Coach Kim Sang-sik: ‘Vietnam will give their all to defeat Thailand’

Coach Kim Sang-sik is not intimidated by Thailand and believes Vietnam will secure another victory in the second match of Group B, FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, on 29/9.

Vietnam – Thailand: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 29/9, on VnExpress.

Vietnam began the tournament with a 1-0 victory over the Philippines on 26/9. Meanwhile, Thailand defeated Pakistan 4-0. These results place Vietnam second in Group B due to an inferior goal difference.

Just over a month ago, Vietnam defeated Thailand with an aggregate score of 3-2 in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final. However, tomorrow's rematch will be different, as Thailand fields its strongest squad, retaining only 9 players from the ASEAN Cup and bringing in renowned players such as midfielders Chanathip Songkrasin, Supachok Sarachat, defender Nicholas Mickelson, and English-Thai forward Jude Soonsup-Bell. Conversely, Vietnam is missing several key players due to injuries, including Nguyen Thanh Chung, Nguyen Quang Hai, and Nguyen Xuan Son.

Vietnam's Coach Kim Sang-sik at a training session in Indonesia on 28/9/2026, ahead of the match against Thailand in the second round of Group B, FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Photo: Duc Dong.

However, these changes do not faze Coach Kim Sang-sik. "This is a good and important opportunity to secure the top spot in the group," Kim stated before Vietnam's training session on the afternoon of 28/9. "We will give our all to win."

The South Korean coach acknowledges that Thai players possess some of the best individual skills in Southeast Asia. The opponent's creative midfield will pose challenges for Vietnam's defense, but it is not insurmountable. The coaching staff has reminded the players of this through video analysis.

"If we divide the match into two halves, we are stronger in the second half. The first half will be played with our agreed-upon lineup, while the second half will focus on offense," Coach Kim explained. "We need to exploit the spaces behind the opponent to create scoring opportunities and achieve victory."

Midfielder Nguyen Hai Long, who scored two goals against Thailand in their four recent encounters, expressed maximum respect and eagerness to face what the opponent considers their strongest squad. He believes Thailand has strengthened with higher-quality players and exhibits a more fluid playing style.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and Hai Long also emphasized that the entire team will fight in place of Nguyen Xuan Son, who suffered a thigh muscle tear in the opening match and will be out for at least 6 weeks. He has left Indonesia to return to Vietnam to begin his recovery process.

"I feel very heartbroken. This is a significant loss for the entire team," Coach Kim stated. "I want to apologize to Vietnamese fans and Nam Dinh Club for this incident. I hope Son receives good treatment and recovers quickly to return to the national team in his best physical condition."

Nguyen Xuan Son's position could potentially be filled by Pham Gia Hung, Nguyen Dinh Bac, or Williams Minh Hoang. However, none of these players possess Son's ability to play with his back to the defense as effectively.

Vietnam's last defeat to Thailand was a 1-2 loss in a friendly match at My Dinh Stadium in 9/2024. Subsequently, the team has remained undefeated in four matches, including three victories, all in ASEAN Cup finals.

If Vietnam wins tomorrow's match and the Philippines does not lose to Pakistan, Vietnam will secure the top spot and advance to the final, as the FIFA ASEAN Cup prioritizes head-to-head goal difference after points. If they draw, the team will need a decisive victory against Pakistan in the final round to compete on overall goal difference.