Coach Park Hang-seo takes risks with Que Ngoc Hai and Doan Van Hau

After 3 matches in the group stage, central defenders Que Ngoc Hai and Doan Van Hau each received a yellow card. Receiving another card in tomorrow's match will mean they will be suspended for the semi-final.

However, coach Park Hang-seo believes that this does not affect his tactical arrangements: "I have nothing to worry about. Professional players, they know how to control their emotions and avoid collisions and cards. I will not keep them on the bench just because they received a yellow card."

Coach Park Hang-seo and his team in the press conference room. Photo: Trung Kien

Besides, although coach Keisuke Honda was not present, he made a certain mark on the playing style of the Cambodian national team. Coach Park Hang-seo highly appreciated that: "I highly appreciate the results that coach Keisuke Honda achieved with the Cambodian national team. I understand him very well, believe that he has been improving the strength of the Cambodian national team. As I said, this is an important match for both teams, requiring high concentration from each individual".

The Korean coach affirmed that Vietnam's goal is nothing other than victory and has not thought about the semi-final match or the opponent after that: "At this time, we do not care too much about other factors. The whole team is highly focused on the match with Cambodia. This is a match in which we will have to play our best and try our best to win."

Cambodia national team assistant coach highly appreciates Vietnam national team. Photo: Trung Kien

When asked about coach Park Hang-seo's assessment of the Vietnamese team, assistant coach Felix Dalmas confirmed that he had found some weaknesses: "We found some weaknesses of the Vietnamese team. Right now I cannot tell you. However, we will try to exploit this weakness. Vietnam is a strong team, but we will try our best. Cambodia's goal is to improve after each match."

Assistant coach Felix Dalmas of the Cambodian national team also highly appreciated the collective playing style and perfection of the Vietnamese national team: "Vietnam has a squad of players with very good depth. They are even in all lines. And I cannot point out the most prominent face of Vietnam, because they have all performed well since the beginning of the tournament."

As for Quang Hai, the player chosen by coach Park Hang-seo to attend the pre-match press conference, shared: “This is Hanoi’s home ground, where I have played many matches in the V-League. I hope this will be a good match for the whole team as well as for me personally. As I said, the concentration of the whole team is very important. This is a match where the Vietnam team must try their best to win.

Before each match, the coaching staff always prepares carefully for tactics. My task as well as the other players' is to meet those requirements to the maximum to deal with the opposing team, and to maximize our qualities."

Honda was absent but still controlled the match

When asked about the absence of head coach Keisuke Honda, assistant Dalmas affirmed: "Although coach Keisuke Honda is not present, he is still the one who plays a decisive role in the preparation of the whole team. He will decide how we play with Vietnam as well as the whole tournament."

Meanwhile, the captain of the Cambodian national team, midfielder Kouch Sokumpheak affirmed: "The way coach Honda focuses the whole team, communicates and helps the players understand more about the tactical concept and the role of each individual in the overall system is different from previous coaches of the Cambodian national team. With Honda, we have to try hard in every match."

Cambodian coach determined to create surprise at Hang Day despite not coming to Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) - Unable to directly direct the Cambodian team to compete at Hang Day Stadium, head coach Keisuke Honda still wants to defeat the Vietnamese team by giving tactical instructions over the phone.