Head coach Kim Sang-sik has expressed strong confidence that the Vietnam national team can secure victory against the Malaysia in their upcoming Group F encounter of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference on March 30, Kim made it clear that Vietnam are approaching the fixture with clear ambitions despite having already secured qualification.
The Vietnamese coach stated that the team still has plenty to play for as they continue building toward future competitions.
“After qualifying for the Asian Cup 2027, we still want to win tomorrow’s match. We see this game as an important rehearsal for future goals and next year’s final tournaments,” Kim said.
“The overall objective is victory. The players are ready, and I hope we can win 2-0.”
The match will take place at Thien Truong Stadium, where Vietnam will look to deliver a strong performance in front of their home supporters.
The fixture carries additional emotional weight following the controversy surrounding the earlier meeting between the two sides.
Vietnam initially suffered a 4-0 defeat to Malaysia in the opening match. However, the result was later overturned by the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) after Malaysia were sanctioned for fielding seven ineligible naturalised players. The ruling resulted in Malaysia forfeiting their remaining matches against Vietnam and Nepal with 3-0 losses.
According to Kim, the situation has only increased the motivation within the Vietnamese camp.
“The incident has motivated the players even more. We want to perform well and bring joy to our fans.”
Malaysia are expected to be without several key players following the sanctions, but Kim insisted the challenge remains serious.
“In football, everyone wants to win, and Malaysia are no different. They may be missing seven players due to the punishment, but we also have absences in our squad. What matters is that both teams are well prepared for the match.”
Credit Photo : VFF
