.

Ho Chi Minh City women's team determined to win ticket to continue

On the afternoon of March 21, at Thong Nhat Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City), a press conference took place before the match between Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club and Abu Dhabi Country (UAE) in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Women's (commonly known as the Asian Women's Cup C1) 2024-2025.

Here, striker Huynh Nhu of Ho Chi Minh City women's club gave her assessment of the opponent Abu Dhabi Country.

She said: "Before the quarter-final match, I studied my opponents and their playing style. They have many foreign players with good skills. This is a formidable opponent. However, the opportunity to continue is divided equally between both teams, whoever takes advantage of the opportunity will win. Playing at home, Ho Chi Minh City will try to get the best result". Huynh Nhu said that Ho Chi Minh City's disadvantage against the representative from the UAE is the problem of physical strength. However, she and her teammates have been given exercises by the coach to face the tall opponent.

"The Ho Chi Minh City women's team has foreign players and overseas Vietnamese to have high balls, thanks to you guys to have better direction. The players of the team from UAE are bigger - we also have a plan to prevent high balls.

Thanks to the foreign players, the team has a better atmosphere, even though the opponent is tall but not afraid. Try your best to win this match. This is the first time the team has reached the quarter-finals. The group stage is very confident, the coaching staff does not focus on the team's achievements but on accumulating experience, going as far as possible. So coming to this match, we have nothing to fear or worry about. If we win, it will be history for Vietnam," Huynh Nhu said.

Regarding the new foreign players recruited by the Ho Chi Minh City women's club, Huynh Nhu commented: "The foreign players have just arrived for a short time, so they have not yet had good communication, they need to adapt quickly. They are sociable, after training, they go out to eat, visit, and talk more to understand each other better. They are ready." The match between the Ho Chi Minh City women's team and Abu Dhabi Country will take place at 7:00 p.m. on March 22 at Thong Nhat Stadium.

HH