Assessing the strength of Vietnam and Cambodia: The visiting team is too weak.
Vietnam and Cambodia faced off in a friendly match, where our team was expected to showcase its strength and character ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The upcoming friendly match between the Vietnamese and Cambodian national teams at Go Dau Stadium is not only an opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik's team to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, but also a chance to assess the strength of the two teams. While Vietnam enters the match as the reigning AFF Cup 2024 champions, Cambodia is also striving to improve its football and demonstrate its progress.
The strength of the Vietnamese national team's lineup.
With their impressive form recently, the Vietnamese national team is highly rated ahead of this match. In their last five matches, coach Kim Sang-sik's team has won all of them, scoring 15 goals and conceding only 4. Their two consecutive victories against Thailand in the 2024 AFF Cup final demonstrate the team's stability and resilience.
Vietnam also has a significant advantage having had a week of training in Binh Duong to adapt to the playing conditions. Importantly, the squad has no significant injuries, giving coach Kim Sang-sik a full range of tactical options. Under the guidance of the South Korean strategist, the team's playing style is becoming increasingly refined, with a solid defense and sharp attacking capabilities.
Although this is just a friendly match, as the reigning AFF Cup champions, our team not only aims for victory but also needs to showcase a convincing style of play, reassuring fans ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The strength of the Cambodian national team's lineup.
Cambodia entered this match with high ambitions, fielding their strongest 23-player squad. This included several notable naturalized players such as Kanmo, Takaki Ose, Abdel Kader Coulibaly, Yudai Ogawa, and Nick Taylor. However, they were missing their key Japanese-born center-back, Hikaru Mizuno, which could affect their defensive solidity.
Despite strengthening their squad, Cambodia's recent form hasn't been particularly impressive. In their last five matches, they've only won one game against Timor Leste, losing to Thailand, Qatar U23, Singapore, and drawing with Malaysia. The team from the Land of the Pagodas has made progress in recent years, but they still can't compete on equal footing with the top teams in Southeast Asia.
At the 2024 AFF Cup, Cambodia only finished 4th in Group A, showing they still have many weaknesses, especially in defense. Against a high-performing Vietnamese team with home advantage, Cambodia will face many difficulties in this match.
Pre-match analysis
Considering all factors from head-to-head history and current form to squad quality, the Vietnamese national team is clearly superior to Cambodia. Our team has won all 5 of their most recent encounters, scoring a total of 16 goals and conceding only 2. Meanwhile, Cambodia is still in the process of development and lacks the strength to spring surprises against strong teams in the region.
This match is not only an opportunity for Vietnam to assert its strength, but also an important test for coach Kim Sang-sik's team as they prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The key is not just to win, but also to showcase the team's playing style and the character of the Southeast Asian champions. With home advantage and thorough preparation, Vietnam can certainly aim for a convincing victory against Cambodia.
