This match is just a formality because Vietnam was eliminated from the third qualifying round, after previous unsuccessful matches, but this is the beginning of the journey to regain the fan’s trust, under the guidance of a new head coach from the Republic of Korea.
Before the match, coach Kim Sang-sik said: “Tomorrow will be my first match as the head coach of Vietnam. Despite the short practice time, I tried to convey my philosophy and hope the players catch up with it.”
He discovered that Vietnamese players’ ability and passion exceeded his expectations and wished to connect with them and be close like brothers in a family.
Kim Sang-sik affirmed “Currently, even though I am under a lot of pressure, I still want to win the match. The Vietnamese team play on home ground and we want to get the best results and bring joy to the fans.”
Captain Do Hung Dung said, “We are in a good mood and have the best conditions for the match. We will play the match with the highest determination.”
The Philippine team lost its last five matches against the Vietnamese team, but in this competition, they have more naturalised players and will try to create a surprise. Thus, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team must be very careful and should not be subjective.
