What did coach Mai Duc Chung say when the Vietnamese women's team fell into a difficult group at the 2023 World Cup Finals?

The results of the draw are given.Vietnam women's teaminto Group E at the 2023 World Cup, facing defending champions the United States, defending runners-up the Netherlands and the winner of the first play-off.

Evaluating this result, coach Mai Duc Chung said: “We entered the group very well, good because Vietnam could not spend money to invite the US or Netherlands women's teams to compete. These are all the top teams in the world.

Coach Mai Duc Chung attends the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup draw ceremony. Photo: Hai Hoang

The Vietnamese women's team has the opportunity to compete with them, we are very happy and excited. By competing like this, the players will improve more and more. Through this, you are setting an example for the young ones, our women's football has not really developed. Having the opportunity to compete in the World Cup like this, the young people will practice more actively, there will be more good, new faces in the Vietnamese women's team."

The remaining opponent of the Vietnamese women's team in Group E is the winner of the first play-off match. Coach Mai Duc Chung commented: "Portugal in Europe has a good physical foundation, I think they will be in our group. The Vietnamese women's team is weaker than Portugal and the above teams, so they have to try harder."

Regarding the preparation of the Vietnamese women's team, Mr. Mai Duc Chung said: "In 2023, we have many tournaments. Specifically, at the beginning of the year there will be a national championship, then the women's team will focus on preparing for the Olympic qualifying round, and then the 32nd SEA Games.

Huynh Nhu and her teammates will fight their best at the World Cup. Photo: Hai Hoang

After the SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's team will focus on preparing for the 2022 World Cup, which is the most important tournament. We plan to go to Europe for training to get acquainted with teams such as the US, the Netherlands, Portugal and even Thailand.

We have met Thailand many times, but the Vietnamese women's team has had few opportunities to meet European teams. Therefore, training in Germany is quite useful. After the World Cup, the Vietnamese women's team will attend the Asian Games in China and play the second round of the Olympics, a rather heavy task in 2023. We focus on more players to select the best factors, many young faces to bring to the team for training."

Meanwhile, the captain of the Vietnam Women's Team, striker Huynh Nhu, said: "For me personally, no matter who the opponent is, the Vietnam Women's Team will always play their best and do everything to win. Currently, Nhu is playing for a club in Portugal. When I first came here, my teammates did not know where Vietnam was, so I personally think that the Vietnam Women's Team participating in the 2023 FIFA World Cup is not only an opportunity to compete and learn from the world's top opponents, but also an opportunity to affirm Vietnam's name to friends from other countries at the World Cup playground."