Coach Kim Sang-sik: Vietnam team will be cautious against Cambodia'

On the afternoon of March 18, at the Binh Duong Stadium press conference room, coach Kim Sang-sik and central defender Do Duy Manh shared important information before the match against the Cambodian team. This is the first match of the Vietnamese team after winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup championship, and is also a preparation step for the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

At the beginning of the press conference, coach Kim Sang-sik thanked the media for their presence and affirmed the good preparation of the whole team:

"First of all, I would like to thank everyone for being here. The team is in very good condition. I expect a victory. This is the first match of the Vietnamese team after winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup. There are new faces in the current Vietnamese team, I also want to see how they will perform."

The Korean strategist also paid special attention to the changes in the Cambodian team, emphasizing that the opponent was stronger than before:

"Cambodia has many new faces, so we have to be very careful. They have naturalized some quality players, including Abdel Kader Coulibaly - a very good African striker. However, we have solid defenders like Duy Manh and Thanh Chung, and I believe our players can neutralize the opponent."

Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese team has continuously improved its ability to adapt to different playing conditions. This match against Cambodia took place in the South in hot weather conditions, different from when the team usually gathers and plays in the North. However, Mr. Kim affirmed that the players have prepared well to adapt.

Regarding the squad, Mr. Kim admitted that some players were unfortunately absent due to injury, including central defender Viet Anh who had to return to the club. However, he believed in the replacements:

"The Vietnamese team has other players to replace them. If they play well, I am willing to give them a chance." Regarding goalkeeper Dinh Trieu, coach Kim Sang-sik said he has almost recovered but is not sure if he can play: "He is in the process of preparation, but we need to evaluate him further before the match."

Commenting on his opponent, coach Kim Sang-sik had great respect for Cambodia: "We are very aware that Cambodia is stronger than in the past. At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, they are no longer the underdogs but have shown clear progress. This will not be an easy match."

Also at the press conference, captain Do Duy Manh expressed the team's determination: "The Vietnamese team currently has a very good spirit, the whole team is serious, following the tactics set out by the coaching staff. We are determined to win and hope the audience will come to the stadium to support us. The fans are a great source of motivation for us."

The friendly match between Vietnam and Cambodia will take place at 7:00 p.m. on March 19 at Binh Duong Stadium. This is an opportunity for both teams to review their squads and tactics before the upcoming important matches./.