Cong Vinh wants to settle the score with Malaysia.

Speaking entirely in English, the Vietnamese national team captain and striker answered questions from the prestigious magazine FourFourTwo about the upcoming match and the team's rejuvenation efforts at the 2016 AFF Cup.

The interview took place after the Vietnamese national team's training session on the afternoon of November 21st. Cong Vinh had just experienced a 2-1 victory against host Myanmar, with him scoring the decisive goal. The captain and his teammates will face Malaysia at 3:30 PM on November 23rd. This match is considered crucial in determining the top spot in Group B.

- The upcoming match against Malaysia is very important for Vietnam. How would you assess the strength of this team?

- I've been playing for the national team since 2004 and have faced Malaysia many times, including friendlies, Asian Cup qualifiers, and the AFF Cup itself. Facing Malaysia is always difficult because they have a quality squad with great physical strength. Their tactics aren't outstanding, but they compensate with their power and fighting spirit. Two years ago, we lost to them in the AFF Cup semi-finals, and that was very disappointing. This year, we believe we can beat them.

Cong Vinh is one of the few Vietnamese players who is fluent in foreign languages. (Photo:)Duc Dong.

- How would you assess the current quality of the Vietnamese national team? The team has experienced players, but also talented young players with excellent technical skills. Is this the necessary balance for the team at this time?

- I said before the whole team went to Myanmar that this year's tournament would be very difficult because of the changes in the squad. This year, we have many young players while our opponents are strong and have experienced teams, having participated in the AFF Cup many times. As you can see from the recent match, we faced many challenges against Myanmar. However, rejuvenation is necessary because we have to look towards the future. We may win, we may lose, but that's not the most important thing. What's important is that the young players improve their skills, because they are the future of Vietnamese football.

- The weather in Myanmar is currently very hot. How will this affect Vietnam's playing style, and will the team have to change their approach because of the weather?

- The heat is a daunting factor, but we've played in this weather before in Vietnam. However, I don't think playing at 3 PM is the right time. We'll be playing Malaysia at that time on November 23rd, and this makes it difficult for the players to perform at 100%. We might tire more quickly in the second half. Malaysia played their first match at 3 PM (against Cambodia), and perhaps they're more used to it than we are. The important thing is for the team to stay focused and maintain their fighting spirit.

- You're a veteran player, and now you're playing alongside much younger talents. That's a huge generation gap. Does that excite you, and what do you most want to do with these young players?

- I'm happy to have worn the national team jersey for such a long time. I will retire from the national team after this tournament. I'm happy to have played alongside teammates I've known for a long time, as well as new players making their debut for the national team. We're here together like a family, talking about football or listening to the same kind of music. When the team wins, we're all happy, and when the team loses, it's a sad moment for everyone. We need to be together.

A reporter from FourFourTwo magazine interviewed Cong Vinh. Photo: Duc Dong.

- You've come very close to breaking the record for most goals scored in AFF Cup tournaments. Does this give you any extra motivation from claiming this individual award?

- I'm a striker, and my job is to score goals, as many as possible. However, the only thing I think about is playing well on the field and helping the team win. If I score but the team doesn't win, I can't be happy. Conversely, I'll be happy even if I don't score, but the team wins. The team isn't just about me; it's about teamwork.

- Why did you decide to retire from the national team at this time, even though you are still in good physical condition and playing well?

Nothing lasts forever. Sometimes, you get tired. I wish I could continue wearing the national team jersey for a long time, playing every year. But I feel I'm getting old, and that's normal. I still train every day and fight on the field for as long as I can. However, everyone eventually needs to stop and change.

- Thailand is playing very well in the World Cup qualifiers and just had a successful opening match. Do you think beating Thailand at this point is impossible?

- In Southeast Asia, Thailand is number one. They have many quality players, won the AFF Cup two years ago as well as the SEA Games. Their players have been playing together for the last three or four years. When the players understand each other, they are extremely dangerous. But when it comes to knockout matches like the semi-finals and finals, the chances are 50-50. In football, anything can happen.

According to VNE