According to coach Kim Sang Sik, after the 4-2 victory against Pakistan, the Vietnamese team faced some personnel issues. Hoang Hen and Tai Loc are experiencing fitness problems, while center-back Bui Hoang Viet Anh suffered a muscle injury. These limitations in personnel have made it more difficult for the coaching staff to prepare personnel options, especially for the second half.
Coach Kim Sang Sik said: “After the match against Pakistan, our squad lost several players such as Hoang Hen and Tai Loc, and Viet Anh is suffering from some muscle injuries. During the preparation for the match against Malaysia , with a limited number of players, planning for a second-half comeback will be somewhat challenging.”
However, Viet Anh's availability for the match remains uncertain. The South Korean coach stated that the central defender still has a chance to play, and the coaching staff will coordinate with the medical team to assess his health before making a final decision. Coach Kim Sang Sik said: "Viet Anh has a slight muscle injury, but there is still a high chance he can play in tomorrow's match. We, along with the medical team, will check Viet Anh's health and then come up with a plan for the game."
After failing to reach the final, the Vietnamese team had to move on to preparing for the third-place match. Coach Kim Sang Sik admitted that this was a disappointing result, especially since the team had consistently reached the finals under his leadership. However, the South Korean coach affirmed that disappointment would not diminish the team's determination. Coach Kim Sang Sik shared: "For me, as well as the players, the fans, and everyone else, not reaching the final is quite disappointing."
He also expressed regret that the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 format did not include semi-final matches, but emphasized that this would not change how the Vietnamese team would approach the match against Malaysia. Coach Kim Sang Sik stressed: "In every match, the players strive to give their all for victory, so tomorrow, even though it is the third-place match, we will try our best to achieve the best possible result."
Assessing their Malaysian opponents, coach Kim Sang Sik noted that the team has undergone significant changes and possesses a stronger squad compared to previous tournaments. He specifically warned his players about their number 9 striker, a newly naturalized Malaysian player. Coach Kim Sang Sik stated: “Malaysia has a much better and stronger squad. Especially this time, we have a number 9 player, a newly naturalized player. We will have to try even harder to prepare well to stop that player tomorrow.”
Despite facing numerous difficulties with their squad, coach Kim Sang Sik believes that team spirit and thorough preparation will be crucial for the Vietnamese national team to achieve a positive result and conclude the tournament with a victory.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place match between Vietnam and Malaysia will take place at 4:00 PM on October 5th at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-de-cao-tinh-than-doan-ket-truc-tran-gap-malaysia-post1391387.html
