Coach Park Hang-seo: 'I planned to ambush Korea from the 60th minute'

At a press conference with Vietnamese media in the lobby of a hotel in Bogor, Indonesia at 11am today, August 30, Coach Park Hang-seo took the initiative to speak: "Before each match, I always have to do an important thing, which is to check the players' performance, especially their health. After that, we evaluate the situation and current state of the opponent to build a strategy. During that process, there will be many different opinions from my assistants. I will listen fully and then make a final conclusion with my thoughts.

Regarding the match against Korea, I have already told the players. This match is between us and the time of the match. We all know that the opponent has excellent players. But based on the situation of the Vietnamese players and tactical calculations, I have planned to be able to defeat Korea. Specifically, I want my students to stand firm in the first half, then make personnel and tactical adjustments to attack and win from the 60th minute onwards. I have calculated very carefully. When that happens, the opportunity will definitely come. That is why I want to save Van Quyet for the second half. Before the match against Syria, he was exhausted. But we lost the goal too early, forcing me to put Van Quyet in immediately."

Coach Park Hang-seo could not hide his sadness at the defeat at the hands of Korea, when meeting with Vietnamese media in the hotel lobby in Bogor, Indonesia at 11am today, August 30. Photo:Duc Dong.

Before the semi-finals, Vietnam had not conceded a goal in five matches. However, when facing Korea, coach Park Hang-seo's team let Lee Seung-woo score just seven minutes after the ball started. The early goal made it difficult for Vietnam. They pushed up their attack but conceded two more goals in the 28th and 55th minutes. Vietnam only improved after Minh Vuong reduced the score to 1-3 in the 70th minute. Several more chances were created, but coach Park Hang-seo's team did not score any more goals, and had to watch their opponents enter the final.

Losing 1-3 to South Korea, Vietnam could not continue its dream path, reaching the final of the 2018 Asian Games men's football. But coach Park Hang-seo therefore wanted the whole team to focus on the bronze medal match at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 1. "I met the whole team and checked the players' health with the doctors. It's good that no one is injured. Van Hau and Dinh Trong have a little problem, but it's not significant. Today, the players who played in the semi-finals will practice recovery with the fitness coach. The most important thing right now is that the whole team must recover their spirit. This morning I saw the atmosphere in the team was a bit down, everyone was sad because they lost the semi-final. I told the whole team that Vietnam still has one more match, and everyone must cheer up. We must repay the love and support of the fans, not with a silver or gold medal, but with a bronze medal," the Korean coach shared.

Coach Park Hang-seo sent all three Korean assistants to stay at Pakansari Stadium to record and collect information about UAE, Vietnam's opponent in the bronze medal match. Photo:Duc Dong.

Vietnam’s opponents for the bronze medal were the UAE, who qualified from the group stage by finishing fourth among the best third-placed teams. They then overcame Indonesia in the round of 16 and North Korea in the quarter-finals, both by winning penalty shootouts after extra time had ended in a draw. In the semi-finals, the West Asian team lost 0-1 to Japan.

"I watched the UAE semi-final on TV. My assistants have also collected full video footage and information about them. This afternoon, we will meet to analyze this opponent. But in general, having reached the semi-finals, we cannot underestimate any opponent, because each team has its own characteristics. UAE generally plays a diverse game, they can play in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation, with fast wingers who can break through well. However, I noticed that in the second half of the match against Japan, the physical strength of the UAE players decreased significantly."